Varvàra 2014 75cl

The 2014 Bolgheri Rosso Varvàra does a great job of putting its best foot forward. Despite the difficulties of the vintage, the wine is tight and streamlined with bright fruit and dark blackberry followed by moderate (and nicely measured) tones of spice, leather and tobacco. This is an easy-drinking wine that offers good fruit and acidity. It keeps the palate clean and refreshed. Castello di Bolgheri did not make a Bolgheri Superiore in 2014, so the estate's best fruit went to this wine instead.<br/><br/>Castello di Bolgheri's winemaking team includes proprietor Federico Zileri and young talent Alessandro Dondi. The wines have shown an impressive quality trajectory over the past couple of years, culminating with the excellent 2013 Bolgheri Superiore released this year. I was also very impressed by the 2014 Bolgheri Rosso Varvàra. The Bolgheri Superiore was not produced in 2014 and therefore the estate's best fruit all went into the lower-end wine. The Varvàra is a great value buy these days in Bolgheri so I would expect it to sell out fast.

Features a grassy aroma, with vegetal notes combining with black cherry, blackberry, licorice and tobacco flavors. Assertive tannins mark the finish, but this finds equilibrium in the end. Best from 2018 through 2023. 6,000 cases made.