We really love the wines of Angelo Gaja here at Sunfish Cellars (after all, we have hosted tastings with both Giovanni and Gaia in the last year or so). While Gaja is perhaps better known for the extraordinary wines he makes in Piedmont, those he makes at Ca'Marcanda in Bolgheri are equally compelling. The 2017 Ca'Marcanda Magari (Magari means "if only it were true"), a blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, is a beautiful example of what Angelo and his team have achieved in this special spot in Southwest Tuscany.
Only $62.99, it shows what a great winemaker can achieve in a problematic vintage (2017 was one of the hottest vintages on record in Tuscany). It exhibits a bright and deep color, showing a complex character without being brash. The nose is rich and concentrated; it starts fresh, developing balsamic notes and scents of graphite, juniper, and liquorice. Then it turns into a more mellow character with dark fruit and rhubarb. The palate is sweet and voluminous with notes of mulberry and sour cherry. Fine-grained, silky tannins. Long-lasting, sapid finish. Just a superb wine.
Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate agrees with us, rating it 94+ points (I would give it 96), saying: "Angelo Gaja and his family have worked this vintage with a deft hand. The 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."
Purchase this special wine here: https://sunfishcellars.com/products/gajacamarcandamagari2017
And here is a recipe for the perfect dish to serve with it: https://lidiasitaly.com/recipes/maremma-style-steak/