Capezzana Villa di Capezzana Carmignano 2018

The 2018 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano (94 points – James Suckling; 92 points – Vinous) captures the exceptional beauty and allure of Tuscany and wholly captivates the senses. With a deep ruby robe with flashes of violet, a seductive bouquet redolent with the scents of roses and violets, and silky tannins that embody a delicious mélange of woodland berries and clean forest floor, the sensuous 2018 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano is downright seductive. Elegant, yet so rich in flavor, Capezzana’s Villa di Capezzana Carmignano (80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) sings from the glass almost from the moment it is poured. This is another Capezzana award-winning Carmignano that harmoniously blends fruit, earth, mineral and spice into one “sexy” wine. Enjoy this Tuscan treasure now and over the next 8-10 years. For optimum enjoyment, we suggest decanting and allowing this complex elegant red at least 30 minutes in the decanter before serving at cool room temperature (58°-62° F). Anticipated maturity: 2022-2028. Enjoy!

Whether it is served in the dining hall of a noble Tuscan villa or at your kitchen, Capezzana’s elegant, sensuous 2018 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano provides the ideal wine to bring to table. Tuscan classics such as Florentine Steak or Roasted Wild Boar encrusted with herbs and served with root vegetables provide superb pairings. Equally appealing in the company of the 2018 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano is Herb Roasted Veal with cherry tomatoes and Tuscan Eggplant Parmesan. Pappardelle Pasta with Chianina Beef Ragu provides another classic pairing and is a long time personal favorite. A Pecorino Cheese Pie served over a bed of caramelized pears with balsamic vinegar, wild honey, and cinnamon makes another fine companion. However, the Villa di Capezzana Carmignano is no snob. It offers an equally appealing companion to pork, poultry, and vegetarian dishes, especially those made with beans or lentils, so as you like. Buon Appetito!

We have followed the Contini Bonacossi family’s Tenuta Capezzana estate winery and their exceptional Carmignano for many years, and we are delighted to offer to our members the estate’s exceptional 2018 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano, a true Tuscan treasure.

The Contini Bonacossi family have been in possession of the ancient Capezzana property since the 1920s, though the family’s presence in Carmignano dates back many centuries to when the Medicis ruled Tuscany. Much of modern Carmignano’s return to prominence among Tuscany’s elite wines belongs to the Contini Bonacossi family who have worked assiduously to gain DOC and then DOCG status for Carmignano. Capezzana’s Carmignano is certified organic and Capezzana is unquestionably Carmignano’s most iconic producer.

In addition to fashioning outstanding Carmignano, Capezzana also produces a number of delicious red wines, including Barco Reale di Carmignano and Nera Rosso di Toscana, both lighter red blends for early consumption. A very fine Vin Santo and Extra Virgin Olive Oil also emanate from the Capezzana estate.

Carmignano is one of the oldest wine regions of Tuscany, and both the Etruscans and Romans tended vines in this region. Written records of Carmignano’s distinctive wines date back to the middle of the 14th century, where documents as early as 1369 illustrate the importance of this small, but illustrious, wine region. Carmignano was so highly regarded that written accounts attest to it selling for four times the cost of any other wine.

Throughout the centuries Carmignano has retained its favored status, becoming a favorite of dukes and popes. The Medicis introduced French varietals in the 1500s and in the early 1700s the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’ Medici established the area of Carmignano as a nursery for grape varieties, which included the planting of international varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon that he had imported from France. Cosimo III also issued a decree controlling Carmignano’s production standards and sales, a precursor to today’s strict DOCG regulation. His decree is believed to be the first modern denomination of controlled origin for wine in the world. Moreover, the original boundaries of Carmignano remain identical to the current ones, which makes it one of the smallest Italian DOCG areas.

Although lesser known today than Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Chianti Classico, Carmignano has consistently fashioned distinctive Tuscan reds of exceptional quality from a mere 270 acres. Carmignano was awarded its own DOC in 1975 thanks to the efforts of Count Ugo Contini Bonacossi, and it received its much coveted DOCG status in 1990. Given the region’s centuries-old tradition of growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (centuries before Super Tuscan reds were born throughout the rest of Tuscany), Bordeaux varietals have long played an important role in the highly prized wines of Carmignano. Other permitted varietals include Sangiovese (which must constitute at least 50% of the blend), Canaiolo Nero, Mammolo, Merlot, Colorino, Syrah and two traditional Tuscan white varieties, Trebbiano and Malvasia. However, the zone’s white varietals rarely find their way any longer into Carmignano.