Winemaker Notes
The Gonnare vineyard, planted at 50 mt. a.s.l. (164 feet a.s.l.) on sedimentary clay mixed with sand, rich in iron. This vineyard is cordon-trained with a Western exposition.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also a deep, transparent red, the 2020 Le Gonnare is 85% Merlot and 15% Syrah and has a great nose of pure red plum, olive, roses, and fresh soil. Full-bodied but elegant, it offers notes of mole on the palate and is gripping in structure, with ample freshness and an iron-rich mineral texture. This is another wine that I expect to do superbly well over time. Drink 2024-2044.
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James Suckling
Attractive nose of chocolate, cherries, currants, dried flowers and bay leaves. Chewy and full-bodied, lightly leafy, with firm but well-integrated tannins. Beautiful balance. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Fabio Motta 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Le Gonnare is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine holds back just a hair in terms of structure and mouthfeel, and the bouquet is colored with black fruits, sweet cedar, spice and a touch of grilled rosemary. It shows initial restraint and needs more bottle time. This is rich on the palate, with some sanguine or rusty notes that add a touch of saltiness to the finish. Winemaking starts off in cement vats and ages in barrique (with just 25% new oak).
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
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.