Daily Archives: December 8, 2015

An Impressive Super Tuscan at an Impressive Price

Michele Satta Piastraia 2011

90 points Wine Advocate
90 points Wine Enthusiast
$36.00 SRP

Our Price:
$27.89 on 6 bottles
22% Off

The Work of Premier Italian Producers

By Victor Rallo, Jr and Anthony Verdoni from Eat! Drink! Italy! on PBS

Michele Satta is one of Bolgheri’s premier and most respected winemakers and growers. He was one of the first to see the great potential of Bolgheri and has planted some of the finest vineyards in the area (Ornellaia, Masseto) and has consulted with some of Italy’s premier wineries (Gaja, Antinori).

Piastraia is equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah. The wine is aged for 18 months in French barriques of which one third are new. Planted in 1991, Michele’s vision for the wine was to produce the finest Bordeaux style wine with a Bolgheri, Italian expression.

The grapes are harvested at full maturity: first the Merlot in the beginning of September, then Syrah, Sangiovese and finally Cabernet Sauvignon. The fermentation and maceration of each variety is handled separately in wooden barrels with the cap pushed down daily. This takes place over a period of twenty days. Immediately following the pressing, the wines are placed into barriques as well as larger wooden barrels upon which the assemblage is eventually created. The wine then rests for a period of twelve months.

Piastraia is well structured, elegant, full bodied but very round. It has aromas of summer red fruits with hints of black and blue berries with intense fruit on the palate. Very Drinkable!