Description
We are extremely fortunate to have secured a small quantity of the extraordinary 2022 Fattoria Le Pupille SAFFREDI produced by the legendary Elisabetta Geppetti. This iconic Tuscan “Bordeaux Blend” is one of Tuscany’s top collectibles and a must have for anyone serious about the great wines of Italy. I have been personally collecting Saffredi since the 2006 vintage. 😇
Although we are still waiting for Wine Spectator’s review which rated the 2021 at 97 points, so far Saffredi ’22 ratings have surpassed its stupendous 2021 vintage; JS 99, WA 98, DE 98 (scroll down).
The Saffredi blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot is sourced from the poor calcareous soils of the winery’s five hectare Saffredi vineyard in the Pereta area of the southern Maremma, about a 90 minute drive down the coast from Bolgheri (note, Bolgheri is situated in the northern Maremma). Although the winery is not certified, farming practices are entirely organic.
99 points James Suckling! This is a young wine with terrific depth and layers of fruit. It’s full-bodied with notes of eucalyptus, lavender and sage and hints of matchsticks and oranges. It’s linear and tight at the end, with an energetic finish. Very Saffredi in nature. Better than the 2021. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Petite Verdot.
98 points Wine Advocate! This is one of only a handful of wines made on the Tuscan Coast that has managed to interpret the vintage in such an excellent manner. The Fattoria le Pupille 2022 Saffredi (a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot) deftly plays upon the elegance and fruity brightness of the growing season, while also harnessing its freshness and its slightly more streamlined appeal. The wine is nuanced and layered with fine details that recall wild berry, spice, blue flower and blood orange. To my mind, the 2022 stands apart from almost every other past vintage of Saffredi. This is a new direction for the wine that we can all happily embrace. Drink 2026-2045.
98 points Decanter! Menthol-infused dark berry aromas open the door to an intense and juicy mouthful of precisely wrought red and black berries and cherries. Wonderful lip-smacking sapidity and finely integrated tannins complete the package. The 2022 Saffredi is the result of the estate’s hard work and it has paid dividends. Elisabetta Geppetti’s son, Ettore – in just his third vintage overseeing the winemaking without the experienced hand of ex-consultant Luca d’Attoma – has beautifully interpreted the vintage. He tells me that, unusually, it took the team three harvests at different times to obtain the freshness evident in the wine. It’s a stunner. Wow! Drink 2025-2048.