2020 Gaja Ca' Marcanda

Currants, rose petals and ink with some fresh herbs as well. Medium-bodied with fine and tensioned tannins that give focus and beauty to the wine. This will come together beautifully. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. Try after 2028, but already excellent.

A preview of what will be released in March 2023, the 2020 Camarcanda is attractive out of the gate and is sweet with its perfume of purple fruits and red currant, violets, menthol, rosemary, and wet stone. It is full bodied, though, and has lift and charming appeal now. While it is ripe and plush with raspberry, crushed red flowers, and sweet cedar, it retains its benchmark notes of saline earth and herbs. This wine is incredibly expressive and delicious now, and I anticipate that will certainly be the case upon release. It will be fantastic to check in on from 2025-2045. 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.

The 2020 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc in a supporting role. Showing youthful primary fruit at this young stage, the wine delivers impressive balance and fruit versus oak integration. Angelo Gaja and his team are dedicated to the pursuit of elegance in these two grape varieties that can often deliver too much power and concentration when unchecked. Timing the harvest correctly and the careful use of French oak is key to these overall results, especially with regard to the medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and the long silkiness of this age-worthy vintage.