2001 Camarcanda

The 2001 Camarcanda is a beautiful wine from the second vintage, when the vines were just five years old. Offering lift and fresh mineral earth, with notes of redcurrant liqueur, it is bright and lively with rosemary and thyme. Medium to full-bodied, its red fruit is liberal on the palate, and it displays freshness in its notes of red cherry, currant, and salty earth. It has fresh acidity and is long on the palate, with fruit that is still fresh. The fantastic energy of this wine makes a strong argument that old vines are not necessarily the complete picture for producing wines with longevity. Drink 2023-2033. When the Gaja family purchased their Bolgheri property in 1996, it was home to 10 hectares of vines planted to Sangiovese and Trebbiano. The rest of the land was dedicated to olive trees, peach trees, and cereal grains. Angelo Gaja was drawn to the region by several factors, including the small size of the region, which was always something he looked for when seeking out denominations outside of their Piedmont home. The Bolgheri DOC had recently been established in 1994 with only 1300 hectares in total. A very different region from Piedmont, Bolgheri has historically been land owned by noble people whereas Piedmont was a region of farmers. Thus, the Tuscans were more connected to international travel, and you find people with international names and sensibilities. Other differences include the incredibly varied soils, with 27 different types identified due to the erosion from the Colline Metalifere. Additionally, constant winds come through the region that help both with ventilation and temperature control of the vines. My tasting occurred at the Bolgheri winery in November of 2022, alongside Gaia Gaja, who has been instrumental in working alongside her siblings and their father across the properties. Whether it is in the vineyard or in the winery, the family and the team at Ca' Marcanda are consistently evolving to raise the bar with a measured and steady hand.