The Wines of TuttoToscana 2018: Capezzana
By Mary Ann Camarda
Photo by Donald Blair
With only 100 square hectares of DOCG productive land in Carmignano, Capezzana is the biggest producer and yet compared to other large wineries around Tuscany, the farm remains quite untouched by time. It is run by Conti Contini Bonacossi family members, and considering that the 7 children of the original Count and Countess (whom have now passed) are now in their prime with their own children partaking in the family business – well then this really makes it a unique property in Tuscany.
In good Medicean tradition, Carmignano is made following the recipe containing cabernet (imported from France by the Medici family in the 17th century.)
Capezzana is one of the oldest Tuscan wineries, and produces Vino nel Carmignano from 804 AD.
BARCO REALE A 300 YEAR HISTORY OF WINE.
History has it that the Grand Duke Cosimo III of the Medici (17th century) created the ‘BANDO’ a decree that declared the estate of Barco Reale as a wine zone of utmost quality. The Barco is a 53 km long wall that encloses lands and forests which contain an historical hunting ground, the wineries and vineyards, farms, olive groves and a few small rivers and streams. It is situated north of Florence and to the Northwest of the Chianti appellation. The Barco Reale was noted for having superior wines and the Bando ensured that future wine was to continue to be made in particular style and fashion and also traded at a certain value to the highest courts and the greatest tables in all of Europe.
The property today is vast and includes 12OO acres of land on which today you will find the historic Medici Villa, along with 120 farmsteads of different families farming 300 acres of vineyards and 600 acres dedicated to olive groves.
It was in the 1920’s that the noble family of Count Contini Bonacossi acquired the property. The Bonacossi families have been and still are collectors of antique art and textiles from Italy and Spain. The purchase of the estate was both a strategic business move and that of passion. The first bottles under the Contini Bonacossi were created in 1925 in a more classic Bordeaux shaped bottle like the one we know today. Tthey abandoned the old style straw covered ‘fiasco’ which was de rigueur at the time. This wine was 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon with 1 year in tonneau (wine Barrel) and 1 year in bottle. Fast forward to the 1970’s, with Ugo Contini Bonacossi the 4th generation and we see the foundations for the wines that I would taste today. In 1979, Ugo purchased clippings of Cabernet and Merlot from Chateau Lafite in Bordeaux in order to establish another level of excellence in their wines.
Barco Reale Di Carmignano DOC 2014
This wine is the young version of Carmignano, made with (Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) and with an addition of Canaiolo. It takes its name from the ancient Medici property whose boundaries were surrounded by the “wall of the Barco Reale”, more than 50 km long.
Villa di Capezzana – DOCG
Representative of the territory of Carmignano, it is the historical wine of the company . There is a 1925 vintage. It is produced with 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Carmignano DOCG is refined for over a year in tonneaux (Wine barrel) in bottles for about 12 months. 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet
Harvested in September 14 % ALC Rosso Rubino (Ruby Red)
Wine bottle photos by tannico.it
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