Angelo Gaja - Tuscan New Releases

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This statement is not made by a promotional brochure from Gaja - as you might suppose - but by Sebastiano Rosa, the winemaker at Sassicaia! It is interesting though that when Angelo Gaja was drawn to the renowned viticultural area of Bolgheri he undertook extensive research into the soil types and patterns in the area and concluded that the “Ca'Marcanda” vineyard area had the greatest potential. Ca'Marcanda, by the way, means “hours of endless negotiations”, after the battle he had to purchase the land from the previous owners!

We are delighted to offer a full range of estate wines from 2 outstanding vintages, highlighted by the Camarcanda vineyard wine itself. Promis 2005 is a highly original but delicious blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese, both grown on the red soils of the estate. Magari 2005 & 2006 is a classic Bordeaux blend, dominated by Merlot, and then equal measures of Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, grown on a mix of both red and white soils. Camarcanda 2004 (the 2005 will not be released until 2009) is also a Bordeaux blend, this time with a greater proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and solely from those prized white soil parcels in the heart of the estate. Each wine has been raised in French barriques, with Promis being second fill; Magari a mix of new and second fill and Camarcanda 100% new oak
Nick Adams MW

This opening offer is valid until the end of May 2008

Promis 2005

Price per case £185.06 add to basket

Deeply coloured with a bold black fruit nose. In the mouth a lively and juicy fruit character - again dominated by black fruits, but with a gentle touch of spice from the Syrah element in the blend. Super ripe, soft tannins merge with dissolved vanilla oak notes to give a vibrant and supple texture. A gregarious and vital wine which has a long, creamy finish and briary fruit notes. Drink now and over the next 5 years

Further technical details

Magari 2005 & 2006

Our initial mailing last week has had a terrific response already with the 2005 Magari selling out completely thanks to a couple of substantial orders. However, we are pleased to announce that the Gajas have agreed to offer the 2006 Magari and the price will be held for this opening offer. The 2006 harvest was a beautiful year, with sustained periods of fine, dry, warm weather, but not the prolonged heat of the summer of 2005. After a little rain in September, harvesting took place in ideal conditions and the fruit was brought in perfect condition, with superb tannin, sugar fruit and acid balance.

2005 Price per 6 bottles IB £120.00 SOLD OUT

2006 Price per 12 bottles IB £240.00

Notes of cassis and vanilla on the nose, with hints of spice and dill. The palate is tight and mineral with again assertive cassis fruit. Exemplary purity and intensity, there is a structured, sinuous quality to the wine which reflects both its youth but also its potential. Long and refined on the palate, with beautifully dissolved grainy tannins and oak, the acidity and grip give the wine a really vital and racy feel. A brooding, potentially very fine wine – Magari is simply going from strength to strength.
50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc

Further technical details

2006 harvest report

Camarcanda 2004

Price per 6 bottles £298.16 add to basket

Again, a beautiful deep colour but here the nose is more of prune fruit with low key new wood influences. On the palate an amazing attack of dark fruits and intense minerality with touches of lavender and tar. Again, beautiful framework of fine grained tannins and ripe, grippy acidity. Really big, black fruit, pastille middle palate. Long, long licquorice, lavender and mineral finish - absolute purity, intensity and poise - will last for 30 years or more! Brilliant.

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Pieve Santa Restituta

We are enthralled by the style and progress being made at this estate and believe the Santa Restituta estate, highlighted by the Sugarille single vineyard, to represent some of the finest examples of Brunello and we recommend them unreservedly. The 2001 vintage was one of the finest ever in the region and these wines have a silkiness and concentration which is quite remarkable. Whilst we wait for the equally remarkable 2004s to be released in 2009, we are delighted to be able to re-offer a parcel release of the great 2001s.

Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 2001

Price per case IB £631.56 add to basket

Due to its richer soil, Rennina is slightly softer and more rounded than Sugarille. Bold ripe red fruits with delicate spice and floral notes. Powerful, but velvety texture - fleshy and full bodied with refined tannic structure. A really superb modern style Brunello from a great vintage.

Further technical details

Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 2001

Price per case IB £696.20 add to basket

Single vineyard, old vine Sangiovese from poor soil makes for the most concentrated and structured of the Estate's Brunellos. Quite austere in its youth, the depth of fruit and intensity is remarkable. This is refined, elegant and concentrated Brunello requiring another 5 years in bottle to really integrate and sing. A brooding fine wine.

Further technical details

When Angelo Gaja first mentioned to me that he was looking at new projects in Tuscany, my emotions were pure excitement but tinged with a little concern. Excitement because knowing Angelo anything that he decides to do is inevitably a huge success but concern because I wondered whether he had realized quite what he was taking on. As you know, Piedmont and Tuscany are not exactly neighbouring regions and the soils, climate and wine styles are very contrasting.

Angelo was characteristically confident and over the last decade and more, it has been my enormous pleasure to see that my concern was completely unjustified. The Ca’Marcanda project was a huge undertaking, with the construction of new winery, the mapping of a previously un- planted vineyard site and the launch of a completely new range of wines. It has understandably taken some time but the wines today are amongst the leading wines of Bolgheri and with vintages 2004 and 2005, they have gone up another level.

The Pieve di Santa Restituta project in Montalcino was very different as both winery and vineyards were already in place. The winemaking and vineyard management needed real updating and with Gaja’s energy and skill, it did not take long for this beautiful but hitherto underperforming estate to be knocked into shape. With Brunello’s landmark 1997 vintage, the name was firmly re-established and consistently excellent wines have resulted. However, it is the 2001 vintage which has been the strongest to date and I am delighted to be able to offer a few more cases of it as we wait for the highly promising 2004s, as Angelo has taken the brave decision to declassify the 2002 and 2003.

Angelo Gaja is a phenomenon: a brilliant winemaker, an ambassador for Italy, a raconteur and an inspiration. He is also one of my very good friends. The wines reflect both the man and their regions of origin and I recommend them both whole-heartedly. John Armit

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