Italiano
Saffredi in great form in London (2)
Yesterday we presented five vintages between 1992 and 1999 while today we offer seven from the first decade of the new millennium which were distinguished by the supervision of the French enologist Christian Le Sommer.
In his history, Saffredi has seen a number of great enologists tackle its vineyards and make wine with their barriques. The first years saw the wine made under the protective wing of Giacomo Tachis, who followed the wine up to 1995. Then Riccardo Cotarella took over and put his imprint on it up until 2000 when the famous French enologist Christian Le Sommer came in and helped consolidate the wine’s international reputation. Luca D’Attoma arrived in 2011 and continues to supervise production, always under the watchful eye of Elisabetta Geppetti, who by now has been joined by her children Clara Gentili and Stefano Rizzi.
Different experts with slightly different styles but all making the wine instantly recognizable.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2001
93/100 - € 100
Overall a mild growing season interrupted by a bad frost in mid-April. In 2000, Christian Le Sommer came in as enologist. The blend this year was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Alicante and has an intense, ruby-garnet color. The bouquet is evolved, with slightly vegetal hints with light balsamic, ethereal sensations and notes of kirsch. The mouthfeel has an excellent acidity, slightly rough tannins and a nice, youthful body that still has some rough edges.
Bottles produced: 23,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2002
93/100 - € 70
As opposed to other regions, Maremma did not have a bad year thanks to winds that blew away the continuous rain clouds. A blend again of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Alicante with an intense, ruby-garnet color. The aroma has evolved nicely and remains intact and is still rich in black cherry notes followed with sweet spice and ethereal ones. A splendid acidity and while the body is not as bold as usual, it is agile and drinkable, even warm and persistent.
Bottles produced: 21,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2004
92/100 - € 100
A cold and wet winter but a normal spring and hot summer with nice diurnal temperature variations. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Syrah (used for the first time to replace Alicante) and has an intense, ruby color. The bouquet has notes of sweet spice, smoky, ethereal hints and those of cherry preserved in alcohol. The bold and warm mouthfeel has distinct, slightly edgy tannins and is quite evolved even if it is well-preserved and has a lovely complexity.
Bottles produced: 25,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2005
97/100 - € 75
A regular spring and summer with brief showers at the end of August and early September that allowed the grapes to ripen perfectly. The blend is again 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Syrah and the wine has an intense and bright ruby-garnet color. The bouquet is clear and intact with notes of vanilla but also distinct ones of fruit, spice and slightly ethereal and balsamic sensations. The mouthfeel is full and taut, multifaceted with an excellent body nicely upheld by the acidity with a warm and very persistent finish. Very good.
Bottle produced: 24,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2006
95/100 - € 80
An early and hot summer with a sharp drop in nighttime temperatures starting in September that slowed the ripening of the grapes and increased the tannins in the skins. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Syrah with an intense ruby-garnet color. The ethereal bouquet is wrapping, very Mediterranean with notes of prune, jam, barley sugar and kirsch. The mouthfeel is bold and warm, multifaceted with a nice acidity and slightly evident tannins while the finish has a nice persistence.
Bottle produced: 23,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2007
87/100 - € 90
The growing season was normal and the grapes ripened homogenously. The blend was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Syrah and the wine has an intense and concentrated bright ruby color. The mouthfeel is ethereal, full of kirsch, slightly phenolic hints and notes of macerated cherry and spice. The bold and warm mouthfeel is saline and has tannins with a little too many extracts and overall a tad haphazard.
Bottles produced: 21,000.
Saffredi Maremma Toscana Igt 2008
97/100 - € 80
For the most part a balanced year with summer heatwaves interrupted by heavy rains. The blend has become 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Syrah and has a very intense, ruby color. The wrapping and intact bouquet has fine and perfectly expressed fruit, raspberry, with balsamic notes and those of sweet spice. The taut and elegant mouthfeel is nicely Mediterranean, warm and multifaceted with excellent tannins. Excellent.
Bottles produced: 30,000.
See you tomorrow for the latest vintages.
