BIBI GRAETZ 'Testamatta' Rosso - Toscana IGT 2016 Bottle (Sangiovese)

Description

Bibi Graetz Testamatta 2016 is glorious Tuscan Sangiovese marrying sun warmed ripeness with taut structure. Deep ruby with garnet edges, it greets you with Morello cherry, sour cherry and bramble, then ripe plum, blackcurrant and savoury dried herbs. Leather, tobacco and a dusting of clove appear with air alongside cedar. Full bodied yet polished, the palate offers juicy red and black fruit framed by firm silky tannins and bright acidity. Mid palate notes of cherry compote, raspberry and dark chocolate add complexity while an earthy graphite and saline thread sharpen focus. The finish is long with leather and a hint of espresso. Serve 16 to 18°C. Drink 2023 to 2035.

JAMES SUCKLING 98 points
A very beautiful and thoughtful Testamatta with aromas of earth, terra cotta, black tea, and lavender. Full-bodied, very layered and extremely polished with superb, soft tannins. Racy and very long. Muscular and formed but very, very balanced. Gorgeous richness and depth. Shows balance and wonder. Try in 2020.

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Stephen Brook (at London, 08 Mar 2022) Part of Bibi Graetz Testamatta: 2000-2019 vertical
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2038
It would have taken a high degree of incompetence to produce a poor wine in 2016, and Testamatta is a triumph. The nose is lean but elegant, with wafting aromas of cherries, red fruits and a floral tone. Fresh and intense, it has polished tannins and lifted acidity that gives great persistence; a mouthwatering character that's highly seductive.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94 points
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Drink Date: 2020 - 2035
The Bibi Graetz 2016 Testamatta has a very direct and focused personality that is backed by freshness and chiseled fruit sensations. This wine stands out to me thanks to that sharpness. It is drinking very nicely at the moment. Production is 60,000 bottles.
Published: Oct 30, 2025

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
A beautiful nose, a purity of red fruits and tea leaf. The fruit is extremely well extracted – soft and sublimely fine tannins. This feels like a wine that is brimming with vivacity and life – red fruits that have such elegance and refinement. (AC)

-----

ABOUT BIBI GRAETZ
Bibi Graetz is a charismatic Tuscan vigneron and artist whose eponymous estate has become synonymous with expressive, site-driven Sangiovese and imaginative winemaking. Born Fabrizio Graetz and universally known as Bibi, he established his project in the hills surrounding Florence and Fiesole, working a collection of small, often steep parcels on well drained Galestro and clay soils. His holdings are spread across historic hillside sites rather than a single contiguous domaine, which allows him to craft a range of cuvées that reflect varied aspects of the local terroir.

Graetz is both proprietor and the principal creative force behind the wines, combining a hands-on approach in the vineyard with an experimental, artisan sensibility in the cellar. He is also a visual artist and many of his labels bear his striking artwork, contributing to the strong personality of the range. Vineyards are farmed with low intervention, moving progressively towards organic and biodynamic principles in many plots; attention to canopy management, low yields and selective hand harvesting are standard practice to favour purity and concentration.

Winemaking balances tradition and modern technique. Sangiovese is the backbone of most cuvées, often complemented by small proportions of local or international varieties depending on site and vintage. Fermentations are usually parcel by parcel with native yeasts frequently employed, gentle extraction to preserve aromatics and careful use of oak for élevage. Graetz produces a broad spectrum from everyday, approachable wines to single-vineyard bottlings that command critical attention. His flagship wine Testamatta, an Sangiovese-based cuvée, brought international recognition for its intensity, energy and ageing potential. Other lines such as Colore and Casamatta offer more immediate, fruit driven profiles.

Stylistically Bibi Graetz wines are known for their vivid fruit, floral lift, bright acidity and mineral core, combined with a fine tannic framework that allows cellaring. The project’s combination of artisanal vineyard work, creative presentation and consistent quality has made Bibi Graetz one of Tuscany’s most distinctive and collectible modern producers.