Ca'Marcanda (Gaja), Camarcanda, Bolgheri DOC 2022

A deeper, more saturated red/purple hue, the 2022 Camarcanda is initially more reserved on the nose but opens in the glass to show ripe plum, fresh sage, and lavender. Full-bodied, it has a polished, more luxurious texture, with velvety tannins and a sense of richness balanced by freshness. There is a subtle sweetness to the herbal notes that adds to its appeal. In the context of our blind tasting, this offered a clear Mediterranean sensibility and identity for the vintage that offers more immediacy. Drink 2026-2040.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda shows a very ripe character with dark fruit and stewed blackberry. This was a hot and dry vintage with above average temperatures well into August. Rains came in mid-August, with showers until mid-September. That velvety softness gives this wine a shorter drinking window compared to more balanced vintages such as 2019 and 2021. This is a 16,500-bottle release.

The 2022 Camarcanda is an attractive, open-knit wine from the Gaja family’s Camarcanda estate. Juicy dark cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and incense all meld together in this understated offering. The 2022 is nicely balanced in the smaller-scaled style of the year. It’s a very pleasant wine that doesn’t quite offer the dimension and breadth of the very finest vintages.