Italy, Tuscany, Fiesole, Vincigliata
Red wine – Sangiovese
Price category: Mid‑High Price
Points: 97 – Irresistible
Stars: 6 – Exceptional value
-> Bibi Graetz
One of the strongest Tuscan buys in recent years
When Tuscany truly shows its character, something close to magic can happen. Even outside the famous strongholds like Brunello, certain hillsides have a way of delivering wines with remarkable depth. Fiesole is one of those places, and Soffocone di Vincigliata 2024 stands out as one of the most impressive Tuscan reds I’ve tasted in a long time. The wine’s dark, aromatic personality appears immediately, and the style feels both powerful and composed.
A wine for evenings that call for depth and warmth
This is a wine for those who love a Tuscan red with a clear sense of identity and a dark, expressive core. It shines in autumn and winter, when its warmth and richness naturally fit the season. It pairs beautifully with beef, lamb and hearty pasta dishes, and it will appeal to anyone seeking a Sangiovese that is both generous and serious.
Aromatic intensity and focused dark fruit
The aroma brings together cherry, dark berries, spice and herbs. The colour sits firmly in the deeper end of the Sangiovese spectrum, and the palate follows with fullness, structure and aromatic depth. The mouthfeel is rich without heaviness, and the dark fruit is wrapped in a focused frame that keeps the wine precise. The intensity is striking and remains consistent throughout the experience.
Fiesole’s firm and distinctive style
The Vincigliata slope rises above Florence, where sand and limestone shape a style that feels firm and clear. The climate in Fiesole balances warmth with freshness, and that combination defines the wine’s character. It’s not one of Tuscany’s most famous areas, but it delivers a style that can easily compete with far more expensive wines from the classic appellations.
Bibi Graetz’s unmistakable signature
Bibi Graetz works with Sangiovese in a way that consistently produces darker, more aromatic expressions than many producers in the region. His focus on old vines and site personality results in wines with notable intensity. Soffocone is a prime example of how his approach creates a wine that feels modern, deep and full of character.
Sangiovese with extra force
Sangiovese can be light and bright or dark and intense – and here we are clearly in the latter category. The grape’s familiar cherry and spice gain an additional layer of dark berries and aromatic depth, shaped by the vineyard’s position and the way the wine is vinified. The firm structure is typical of the grape, but here it’s wrapped in fruit that makes the wine more generous and full.
Pure fruit and discreet oak
Temperature‑controlled fermentation keeps the fruit clean and focused. Ageing in steel with a touch of oak adds freshness and subtle depth. The steel tanks maintain clarity, while the light oak contributes a gentle spicy nuance. Manual harvesting ensures that only the best grapes make it into the wine, and that precision is evident in the final result.
A 2024 vintage with impressive concentration
The 2024 vintage shows a pure and concentrated fruit profile that gives the wine an intensity stretching from start to finish. The dark character is clear, yet balanced and harmonious. It has a cellaring potential of 5–10 years, but it already drinks beautifully.
A Tuscan red that stays in the memory
Soffocone di Vincigliata 2024 combines power, depth and purity in a way that makes it one of the most memorable Tuscan wines of recent years. It’s a bottle that leaves a lasting impression long after the glass is empty.
