David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Really good follow up but, there is a reason the Italians hold their reds back an additional 1-3 years. This 09 is good but, needs another 8-9 years in bottle to show its full brilliance. It does improve with two hours in the decanter. However, still a lot primary earth & barrel toast/char.

The fruits are; juicy, ripe & ruby. blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries with hovering raspberries. Dark spice, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, tarry notes, used expresso grounds, dark chocolate bar, caramel, herbs, forest floor with dry leaves, leather, dry tobacco, moist, rich, turned earth, dry soils, limestone, moist clay, calistoga bathtub mud with ruby, slightly candied, fresh & withering florals that are; dark, red, blue, purple/glowing violets in creamy lavender. The acidity is round & beautiful. The long finish is; juicy fruit, well balanced, elegant, persistent, falling onto cinnamon stick, spice & earth. — 3 days ago

with Christina and James

Jay Kline

9.3

First of a case and despite the fact that this is so very young, curiosity was getting the best of us tonight! A two hour decant did little to coax this bottle into showing more than its huge potential. The experience, however, was not without pleasure. The nose is a light perfume of dark fruits, purple flowers with the softest addition of sweet baking spices; like the scent of a young woman riding past on her bicycle, as she makes her way to a gathering of mates on an autumn afternoon. I’ve read that the style for “Ca’Marcanda” has changed in recent years, favoring a greater percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance being Cabernet Franc (dropping Merlot altogether). Admittedly, I don’t have any experience to draw from in terms of how this compares to pre-2015 versions but I do like what I’m experiencing here. The palate delivers currants, black cherries, dried herbs, minerals, and that bit of dusty earth that I tend to find so charming in these Italian Bordeaux blends. Definitely a sense of place. The finish is long and bone dry. Yes, everything is tight and compact at this stage of its evolution but greater things will comes with time. There is deft balance and stout structure that will give this an opportunity for decades of enjoyment. Like all Italian wines, a meal gives an even greater appreciation for this beauty. That being said, I suspect these will be prime drinking by 2028-2030. — 7 days ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.5

11/17/20 Tuesday night and to follow up on last night's Gaja Ca'Marcanda Promis I have opened the 2016 Ca' Marcanda Bolgheri Magari. A Super Tuscan blend of 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot.

On the nose there is black cherry, plum, black raspberry, strawberry, mint, bell pepper, mocha and crushed gravel.

On the palate there is black cherry, red plum, black currant, green bell pepper, cedar, herbs and an earthyness.

This wine is full bodied with a smooth velvety mouthfeel, medium + acidity and medium + smooth round tannins that leads to a long dark fruit finish. A beautiful expression of a complex super tuscan. Love the mouthfeel and the all around expression of this wine. Continue having a great week and do stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 6 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Second bottle in less than a week and this is a smokeshow. Pure Cab. Such a good wine. What a nose. Tobacco, cigar, not Marlboro, awesome layered cassis, ripe berry, so ebullient, better aromas than my first bottle. This is really something else. Mint, raspberry. So complex and inviting. Palate is just so silky and structured. Concentrated like a mofo and man is it pure and juxtaposed with such intense minerality and it is mega fresh because it’s Tuscan Cabernet. Superb. Just superb. So hard to get wines like this right. Tuscan soul, Bordeaux heart, Ca cab 70’s brain. Like a Graves/St. Estephe cross. Gravelly and woodsy. Really tows that line between ripeness and freshness so well. — 2 days ago

Pooneet K

8.9

Nice wine but not quite all together at this point. Decanted for 4 hours. But too much sweet oak for my taste. With Marcella Hazan’s bolognese it’s a nice pairing. Deep fruited and the merlot certainly comes through. Good acid, tannins still very there. With even more air probably gets to 9.0. But overall still a bit skeptical of super Tuscans in general. — a day ago

Hanibal

9.1

Not your typical sangiovese. Instead of the herbs flavor it is replaced by a mineral driven flavor but the cherries are all here. Not sure how it will age kept 2 to see long term...not a sangio for a crowd used to italian wine very particular style — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tried about 6 mos ago. The name of the estate comes from "Ca' Pazzo", shown on ancient maps. Estate covers an area of 190 hectares, 54 which are vineyards, 4 are olive groves, 87 which are wooded and 45 are planted with new vines. Deep Ruby with a berry fruit aromas blossom and smoke, aged for 2 years on oak. On the palate cherry & strawberry flavors, with leather, cacao and tobacco notes. Lively acidity, fine approachable tannins, long ending with spicy oak finish. Nice! — 3 days ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

Monday evening and tonight I have opened the 2017 Gaja Ca' Marcanda Promis Toscana. This is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah and 10% Sangiovese from Castagneto Carducci in Tuscany, Italy.

On the nose there is raspberry, strawberry, plum, there is a savory gamey component, baking spices, licorice, pepper, clay and earth.

On the palate I am getting cherry, raspberry, red currant, licorice, herbs, lavander, graphite and earth.

This wine is medium to full bodied with medium + acidity and medium + firm sandy tannins that has a long fresh red and black fruit finish. The week ahead looks like it is going to be a fantastic week and I am looking forward to it being full of wonderful fall beginnings. Have a great week, please be safe and stay healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 days ago

Anthony De Blasi

9.0

Still quite tight, definitively needs more time, after more air the fruit started to reveal itself. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot and Alicante Bouschet — 2 days ago

Michal Rosenn

9.3

love this wine so much. cherries and ink. still young but tannins soften nicely after an hour — 2 days ago