Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi 2018

Fattoria Le Pupille Saffredi 2018 is one of Tuscany’s benchmark “Super Tuscans,” a powerful yet impeccably balanced Bordeaux-style blend from the coastal hills of Maremma. Crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, it marries Mediterranean warmth with classic structure, offering both immediate charm and serious cellar potential. First released in the late 1980s, Saffredi has since become a modern icon of Italian wine, regularly earning top scores and a devoted international following.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Saffredi is deep, almost opaque ruby with youthful purple highlights clinging to the rim. The nose opens in layers: dark cherry, black plum and blackberry compote are wrapped in notes of graphite, dried tobacco leaf, cedar, sweet baking spices and a subtle ember-like smokiness. On the palate, this is full-bodied but never heavy, with a polished core of dark fruit supported by finely grained, well-measured tannins. Flavors of blackcurrant, ripe black cherry and damson are intertwined with hints of cocoa, espresso, cigar box and wild Mediterranean herbs. A vibrant line of fresh acidity keeps everything lifted and precise, leading into a long, resonant finish with persistent fruit, spice and a touch of savory minerality. Still youthful and tightly knit, the 2018 is already impressive but will reward patience. Properly cellared, it has the structure to evolve gracefully for 15–20 years from vintage, gaining further complexity and silkier texture over time.

Production
Saffredi is sourced from Fattoria Le Pupille’s estate vineyards in Maremma, on Tuscany’s southwestern coast, where a warm Mediterranean climate, cooling sea breezes and well-drained, mixed soils of sand, clay and mineral-rich components create ideal conditions for Bordeaux varieties. Yields are kept low and harvesting is typically done by hand, allowing careful selection of perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot bunches. After gentle crushing, the varieties are vinified separately in temperature-controlled tanks, with meticulous extraction to capture depth without harshness. The wine is then aged in French oak barriques (a significant proportion new), where it undergoes malolactic fermentation and matures on fine lees, gaining aromatic complexity, texture and the refined tannic backbone that has become Saffredi’s hallmark.

Food & Serving
This is a natural partner for rich, flavorful dishes: think bistecca alla fiorentina, slow-braised beef or lamb, venison with juniper and herbs, or game birds with truffle and porcini. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Toscano or mature Comté. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large Bordeaux-style glasses to let the aromatics fully develop. Decanting is highly recommended: in its youth, give the 2018 at least 1–2 hours in a decanter to soften the tannins and allow the wine’s dark fruit, tobacco and spice notes to unfold.

Producer
Fattoria Le Pupille is one of the leading estates of Maremma, founded and shaped by the visionary Elisabetta Geppetti, who played a key role in putting this once-overlooked coastal corner of Tuscany on the fine-wine map. Originally known for Morellino di Scansano, the estate gained international acclaim with the creation of Saffredi in the late 1980s, a wine that demonstrated just how serious and ageworthy Maremma’s reds could be. Over the decades, Fattoria Le Pupille has become a reference-point producer for the region, consistently earning high scores and recognition for its elegant yet powerful style and its commitment to expressing the unique character of the Tuscan coast.

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