Angelo Gaja, famed for his incomparable Barbarescos, finally exchanged on this splendid Bolgheri estate in 1996. His flagship wine, Camarcanda is only made in exceptional years from the three great Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Each thrive on the Terre Bianche (the hillsides above the Italian riviera), famed for its calcareous clay and free draining soils. After 18 months of ageing in oak, separate lots are blended and aged for a number of months before release. This remarkable wine is powerful and structured, revealing a deep core of crunchy black fruit, cherry and plum, alongside wonderful aromas of fresh mint, rosemary and lavender. Culminating in a long succulent finish supported by finely grained tannins. Anyone with a penchant for age worthy Super Tuscans should give this serious consideration.
Read More96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, July '22.
This wine qualifies as a Bolgheri Superiore (in terms of vineyard yields and aging), but the Gaja family has always kept it a Bolgheri Rosso that is released one year after its peers. The 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda showed shy or closed aromas when first tasted, but it opened considerably when I went back to the open sample bottle a few hours later. It starts with rich plummy aromas, floral accents, dark spice and pencil shaving. It is fully expressive in terms of mouthfeel, with ample structure and power all supported by beautifully ripened fruit and firm tannins.
94 + points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July '22
The 2019 Camarcanda is a very good example of how much the wines have changed here. Medium in body with good depth, the 2019 Camarcanda is a tightly wound wine that is going to need a number of years to be at its best. Dark cherry, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice build nicely, with pretty floral and mineral accents that liven up the finish. The 2019 is classy, elegant and polished. Give it a few years, as the tannins are pretty intense today, but this softens nicely with air.