2020 Batàr, Querciabella, Tuscany, Italy
Critics reviews
The 2020 Batàr, Querciabella's Chardonnay/Pinot Blanc white, is laced with hints of tangerine oil, jasmine, spice and pear. Light tropical accents appear later, adding gorgeous nuance throughout. The move towards high-elevation vineyards and picking earlier yields a Batàr endowed with terrific freshness and plenty of style.
There are a ton of notable wines in this range, from Querciabella. The Gran Seleziones are superb, while the Merlot Palafreno is off the charts in 2019. I am less enamoured with the entry-level wines from Maremma, which, quite frankly, strike me as innocuous. Manfred Ing always crafts wines of notable purity, transparency and energy.
Drink 2022 - 2028
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (July 2022)
Brilliant straw. A gorgeous, layered, sweet peach and fragrant oak nose with just a hint of hazelnut. Creamy and a little rich on the palate and gaining enormously in-depth on the finish with salty minerally notes. Fantastic focus and length. Already irresistible, but I wouldn’t open this for at least another two to three years.
Drink 2026 - 2036
Walter Speller, JancisRobinson.com (April 2023)
I have not tasted this wine in a while, and it's a delight to revisit it now. Compared to older vintages, I find this blend of equal parts Pinot Bianco and Chardonnay to be quite improved. The organic 2020 Batàr (with 20,000 bottles made) offers fresh, citrusy tones with lemon curd and candied peach. This barrique-aged white also offers mid-weight density and plenty of orchard fruit, saffron, and light spice. It concludes with fresh acidity.
Querciabella has access to fruit from four UGA subzones: Greve, Radda, Lamole and Gaiole. A new winery is in the works, and farming has followed organic protocols since 1990.
Drink 2022 - 2026
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (February 2023)
From organically grown grapes. Vegan.
An intense nose of cedar, smoked almond, mango puree, papaya, and lemon pie. Full-bodied, dense, and creamy, with delicious praline and pie-crust character, balanced by just the right amount of lemony acidity.
Drink now
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (July 2022)
The 2020 vintage is more herbal than usual, with sage, thyme and a citrussy character, then its typical peach kernel core. The attack is full, silky, concentrated and textured, yet vibrant on the finish.One of the most sought after white wines of Italy, with proven ability to age, Batàr originates from vineyards in Ruffoli, in Greve in Chianti, some of which reach 600m. The Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grapes are fermented and aged for nine months in French oak. It's a very classic white SuperTuscan (first vintage was 1988) with a stylish Corton-Charlemagne attitude.
Drink 2023 - 2030
Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter.com (February 2023)
About this WINE
Querciabella
The story of Querciabella, or its charming translation ‘beautiful oak’, started in 1974 when oenophile and businessman, Giuseppe (Pepito) Castiglioni brought the estate. The Castiglione family has always pushed boundaries, by planting non-indigenous grape varieties and converting their vineyards to Biodynamic farming.
Since 1981, Camartina has been the estate’s leading Super-Tuscan. Camartina is part of a revolutionary but highly select group of wines, which firmly elevated Italian wine to the world stage. The estate was unhappy with the mediocrity of the Tuscan region, which, in turn, sparked creativity and innovation amongst the best wineries. Querciabella took a risk when producing Camartina, as they eschewed the strict rules of the Chianti Classico region.
Originally, the blend of Camartina favoured Sangiovese but over the years, Cabernet Sauvignon has usurped the traditional, Tuscan grape variety. This is due to the Bordeaux variety acclimatising to Ruffoli’s sandstone slopes. French Oak is the material of choice for the fermentation vessels, creating integrated tannins in the wine. The Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon wines are matured separately for 18 months in French Oak barrels. The leading barrels are selected to make up the final blend.
IGT Tuscany
IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Tuscany is a wine classification from Italy's Tuscany region. It is one of the official wine classifications recognized by the Italian government. IGT is a step below the highest classification, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), and above the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) level.
The IGT classification was introduced in 1992 to allow winemakers more flexibility in grape varieties and employ winemaking techniques while still ensuring a certain level of quality and geographical indication. This classification gives winemakers more freedom to experiment and innovate, deviating from the strict regulations of the DOC and DOCG classifications.
IGT Tuscany wines can be produced throughout the entire region of Tuscany, encompassing various sub-regions and terroirs within the area. This classification allows winemakers to use traditional Tuscan grape varieties, such as Sangiovese, and non-traditional grape varieties, including international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and others.
The IGT Tuscany classification gives winemakers the flexibility to create wines that showcase the unique characteristics of their specific vineyards and winemaking styles. It allows for experimentation with blending different grape varieties, using innovative winemaking techniques, and exploring new regional vineyard sites.
IGT Tuscany wines can vary greatly, from traditional and terroir-driven expressions to more modern and international styles. This classification has played a significant role in developing Super Tuscan wines, often IGT designated and known for their high quality and international recognition.
Overall, IGT Tuscany provides a platform for winemakers in the region to express their creativity and produce wines that reflect their unique vision while maintaining a connection to the rich heritage and traditions of winemaking in Tuscany.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
The 2020 vintage is more herbal than usual, with sage, thyme and a citrussy character, then its typical peach kernel core. The attack is full, silky, concentrated and textured, yet vibrant on the finish.One of the most sought after white wines of Italy, with proven ability to age, Batàr originates from vineyards in Ruffoli, in Greve in Chianti, some of which reach 600m. The Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grapes are fermented and aged for nine months in French oak. It's a very classic white SuperTuscan (first vintage was 1988) with a stylish Corton-Charlemagne attitude.
Drink 2023 - 2030
Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter.com (February 2023)
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