Ca'Marcanda, Camarcanda, 2023 - 6L
Ca'Marcanda, Camarcanda, 2023 - 6L
- 600cl
- 14%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
- Organic
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Optimal drinking window: 2027 - 2045
Est. delivery winter 2026
Angelo Gaja bought the Ca’Marcanda estate in 1996 after what became 18 famously protracted meetings with the previous owners—hence the name, a Piedmontese expression meaning “house of endless negotiations.” The first Camarcanda was released in 2000, and after years of evolving the blend, the 2023 vintage settles into its now-established partnership of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc.
Full-flavoured but beautifully poised, it has a velvety texture, fine tannins and refreshing acidity, with the stony, salty character of the estate’s limestone-rich “white soils” adding length and definition. Eighteen months in oak followed by six months in concrete allows the fruit and terroir to take centre stage.
This is Cabernet with an Italian accent: polished, serious and built to age, but with enough freshness and finesse to make it surprisingly approachable now.
What the critics say:
"The 2023 Camarcanda falls between the Magari and Gaja’s Darmagi in color and displays a layered profile of redcurrants, spice, juniper, and herbal notes. Full-bodied, it brings together the elements of the flight, with a refined texture, even acidity, and a balance of structure and flesh. It was the most complete and complex wine in the lineup at this tasting, with excellent length and the ability to age for decades while remaining accessible now."
"Complex, spicy and slightly leafy, with pleasant aromas of vibrant cassis, kiwis and a hint of well-integrated cloves. Full-bodied with graceful tannins, a velvety texture, crisp and elegant acidity and a supple, lavish, crunchy finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2027."
The Ca'Marcanda vineyards sit on the Bolgheri coastal plain and low hills of the Maremma, where a mild maritime climate moderated by sea breezes from the Tyrrhenian keeps temperatures relatively stable and reduces the risk of late-season stress. Soils are a mix of clay, silt, and sand — particularly suited to Merlot, which thrives in the heavier clay sections. The combination of warmth, coastal airflow, and varied soil textures produces grapes with generous ripeness but retains enough freshness to keep the wines structured rather than heavy.
Bolgheri DOC covers the coastal strip of southern Tuscany between Livorno and Grosseto, an area that rose to fame with Sassicaia in the 1970s and exploded into the wine world's consciousness in the 1990s as the heartland of the so-called Super Tuscans. The DOC permits Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Vermentino among others, and its rosso category allows considerable blending freedom. Bolgheri sits apart from the Chianti and Brunello world of Sangiovese — this is Bordeaux-variety country, shaped more by the sea than the mountains, and it produces some of Italy's most internationally styled, age-worthy reds.
The 2023 vintage in Tuscany delivered precisely what nobody expected after a challenging start. Spring brought excessive rainfall that had growers fretting about disease pressure, whilst a scorching July tested even the most experienced vignerons. Yet August's return to more moderate temperatures, combined with crucial diurnal temperature swings, allowed the vines to regain their composure just when it mattered most. The harvest stretched longer than usual, with producers able to pick at optimal ripeness rather than racing against the clock.
What emerged from the cellars shows Tuscany's remarkable ability to transform adversity into opportunity. The Sangiovese displays a freshness we haven't seen in recent warm years, with that characteristic cherry brightness sitting beautifully alongside more structured tannins. Super Tuscans from the coast fared particularly well, where maritime influences helped moderate the summer extremes. These aren't blockbuster wines built for decades of cellaring, but rather Tuscan reds with an approachable charm that makes them dangerously drinkable now whilst still having the backbone to reward five to eight years of patience.
OUR GROWERS
Ca'Marcanda
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