Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari 2018, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Our View: 

The history of innovation in wine production that lies behind the Gaja name is legendary in the industry. Family owned and first founded in 1859 with the Gaja Winery in Barbaresco, the Gaja family have been growing vines and making wine for five generations. 

From the planting of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay in the hallowed soils of Piedmont to the unheard of blending of Barbera grapes with Nebbiolo, Angelo Gaja has consistently challenged the Italian wine making tradition and mindset, with, most importantly, superb results.

We are proud to stock the excellent wines of the Gaja estate in Ca’Marcanda, Tuscany,  produced from non-indigenous internationally renowned varieties and demonstrating that there is so much more to this wonderful region than Sangiovese, wonderful as it can be! The Ca'Marcanda range which means the 'house of endless negotiations' is so called following the 18 trips required to finalise the acquisition of this 100ha Bolgheri estate. 

Magari is a brilliant example and a must try for Italian wine lovers.

The Wine:

Magari means if only it were true!, an expression used often in Italian to express desire, hope, and a vision of a bright future. 

Magari’s international and widely appealing grape varietals offer a fresh approach to Italian wines and a lushness that is attractive to a broader wine drinker.

The vineyard blocks that make up this blend are further away from the nearby sea, closer to the fertile hillside. The loamy, clay-rich soils here are known as terre brune (dark brown earth), is key in creating round wines with mineral characters.

The three varieties ferment and macerate separately for around 15 days. After 12 months of ageing in oak, they are blended and then aged for several months in the bottle before release.

Tasting Note:

Glowing and intense colour. Polished, refined, focused and expressive, with notes of eucalyptus, pepper and pine. A typical notes of the local Mediterranean bushes and berries rise from the glass. Fine-grained tannins surround a sleek core of black cherry, blackberry and liquorice flavours, with nice fresh nuances gliding through a long and expressive finish. The harmony between vibrant acidity and refined tannins is a premise for an excellent aging potential.

Drink 2021-2035+

The Facts:

What the critics say:

Jeb Dunnock 95 points: 

"More herbal notes of blackcurrants, green tobacco, cedar, and graphite emerge from the 2018 Magari, a Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Verdot blend brought up in French oak. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and downright seamless on the palate, this beauty is another Bordeaux look-alike with incredible class. It has some upfront appeal, with supple tannins and plenty of fruit, yet it’s going to age gracefully for 15-20 years on its balance".

Wine Advocate 94 points: 

"A blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2018 Bolgheri Rosso Magari shows grace and a slightly lighter style that works very nicely. With the recent releases from Bolgheri, many from the hot and concentrated 2017 vintage, this 2018 alternative comes as an elegant surprise. You can appreciate the purity of the fruit, with dark cherry and plum, and the acidity that pops up on the finish. This is almost a full-bodied red, but not quite. It holds back just a hair, and that more careful approach goes a long way to the pleasure factor".