Angelo Gaja is unquestionably the most influential Italian winemaker of his generation and perhaps the most influential and respected of all. His Piedmont reds are sought after by lovers of Italian wines everywhere. But his Tuscan reds are also benchmarks for their respective regions, as illustrated by this very special wine.
The 2017 Gaja Ca' Marcanda Bolgheri Rosso Magari beautifully illustrates what a master winemaker Angelo Gaja is. 2017 was one of the hottest Tuscan vintages of recent times which could have resulted in over-ripe grapes, elevated sugars, and out-of-balance wines, but none of those flaws exist in this wonderful wine. Monica Larner, who writes about Italy for Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, agrees with us, rating it 94+ points (I have tasted it several times including Saturday night on the patio at I Nonni and I would say that is a conservative score): "This wine is released before the Camarcanda blend. Angelo Gaja and his family have worked this vintage with a deft hand. This hot 2017 growing conditions have been harnessed for their positive attributes, such as the thickness and the dark concentration of the fruit and, consequently, the wine's freshness. Any negative implications have been absolutely eliminated and worked through. Nothing escapes Angelo's watchful eye. The 2017 Bolgheri Rosso Magari is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035."
By the way, it was fabulous with the home-made Italian sausage ragu Saturday night!