Winemaker Notes
The name Varvara was chosen in honor of Baroness Varvara Wrangel, spouse of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca and great-grandmother of the present-day owner Federico Zileri.
The grapes were harvested manually, with selection on the vineyard and as well as before de-stemming.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackcurrants and fresh herbs with hints of green olives. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins and a solid core of ripe tannins and juicy fruit. Extremely long and flavorful. Rich and intense red. Give it three to four years to soften.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The popular Castello di Bolgheri 2018 Bolgheri Rosso Varvàra opens to sultry dark fruit with measured layers of tobacco and leather. This wine shows a smoky and savory side that is rendered brighter and more intense thanks to the crisp plum, blackberry and black cherry found at its core. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, and this wine gives you a classic taste of Bolgheri with its chestnut trees, cypresses and Mediterranean shrub oak. This is the ultimate trattoria choice, especially when grilled steak or funghi porcini are on the menu.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of black-skinned berry, violet, Mediterranean brush and leather lead the nose on this Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot blend. The smooth, savory palate offers black currant jam, tobacco and licorice alongside fine-grained tannins.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An outstanding wine region made famous by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines for his own consumption in 1940s on his San Guido estate, and called the resulting wine, Sassicaia. Today the region’s Tuscan reds are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which can be made as single varietal wines or blends. The local Sangiovese can make up no more than 50% of the blends. Today Sassicaia has its own DOC designation within the Bogheri DOC appellation.