"A Beautiful Maremma" ~ 94 JS: 2018 Nittardi ‘Ad Astra’ Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC
Today’s wine offer is attached to do BIG names: one in art and one in wine. The first is the Renaissance artist Michaelangelo. In the 16th century, what is now the Nittardi Estate belonged to the famous painter. He lived there while he was finishing the Sistine Chapel. The second is winemaker Carlo Ferrini who is a big deal in Italian wine. More about him in a bit, but first the wine.
The 94-point 2018 Nittardi ‘Ad Astra’ Maremma Toscana Rosso DOC is aSuper Tuscan,a blend of grapes grown on thesun-drenched hills of Nittardi's estate in Southern Maremma where the soils are mostly sand rich with pebble and clay. Ad Astra has had the distinction of earning theGambero Rosso highest rating, the Tre Bicchieri (Three Glasses) designation.
The 2018 vintage (a quality,94-point vintage in Tuscany, by the way) of Ad Astra is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Secret Varietals. (No, we don’t know what the secret varietals are, but whatever they are, they blend perfectly with this wine.) James Suckling blesses it with 94 points and calls it “a beautiful Maremma” with “blackberry, blackcurrant, and chocolate aromas and flavors.”
Those qualities are brought forth byconsultant winemaker Carlo Ferrini who supervises all the vineyards and winemaking at Nittardi. He earned the titleEnologist of the Yearfrom both the Associazione Italiana Sommelier in 2003 and Gambero Rosso in 2000. In 2008,Wine Enthusiast proclaimed him Winemaker of the Year.
In the introductory speech given before presenting Ferrini with his Wine Enthusiast award, it was noted that although he works with many of Italy’s most renowned estates, he never loses sight of “the individual characteristics of a specific region, a specific territory, or a specific vineyard.”
For this certified organic wine, those individual characteristics become one wine that’sapproachable yet simultaneously complex red wine that is also a true pleasure when enjoyed young. This beautiful Maremma is ready to drink right now, and it’s at a price that’s ready to have you click “buy” right now.
