Gaja, Magari, 2019

Descrizione

This is a Super-Tuscan worthy of its price and classification. Absolutely delicious, this is structured, rich, profound and age-worthy. A Bordeaux blend in varieties but quintessentially Tuscan in execution and flavour. A truly polished wine, this is full of blackberry, cherry and licorice with herbaceous and spice notes layered on top. Sleek and very, very fine.

Designed to impress and made to enjoy.

This wine is a stunning piece of work from one of the best winemakers in the world, Angelo Gaja, who is often considered to be the best winemaker that Italy has ever produced. It is a blend of Cabernet Franc (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Petit Verdot (10%) which means that the fleshiness of Merlot is forgone to allow this to be fully structured and expressive in a different way to the estate’s very popular Promis. It is part of the Bolgheri appellation and sits very comfortably at the table with this region’s other star offerings from estates such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia. The vineyards here are clayey limestone with a rich and dark topsoil, called ‘terre brune’ in Italian. The varieties are fermented separately and then blended, bottled and ageing in bottle for months before release to the market.

The word Magari roughly translates as ‘very true’ or ‘if only it were true’ and is used as an expression of optimism and hope for the future. We once received this as a response to the offer of an espresso in a wine fair at about 7:30 in the moring – “Caffè?”, we asked, “Magari!” was the answer – hopeful optimism and desperate need all rolled up in one. Quite a few espressos were ordered, needless to say.