2014 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana

My tastings at Tenuta di Capezzana included two mini-verticals to demonstrate how the wines mature over time. This included the Ghiaie della Furba, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot, as well as the Carmignano Riserva Trefiano, Capezzana’s traditional blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo. The lineup of Ghiaie della Furba went all the way back to the 1981 vintage, the second year it was released (the first vintage was 1979), while the Trefiano went back to 1988. It’s important to note that Capezzana reconditions their bottles at the estate. In this case, the original corks were included (tied to the neck of the bottle) to show their condition. The Capezzana wines are well known for their ability to age. In fact, the winery does a 10th-anniversary release each year from the cellar, which I believe is a huge opportunity for lovers of these wines. The Ghiaie della Furba hails from a vineyard on alluvial soils next to the Furba River, a mix of gravel, clay and shale. Prior to 1998, there wasn’t any Syrah in the mix, making it a true Bordeaux blend. The single-vineyard Trefiano hails from calcareous soils, a mix of sand and stones. It’s clear that both wines age remarkably, but the Ghiaie della Furba requires more time to come around. Even the 2006 seemed to be just entering a phase of maturity, while the 1999 is in a sweet spot. Both wines are as classic as they come.