Michele Satta Piastraia 2022

An intense wine with vibrancy and style. On the nose it shows bright cassis, bramble fruit, eucalyptus, balsamic, graphite, minerals and hints of leather and tobacco. Soft palate with silky, velvety tannins, crisp acidity and a long, chewy, savory finish. The first vintage with 10% cabernet franc.

The nose is simultaneously savory, sweet and festive, thanks to aromas of dark macerated fruit and spices, plus undertones of sweet tobacco and vanilla. Those notes all continue onto the palate, which is vanilla whipped cream atop a slice of chocolate cake, accompanied by the last, sweet smoke of a cigar going out and an espresso.

The Michele Satta 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Sangiovese, comes from 20-year-old vines planted on limestone soils with clay and pebbles, facing west at 90 to 120 meters above sea level. The wine shows dark fruit alongside savory notes of tobacco and toasted spice, followed by a touch of cinnamon sweetness that rounds out the profile.

Savory notes of cedar, wild herbs and tobacco mingle with plum, blackberry and black currant. This dense red is sleek, and the long finish is driven by vivid acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2040. 1,800 cases made, 700 cases imported.