Gaja "CaMarcanda" Bolgheri DOP 2022
(Tuscany, Italy) - [JD 97] [JS 95] [WS 95] [DM 95] [WA 94] [VM 93]

WINERY 

Ca’Marcanda, Gaja’s estate in Bolgheri, was born in 1996 propelled by Angelo Gaja’s ambition to challenge himself with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

WINE

The name Ca’Marcanda derives from a Piedmontese dialect expression which can be translated as the “house of endless negotiations” and refers to the several meetings between the previous landowners and Angelo Gaja, a very long negotiation finally concluded in 1996 with the land purchase. This is the wine that takes the name from the Estate, representing the pinnacle of the production for the family in Bolgheri. VINEYARDS Vineyards are planted in Castagneto Carducci, mainly on white soil rich in limestone, firm clay and stones.

WINEMAKING

The two varieties ferment and macerate separately for around 15 days. After 18 months of aging in oak, they are blended and then aged for several months in the bottle before release.

VINTAGE NOTES

2022 was marked by a notable drought that began in late winter and lasted through much of the summer. A rainy August and September helped the vines recover, allowing the grapes to reach full ripeness and balance while maintaining excellent acidity. Throughout the year, rainfall totaled 600 mm but was unevenly distributed—most came in late 2021 and at the season’s end. The vines adapted well, overcoming the initial water scarcity and efficiently processing the lateseason rainfall. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon harvest ran from late September through October 3rd. Despite the challenging conditions, the resulting wines are surprisingly fresh, as the drought and heat slowed vine growth, preserving high acidity in the grapes.

TASTING NOTES

This wine shows a refined and elegant profile with smoky aromas, red berries—especially currants—aromatic herbs, and subtle camphor notes. More concentrated and powerful than previous vintages, it maintains perfect balance. The palate is intense yet smooth, offering a mellow structure, good length, and a finish that combines salinity with delicate vegetal notes

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2022 Ca' Marcanda boasts an outstanding Mediterranean feel without sacrificing freshness. In the glass, it boasts a deep red hue and offer notes of raspberry liqueur, rosy perfume, crushed sage, mossy earth, and cedar. The palate is full and very elegant, with velvety tannins, even acidity, a long, floating feel with peppery spices through the finish. Superbly done. Drink 2026-2050.” - Audrey Frick (Mar 2025)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"A smoky wine with graphite, licorice, restrained cassis and leather on the nose. Full-bodied and firm in tannins, with a velvety texture, supple fruit, chewy acidity and an integrated, structured finish. Drink or hold." (Jul 2025)

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This red is lithe and supple, boasting cherry, blackberry, black currant, violet and mineral flavors. Tense, with a dense matrix of refined tannins ushering in the long aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2042. 1,250 cases made, 250 cases imported." - Bruce Sanderson (Oct 2025)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"With its dark fruit, Mediterranean scrub aromatics and lifted floral touches, this is an enticing 2022 which gets even better after a sip or two. Vertical in shape, and slightly creamy and chocolatey, it drips with cool black berries and dark cherries, punctured by flecks of petrichor, iron and blood orange. Great balance, freshness and poise. Superb! (Drink between 2025-2034)” - James Button (Jun 2025)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda shows a very ripe character with dark fruit and stewed blackberry. This was a hot and dry vintage with above average temperatures well into August. Rains came in mid-August, with showers until mid-September. That velvety softness gives this wine a shorter drinking window compared to more balanced vintages such as 2019 and 2021. This is a 16,500-bottle release." - Monica Larner (Feb 2025)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2022 Camarcanda is an attractive, open-knit wine from the Gaja family’s Camarcanda estate. Juicy dark cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and incense all meld together in this understated offering. The 2022 is nicely balanced in the smaller-scaled style of the year. It’s a very pleasant wine that doesn’t quite offer the dimension and breadth of the very finest vintages. (Drink between 2027-2037)” - Antonio Galloni (Feb 2025)