We last saw San Felice’s Bolgheri bottling in the 2017 edition. Like that vintage, this 2020 is a blend of 95% merlot and 5% cabernet sauvignon. But unlike the 2017, this offering is a much softer and more approachable wine, ready to drink today.

Exuberantly fruity but far from sweet, you’d never notice this was 15.5% abv out of the gate. Bold cherry and raspberry notes are dusted with violets and anise, giving the fruit some immediate intrigue, with a slightly dusty barrel-driven quality developing with a little time in glass. The wine is thinner than I expected, not just from a Supertuscan but considering the high abv and the heaviness of the 2017 expression — and that’s not at all a bad thing. The floral elements of the wine are what linger the longest here, while droplets of strawberry syrup, some tea leaf, and the lightest touch of chocolate add to the equation. The more I drink it, the more immersive it seems to become.

A / $40 / agricolasanfelice.it

2020 San Felice Bell'aja Bolgheri Superiore DOC

$40

9.5

Rating

9.5/10