Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically.
This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere.
Purplish tinge in the glass. Aromas of cloves, generous bramble fruit and dried eucalyptus. The attack is firm and dense, with a full body and velvety tannins of great extraction on the mid-palate and refreshing natural acidity. Good integration of oak at the end. Potential for the long haul, but drinkable in one to two years.
96 points, James Suckling (May 2024)
Dense and concentrated, this red is packed with black currant, blackberry and plum fruit, while iron, wild herb and oak spice notes add detail. Assertive tannins and vibrant acidity provide support, bringing a sense of equilibrium overall. There's fine depth to the dark fruit flavors, plus a terrific aftertaste that really persists. Shows power and grace. Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Grenache. Best from 2027 through 2045. 2,400 cases made, 800 cases imported.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Oct 2024)
This is a vintage that shows the successful evolution in this wine, with generous brambled raspberry, pomegranate, rosemary, underbrush, olive, anis, cocoa and grilled rosemary. There is intensity to the flavours, plenty of Tuscan sunshine, with excellent integration of the tannins, and a bounce of fresh acidities. Jerome Poisson as winemaker, AJ Domaines owner. Harvest September 2 to 21. Axel Marchal and Valerie Lavigne consultants. As an aside, I hesitated about the score. When tasted with the September Releases over the summer, I gave it 94 points, but in this vertical with other vintages of Caiarossa it came out at 95. It would be easy to drop the score down for consistency, but I am keeping it at 95, and will retaste after a few years in bottle to reassess. Held back for 12 months in bottle after ageing, 33% new oak.
95 points, Jane Anson (Sep 2024)
2021 was a demanding but ultimately rewarding vintage in much of Tuscany, with a warm March encouraging an early budbreak. The summer was hot and dry, with some welcome rain arriving in early September. Warm and sunny days returned for harvest. This is a wine with great potential but at this stage it is still quite closed. ‘We do very little racking to avoid oxygen during ageing,’ states general manager Jérôme Poisson. With time in the glass, fleshy black and blue fruit aromas and flavours emerge, along with hints of Mediterranean scrub. Velvety tannins keep a tight grip, while the fruit sapidity is underlined by a lovely vein of salinity and a ferrous twist. Long and poised, some savoury, earthy elements make themselves known on the finish. 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Franc, 16% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Grenache, each vinified separately before blending and ageing for around 14 months in French oak barrels, 30% new.
95 points, James Button, Decanter (Jul 2024)
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