Bibi Graetz Casamatta Rosso, Toscana 2019

Bibi Graetz founded his winery in 2000 on the hills of Fiesole overlooking Florence. While he grew up in a family of artists he felt a calling for the viticulture and in just two decades has becom one of Tuscany's most ingenious, cult winemakers following neither the 'Super Tuscan', nor traditionalist path. Crafting wines in a medieval castle overlooking the city of Florence, he turned his back on the constraints of the Chianti DOCG in favour of indigenous varietals and innovative, risk-taking winemaking.

he uses only the indigenous varieties of the area in his winemaking rather than the international varieties now routinely seen. But, he was also adamant that the grapes he used would be the best he could find in Montepulciano - and if that meant that they lay outside the classically 'great' viticultural areas of Chianti Classico, then so be it.

he also favours old vines - and when you're working with some that reach up to 80 years old, every choice in the vineyard matters. His team have taken steps to become pioneers of sustainability and organics in their winemaking, mastering the art of extracting highly concentrated fruit from low yielding plants. This allows them to tread lightly in the vineyard, using only indigenous yeasts and free-run juice to produce beautifully balanced wines that, in true Bibi style, really pack a punch.