2018 Bibi Graetz "Colore", Toscana IGT, Tuscany - 6L Imperial

98 Points – James Suckling.

Colore sits at the summit of Bibi Graetz’s portfolio, built around old-vine Sangiovese from high-elevation Tuscan vineyards and produced with an emphasis on purity, fragrance and finesse rather than sheer weight. The 2018 is especially elegant and detailed, and in the imposing 6L Imperial format it combines serious cellar potential with the presence expected of a centerpiece bottle.

Blend: 100% Sangiovese.

Tasting Notes: Wild strawberry, red cherry and raspberry lead into violet, blood orange and Mediterranean herbs, with layers of tobacco, sweet spice and subtle earthy complexity emerging with air. The palate is concentrated yet remarkably lifted, carrying vivid red fruit through fine-grained tannins toward a long, savory and mineral-driven finish.

Structure: Full-bodied but finely proportioned, with vibrant acidity and polished tannins providing definition to the concentrated old-vine fruit. The wine favors energy and precision over heaviness, giving the 2018 the structural balance required for extended development.

Drink Window: 2028–2050+. In 750ML the 2018 is beginning to approach an attractive phase, but the 6L Imperial should evolve considerably more slowly. Properly stored, this format is best viewed as a long-term cellar bottle, with substantial potential beyond the suggested window.

Decanting: For a 6L Imperial at this stage, plan well ahead: stand the bottle upright beforehand and decant carefully for approximately 2–3 hours, tasting periodically as it opens. Because of the format’s weight and volume, transferring the wine into multiple clean decanters will make service considerably easier and provide more controlled aeration.

Colore in Imperial is as much an occasion bottle as a cellar acquisition: a serious old-vine Sangiovese in a format designed for a large table and prolonged evolution. For a milestone dinner, significant celebration or long-term collection, the 2018 offers both the pedigree of Colore and the distinctive aging proposition of six liters.