Fabio Motta Bolgheri Rosso Pievi 2019

50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Sangiovese. Fabio Motta founded his winery in 2009 with the purchase of 4 hectares of vines in the Bolgheri DOC, having worked several years under the tutelage of his father-in-law Michele Satta, a much-respected producer in his own right. His vineyards lie in the gorgeous foothills overlooking the Mediterranean sea and are planted to Bordeaux varietals, Syrah and Sangiovese for the red wines and his white wine is a blend of Vermentino, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyards are biodynamically farmed, which he considers the best practices to allow the wines to truly speak of their unique terroir. In the cellar, his approach is undeniably hands-off using only indigenous yeast and he eschews fining and filtering of the wines at all costs. For the Bolgheri Pievi Each varietal is hand-harvested in small crates at optimum ripeness, which means that they are fermented separately as the harvest dates range from late August (Merlot) to early October (Cabernet Sauvignon). The wines are pressed, assembled, and aged in neutral French oak barrels for 12 months. Intense ruby red in color, the nose shows bright persistent notes of red berries with aromas of violets and cigar box. On the palate, it shows the same level of freshness as the nose with ripe, medium-strength tannings, gritty minerals, and alcohol levels that are never excessive. Fabio has drive, passion, and experience and it will be a joy to see how high this young winery can go.