Carmignano Trefiano Capezzana, the vertical tasting

A few days ago I tasted the Carmignano Trefiano of Capezzana again, from theWinery of the Counts Contini Bonacossi. However, I had never tasted four different vintages of this wine in sequence, before this was possible thanks to the Life of Wine event which I participated in. With a mix of emotions, I approached this ancient wine, interpreted by one of the main wineries of this production district, an area rich in tradition and passion. Let’s go over the history.

Carmignano is one of the oldest wine-growing areas in Tuscany, also in the world. The Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III dei Medici, with the well-known announcement of 1716, formalised the production methods and delimited the boundaries of the “Carmignano wine” area, in fact anticipating the rules of the modern Appellations of Origin. Indeed, in Carmignano the vines were already cultivated about 3000 years ago in pre-Roman times, as evidenced by the numerous finds discovered in the Etruscan tombs. Being focused on the history, the Contini Bonacossi family date back to the Renaissance, while their commitment in the wine industry date back to about a century ago. At the beginning of the 1920s, Count Alessandro Contini Bonacossi and his wife Vittoria bought the property of Capezzana, followed by the acquisitions of the neighboring “Il Poggetto” and “Trefiano”. This is the way Tenuta di Capezzana was born, divided into 3 farms and more than 120 estates, dedicated to high quality wine and olive oil production. Today Capezzana is managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the Contini Bonacossi family.

Carmignano Trefiano wine was born in 1979 and since then has been produced in small quantities with grapes from the two vineyards of a few hectares surrounding the sixteenth-century villa of Trefiano, located about 200 metres above sea level. The vineyard has an average age of 20-25 years old and it is planted on a shale-clay soil, with a very favourable south-southwest aspect. The wine is blend of mainly Sangiovese (at least 70% depending on the vintage), Cabernet Sauvignon and Canaiolo. Sangiovese is usually harvested at the end of September, followed by the other two varieties. Once the grapes are transported to the cellar, the vinification is carried out in temperature controlled stainless-steel tanks where the must, obtained by pressing the grapes, ferments for one week. Then a maceration on the grape skins for another 13 days at a temperature of 26-28°C takes place. After racking, malolactic fermentation is carried out in French oak tonnaux, where the wine matures for at least 18 months before bottling. The wine, therefore, still refines for at least one year in the bottle.

Let’s see how the tasting went.

Carmignano Trefiano Riserva 2016

This wine is a deep ruby red colour. On the nose, it shows intensity and complexity with hints of violet, berries, backing spices and balsamic on the finish. On the palate the structure and depth are combined with a beautiful freshness which makes the drink pleasant and elegant, of good taste-olfactory persistence with marked fruity returns. This wine still has a very long evolutionary path ahead.

Carmignano Trefiano Riserva 2008

This wine is ruby red in colour with garnet glows. On the nose, it expresses elegant hints of dried violet, cherry, black cherry jam, vanilla, crispy crunchy pepper, liquorice and chocolate notes. In the palate it is deep and velvety, characterised by an important tannic texture, by a well balanced between acidity and glyceric softness. It closes with a finish of excellent length with a spicy aftertaste.

Carmignano Trefiano 2006

At the sight this wine shows still vivid ruby colour, edged with garnet on the rim. On the nose, it has evident spicy notes, floral recollection of violet, berry jam, withbalsamic nuances on the finish. It is juicy and fresh on the palate, with important but silky tannins wich are well balanced by the softness due to the aging. There is a long finish, with a sweet liquorice aftertaste flavour.

Carmignano Trefiano 1996

AN Important wine with a compact garnet colour without any fading, due to aging: a jump back in the past of twenty-five years. On the nose, the wine is complex and it changes as the wine gets air in the glass. It shows hints of tertiary aromas immediately of forest floor and dried flowers followed a balsamic sensation that opens up to scents of tobacco, with peppery nuances. On the palate is clear that the wine is fully balanced, with silky tannins and great softness. Also the freshness is still well present although less evident. The wine has entered in its maturity, a stage that it will keep for a long time. I just wonder for how many years .. wonderful!

This was a beautiful tasting that showed the effetcs of time on the evolution of great wines, exactly what’s happened to this Trefiano, Capezzana’s Carmignano.

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Red Wine

Wine Lover, Sommelier AIS and Marketing Expert

Previously, the wine was white or red for me, sometimes it was the middle ground, sometimes it had bubbles, or it was sweet. Then I started this journey in the knowledge of wine, with its many expressions, types, and the countless territories perfect for growing vines.
I met some wonderful people, with whom it is always possible to be amazed and often excited, while tasting a glass of wine.

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