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I love Sangiovese, period…

It doesn’t matter if the wine stands on its own or if it’s a part of a blend. From the gorgeous Chianti Classicos that are blended with other local grapes or French grapes to the powerful, pure examples from Montalcino, it’s a grape that my palate never gets sick of. But if there is one blend that I prefer, it may be Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Capezzana, Villa di Capezzana & Trefiano

Many of the famous Super Tuscans were born in the 1970s. During those times, producers had to eschew the Italian DOC system and label their wines as Vino da Tavola (table wines). This was because most appellations in Tuscany did not allow for the inclusion of French grapes – except Carmignano. This lesser-known DOCG not only allows but requires Cabernet Sauvignon as part of the blend.

Cabernet Sauvignon was reportedly planted in Carmignano as early as the 1700s. This little appellation was awarded DOC status in 1975 and then elevated to the prestigious DOCG status in 1990. It is the first appellation in Tuscany to allow the inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate that spearheaded the formation of the appellation is the historic Tenuta di Capezzana.

Documents suggest that vines and olives were cultivated on the estate as early as 1200. However, the estate was passed to the Contini Bonacossi family in 1920. The property is still held by the family. The flagship wines of Capezzana are the ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano and the ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva. Both wines contain 80% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon – 20% for the Villa di Capezzana and 10% for the Trefiano.

These are classy Italian wines that scream Tuscan red. They are dry reds with sweet, sour, and savory nuances all at once. Thanks to the great vintage of 2016, both should do well in the cellar. The ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano is one of the great values in Tuscany. It’s a wine with history, pedigree, and class. Here’s a look at the newest releases of Capezzana Carmignano.

Capezzana, ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano 2016

The Capezzana, ‘Villa di Capezzana’ Carmignano is the flagship wine of the estate. It is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak for 12-16 months. Beautiful nose of sour cherry, spearmint, tobacco, and earth. On the palate, it has a nice mid-weight feel to it. Don’t expect all fruit, this is a wine with earthy tones and contours. The Cabernet Sauvignon offers a lot of tannins, which means this is built to age. If you want to enjoy it now, make sure to pair with mouth-coating food.

At 25-29 USD around the world, the Capezzana, Villa di Capezzana offers screaming value and a wine that can last in the cellar. Score: 91/100

Capezzana, ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva 2016

The Capezzana, ‘Trefiano’ Carmignano Riserva is a blend of 80% Sangiovese with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo aged in French oak for 16 months. This has a much bigger and riper feel than the Villa di Capezzana. Notes of black cherry, mint, cedar, earth, and pepper emerge from the glass. It’s a full-bodied Tuscan red that doesn’t go over the top. There are plenty of chewing tobacco notes on the palate, I assume from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are big, ripe, and offer plenty of grip but are never too astringent. This is delicious now but will get markedly better with time in the bottle. Score: 94/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

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Capezzana provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.