2019 Gaja Ca Marcanda Camarcanda Bolgheri

(97 Points) This is a gorgeous vintage that continues to flesh out beautifully. I added an extra point to my score since the last time I tasted the 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda in order to underline the great potential of this vintage. This wine could legally be a Bolgheri Superiore, but Angelo Gaja prefers not to use qualifying wine terms such as Superiore, Classico or Riserva in his various wine projects spanning from Piedmont to Tuscany to Etna. Semantics aside, this is a gorgeous wine—one of the best made at Ca' Marcanda for sure—with impressive intensity and balance. Dark fruit and blackberry are contrasted against spice, tobacco, grilled rosemary and Mediterranean bramble. The 2019 vintage saw favorable weather conditions and "just the right amount of rain," Gaja says. (ML) Review Date: 01/2023, Wine Advocate

With respect to the previous vintage, the higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Camarcanda leads to a precise and straightforward character. The nose opens with earthy and balsamic notes of violet, roots, bark and sap. The palate is rich, with concentrated and crunchy notes of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, flint and red orange. The finish is savory, almost meaty, with a precise note of iron that lingers in the aftertaste. Fine–grained tannins, embraced by a mellow body of strong personality. The backbone of this wine is the firm structure perfectly balanced by the fruit concentration. Remarkable ageing potential.

Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc