CAMARCANDA 2017 - NEW RELEASE. 2017 is a vintage of very low quantity and an overall “concentration”of: fruit, structure and acidity.
“The Ca' Marcanda 2017 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda is Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from the Gaja family estate in Bolgheri. Many of its peers show the inky and concentrated fruit of this hot and dry vintage, with the bitter structure and the exaggerated phenolic ripeness of the growing season. But not this wine. This Bolgheri blend is contained and subdued in comparison, with a silky mouthfeel and elegant tannins. This elegance defies the vintage and resets your palate to a place of nuance and finesse that is nearly impossible to find in these 2017 releases.” 95 points, Monica Larner
Antonio Galloni agrees, ‘Generous fruit, racy contours and lifted savoury notes add to its considerable allure. It, too, is arresting in its beauty. The 2017 offers plenty of voluptuousness, but with no excess weight. I loved it.’ 95+ points Antonio Galloni
Scores
It has a great collection of very consistent scores:
Monica Larner, WA 95
Antonio Galloni Vinous 95+
Jeb Dunnock 95+
Tasting notes
Deep in colour. It evokes black liquorice, violet, cassis and a spicy note of black pepper, shaded by aromatic herbs, incense and essential oils. Sleek and intense, with a firm structure and vibrant acidity for support. Like a ballerina, this offers power in a graceful form. Green peppery hints on the palate. Vineyards planted on white soil rich in limestone, firm clay and stones.
Climate and harvest
Winter and spring were dry and mild (230 mm of rain from May 1st to October 1st) therefore bud break, ripening period and harvest turned to be anticipated of a couple of weeks. Given these peculiar conditions, the aim of both vineyard and winemaking approach was to safeguard the freshness of the wines. Thankfully, at the beginning of September, 50mm of rain decreased the temperatures and helped to reach a full phenolic ripeness of the grapes. The early harvest started on August 30th with Cabernet Franc and finished on September 15th with Cabernet Sauvignon. The quantity resulted in a 40% decrease of the production due to the small size of bunches and green harvest. We handled the grapes with particular care, shortening the maceration and doing delicate extraction. The wines reached good results, with intense fruity, spicy, herbal and mineral aromas and flavours. The 2017 wines feature a bright and intense colour along with a concentrated, powerful, yet balanced, character. Overall, the 2017 vintage resulted in extremely low production combined with great quality level.
Appellation Bolgheri D.O.P.
Grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Winemaking method
The two varieties ferment and macerate separately for around 15 days. After 12 months of ageing in oak and further 6 months in concrete vessels, they are blended and aged for several months in the bottle before being released.
First vintage produced 2000.
