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Michele Satta - Superiore Piastraia

2020
Producer
Michele Satta
Blend
0% Cabernet Sauvignon
0% Merlot
0% Sangiovese
0% Syrah
Country
Italy
Region
Tuscany
Appellation
Bolgheri
UPC
830294002189
830294002202
Red Wine
Verified Stock
Verified Stock
83516-20
83516A-20/1PK
Product Ratings
Jeb Dunnuck 93pt

Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese raised for 12 months in barriques, the dark red 2020 Piastraia is ripe and inviting, with a sunny feel to its notes of baked red plum, turned soil, leather, sweet herbs, and mocha. Full-bodied, with lovely, fresh lift, it has fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a rich core of fruit through the well-balanced finish. These wonderful wines have a savory and mineral accent, with an open window for enjoyment at a great price point.

by Jeb Dunnuck, 2024
James Suckling 92pt

Aromas of red currants, roses and fresh sage follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese. Crisp and attractive now.

by James Suckling, 2023
Wine Advocate 93pt

The Michele Satta 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia is a fine and delicate wine, especially on the Bolgheri playlist that tends to offer more blown-out or bigger wines. Here, instead, you get generous fruit tones and rich layers with a slightly more tapered and streamlined mouthfeel that is always the signature of this producer. Michele Satta remains committed to finding the proverbial silver lining to Bolgheri. The wine ends with soft cherry fruit and dark berry confit that reflects the hot vintage. There is a nice spicy element on the close.

by Wine Advocate, 2024
Wine Enthusiast 94pt

The nose is earthy, herbal and sour, like drinking an elegant cocktail on the porch of a cabin in the woods. The palate is instead full of cherries and plums and finishes salty and nutty, like an artisanal chocolate. The tannins are solid but navigable, and the acidity is substantial.

by Wine Enthusiast, 2023
Wine Spectator 92pt

Shows aromas of fresh black cherry and blackberry that are pure and expressive, accented by wild herbs, cedar, iron and spices. Dense, yet balanced and fresh, with refined tannins gracing the lingering finish. Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

by Wine Spectator, 2023
Jeb Dunnuck 93pt

Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese raised for 12 months in barriques, the dark red 2020 Piastraia is ripe and inviting, with a sunny feel to its notes of baked red plum, turned soil, leather, sweet herbs, and mocha. Full-bodied, with lovely, fresh lift, it has fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and a rich core of fruit through the well-balanced finish. These wonderful wines have a savory and mineral accent, with an open window for enjoyment at a great price point.

by Jeb Dunnuck, 2024
James Suckling 92pt

Aromas of red currants, roses and fresh sage follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and sangiovese. Crisp and attractive now.

by James Suckling, 2023
Wine Advocate 93pt

The Michele Satta 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Piastraia is a fine and delicate wine, especially on the Bolgheri playlist that tends to offer more blown-out or bigger wines. Here, instead, you get generous fruit tones and rich layers with a slightly more tapered and streamlined mouthfeel that is always the signature of this producer. Michele Satta remains committed to finding the proverbial silver lining to Bolgheri. The wine ends with soft cherry fruit and dark berry confit that reflects the hot vintage. There is a nice spicy element on the close.

by Wine Advocate, 2024
Wine Enthusiast 94pt

The nose is earthy, herbal and sour, like drinking an elegant cocktail on the porch of a cabin in the woods. The palate is instead full of cherries and plums and finishes salty and nutty, like an artisanal chocolate. The tannins are solid but navigable, and the acidity is substantial.

by Wine Enthusiast, 2023
Wine Spectator 92pt

Shows aromas of fresh black cherry and blackberry that are pure and expressive, accented by wild herbs, cedar, iron and spices. Dense, yet balanced and fresh, with refined tannins gracing the lingering finish. Merlot, Sangiovese, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

by Wine Spectator, 2023

Estate

An important difference between Michele Satta and other big names like Ornellaia or Sassicaia is that the determined and very likeable wine producer in Bolgheri runs the oldest winery that belongs to a winemaker. Satta founded its winery in Castagneto Carducci at a time when grape growing in the Tuscan region was in its infancy and great successes were still to come. The path taken by the innovative winemaker was new in Bolgheri at the time. Thus he, supported by his wife Lucy from the very beginning in his decisions, not only focused on the international varieties Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, but also on the noble Sangiovese vine.

Technical data

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese
Harvest period: early September (Merlot) up to the first week of October (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Vineyards: Torre, Poderini, Vignanova, i Castagni, Campastrello

Tasting notes

The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore “Piastraia” is a wine that incarnates the spirit of the Tuscan terroir. It is aged for 18 months in barriques and at least for 24 months in bottle and it expresses itself with notes of fruits jam and Mediterranean spices, noble woods and balsamic herbs. On the palate is structured, full-bodied, balanced and very persistent.

Vinification

The fermentation of each variety is handled separately in cone-truncated oak barrels of 30 hl. Only natural yeasts are present. I start with two daily manual pressings of the cap of the wine eventually ending with one. An open pumping over procedure is made only if necessary. With frequent tastings I carefully choose the time of the drawing off (usually after about 20 days), from which the wine goes directly into barriques. Fining: the wine rests in French oak barriques (1/5 new) for a period of 18-24 months.

Description

The vineyard which produces this wine was planted in 1991 with Merlot, Cabernet, Sangiovese and Syrah with the intention of expressing an affirmation of the highest quality from the Bordelaise Varietals planted in Bolgheri, combined with the ability of elegance throughout the Tuscan Sangiovese and the complexity of the Mediterranean Syrah. Since 2012 I decided to confer this wine the Superior mention because after almost 20 vintages of this label I am fully aware that the first intuition of this blend, well represents the name of Bolgheri.

Description

The vineyard which produces this wine was planted in 1991 with Merlot, Cabernet, Sangiovese and Syrah with the intention of expressing an affirmation of the highest quality from the Bordelaise Varietals planted in Bolgheri, combined with the ability of elegance throughout the Tuscan Sangiovese and the complexity of the Mediterranean Syrah. Since 2012 I decided to confer this wine the Superior mention because after almost 20 vintages of this label I am fully aware that the first intuition of this blend, well represents the name of Bolgheri.

Tasting notes

The 2018 Bolgheri Superiore “Piastraia” is a wine that incarnates the spirit of the Tuscan terroir. It is aged for 18 months in barriques and at least for 24 months in bottle and it expresses itself with notes of fruits jam and Mediterranean spices, noble woods and balsamic herbs. On the palate is structured, full-bodied, balanced and very persistent.

Estate

An important difference between Michele Satta and other big names like Ornellaia or Sassicaia is that the determined and very likeable wine producer in Bolgheri runs the oldest winery that belongs to a winemaker. Satta founded its winery in Castagneto Carducci at a time when grape growing in the Tuscan region was in its infancy and great successes were still to come. The path taken by the innovative winemaker was new in Bolgheri at the time. Thus he, supported by his wife Lucy from the very beginning in his decisions, not only focused on the international varieties Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah, but also on the noble Sangiovese vine.

Technical data

Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese
Harvest period: early September (Merlot) up to the first week of October (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Vineyards: Torre, Poderini, Vignanova, i Castagni, Campastrello

Vinification

The fermentation of each variety is handled separately in cone-truncated oak barrels of 30 hl. Only natural yeasts are present. I start with two daily manual pressings of the cap of the wine eventually ending with one. An open pumping over procedure is made only if necessary. With frequent tastings I carefully choose the time of the drawing off (usually after about 20 days), from which the wine goes directly into barriques. Fining: the wine rests in French oak barriques (1/5 new) for a period of 18-24 months.