Gaja Promis 2020 – Ca’ Marcanda.
Tuscany, Bolgheri, both one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and one of the most famous/ prestigious appellations of Central Italy. The wines produced are normally made of the Sangiovese grape, that produces elegant red wines. However, this time we are not going to discuss a typical Chianti but a blend, which includes Merlot, Sangiovese and Syrah (also known as Shiraz, Australia) of the winery Gaja Promis by Gaja.
About the Winery
The Gaja winery has been very important when it comes to putting Piemonte, northwestern Italy, on the international wine map. Gaja owns vineyards both in Piemonte, and Tuscany, like Gaja Ca’ Marcanda in Bolgheri, an estate with a story.
For Angelo Gaja it was not easy to gain ownership over the 60 hectares of ground in 1996. It took him at least 18 trips plus heavy negotiations to finally call it him ownership. Therefore, it gets the name Ca’ Marcanda, that literally means the house of endless negotiations. Nowadays, it is the flagship of the Gaja Family, which is a relieve for them as it is built from scratch. This estate is the perfect working environment where aesthetic ideal, humanist proportion, nature, and functionality all come together.
Besides, a few years ago the family wanted to focus on something different, something new, putting themselves into a new direction. Thus, the decision was made to invest in international grape varieties at the Ca’ Marcanda estate. Some uprooted Sangiovese vines are replanted with Merlot, and Syrah. Angelo Gaja said: “it was like learning of color after only working in Black & White”. We can tell you, this transition worked itself out with elegant, surprising, barrique aged wines!
About the wine
This Gaja wine is produced from Ca’ Marcanda young vines, with soils of terre brune, consisting of clay and sand. The three grape varieties are fermented separately in stainless steel tanks to focus on the primary fruit aromas of black fruits like blueberries and blackberries.
A deep-colored-red, dry wine, with some subtle vanilla tones, due to the old barrique ageing of 12 months. This also adds body to the wine and works well with the riper fruit components. A bit of spice is added through the Syrah grape. The tannins are there but do not take over the fruit and oak elements. The wine can be drunk young but has definitely potential to age in the bottle even further. This will lead in softer tannins, which is suitable for the people who like to drink red wine without astringent tannins.
It is true what Angelo says: “We don’t sell Barbaresco, Barolo, Bolgheri or Brunello, we sell Gaja”. In this case a fruity, straight-forward wine with a longer finish that every wine lover needs to try in our opinion.
This review is written by Judi Veldwijk, on behalf of Dutch Wine Apprentice. The wine is available online at Bovino.
Price: €41,25
Taste date: November 2022
Score: 93/100 DWA Score
Website: Gaja