Nittardi Ad Astra 2022

The 2022 Ad Astra, from vines in Maremma, is packed with super-ripe dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, licorice, leather, tobacco, incense and lavender. There’s plenty of Maremma richness and resonance in this plush, extroverted red. Borders on Amarone-like intensity. Carlo Ferrini is the Winemaker 

Nittardi dates back to the 16^th century. The property was owned by Michelangelo Buonarroti who, in 1549, while finishing the Sistine Chapel, wrote to his nephew Leonardo: “I’d prefer two casks of wine rather than eight shirts.” On that same occasion, Michelangelo also sent Nittardi wine to Rome as a “genuine gift to the Pope Paolo III”. Today, in honor of that tradition, every year the first bottles of Nectar Dei, the top wine from the Maremma vineyards, are presented to the Pope. Over the centuries the property changed hands often until, in 1981, it was taken over by the Frankfurt publisher and art gallerist Peter Femfert and his wife Stefania Canali, a historian from Venice. The property slowly was completely restored, vineyards replanted in 1992 and they hired the great Carlo Ferrini to oversee winemaking. Carlo Ferrini is one of the greatest winemakers in Italy. He makes the likes of Casanova di Neri Brunello, Fonterutoli, Orma, Sette Ponti, Brancaia, Brolio, Petrolo and La Massa, some of the greatest houses in Tuscany. Their wines have become some of the finest made in Tuscany today. The 2022 Nittardi Ad Astra, from vines from their coastal property in the Maremma, home to the greatest Super Tuscans made, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot and Sangiovese is packed with super-ripe dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, licorice, leather, tobacco, incense and lavender. There’s plenty of Maremma richness and resonance in this plush, extroverted red. Borders on Amarone-like intensity. Super Tuscan fans, Napa fans, Bordeaux fans this wine is for you, sensational red at a rock bottom price. Nittardi’s Ad Astra has received Gambero Rosso’s Tre Bicchieri (its highest rating) several times, not bad for a bottle that costs less than $21! Lowest price I could find in the US on-line.