Bibi Graetz Colore 2021 Toscana IGT

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux) 
100/100 punten
Just love this wine, the lyricism and the generosity of it, and its always vivid depiction of fruits and stones. So juicy, so drawn out, works with the vintage, leans into its low yields, with greengages, raspberry, plum, gentle spices, lemongrass, minerality studded with mandarin peel and sage. Translucent and yet full of flavour, once again it begs you to draw up a chair, gather friends, and enjoy. What a brilliant wine and a brilliant winemaker in Bibi Graetz. From a 58ha estate, Colore comes from the oldest vineyards of Sangiovese that range up to 135 years old.

Decanter
99/100 punten
Another excellent wine from Bibi Graetz made from selected old-vine Sangiovese. Herbal and spiced on the nose, fragrant but with savoury aspects rather than overtly floral or fruity. Intense and direct, this hits you square on, with energy and forward motion. So sleek and well defined, smooth yet lively and energetic with tannins that are so beautifully executed. Almost plush and chewy giving weight and texture to the palate while actually being quite light and aerial overall. Complex and invigorating, fresh and wild at the same time - I love the character, it's pure but with a sense of authenticity that encapsulates the terroir and winemaking philosophy so wonderfully. Ends with a minty, liquorice, spiced blackcurrant and cool cherry element that is extremely moreish!

Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent)
99/100 punten
The 2021 Colore, 100% Sangiovese, is medium garnet-purple in color. After a little swirling, a glorious perfume of raspberry coulis, Morello cherries, and rose oil emerges from the glass, followed by hints of cinnamon toast, Sichuan pepper, and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is coated with vibrant red berry and floral layers, framed by exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing epically long and fragrant. This is absolutely stunning!

James Suckling
99/100 punten
Intense aromas of purple fruits such as raspberry, spice, lead pencil and granite. Perfumed flowers as well. Full-bodied, tight with poised tannins that show transparency and focus. Crunchy and very long. Better after 2028 when it opens and integrates beautifully.

Colin Hay (The Drinks Business)
97+/100 punten
More complex than the Testamatta and something of a step up, especially in this vintage. Spices and assorted fresh and dried flowers. Espresso bean, wild flowers and garrigue herbs, rose petals, hints of wild rosemary, wild strawberry and those darker plump whole berries and red cherry  – then the candlewax – one is really in the cathedral here. All of that and there’s still so much more to come. A pleasing undernote of earthiness. And, strangely, almost a slight iodine/peaty note (like an Islay whisky – Ardbeg perhaps). Soft and voluptuous. There’s a lot more volume here and it is more distinct from Testamatta than it used to be. Green tea, sundried tomatoes, a lovely mineral salinity (and that sea spray note again). Tighter and more compact than its stablemate, but bigger boned too, more ample and opulent. The breadth and softness that one finds immediately on the attack is disrupted by the freshness that spurts out into the cheeks horizontally, enlivening the mouth and charging the palate for the finish. Lithe and with enough concentration to make the crystallinity not feel like dilution. There’s a nice grip from the tannins and that releases the fresher notes that recharge the palate. Impressively full and concentrated by the finish (the intensity creeps up on you).

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
98+/100 punten
The Bibi Graetz 2021 Colore is Sangiovese from old vines, but otherwise, winemaking and the oak regime is identical to the other top red, Testamatta. In this case, fruit comes from the Lamole area with vineyards at a high 600 meters above sea level. Some are south-facing but high up on the mountain. As Bibi explains: “Colore delivers power and freshness, whereas Testamatta delivers transparency and freshness.” The Colore shows the pure energy and liveliness of Sangiovese with violet, wild cherry and orange zest. The wine delivers an elegantly earthy side with a very delineated mouthfeel driven by very fine, silly tannins. This is a beautiful wine with delicately sweet cherry on the finish. Bibi has been making little changes to this wine over the years (other than giving it a new winery home in Fiesole) to capture an ideal or benchmark for Sangiovese. His 2021 is his best wine yet. Production is 35,000 bottles, which is slightly lower compared to the last vintage.