Description

This is an intense, full-bodied yet very well-balanced and polished red with velvety, firm and caressing tannins. Ripe black plums, blueberries, chocolate, mocha, sweet spice and dried lavender. Some oyster shells, too. Layered and full of character. Creamy at the end from the polished tannins. 26% syrah, 24% cabernet franc, 23% merlot, 14% cabernet sauvignon, 7% petit verdot, 4% sangiovese and 2% grenache. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink from 2026.

96 points

James Suckling

Caiarossa, situated in the heart of the Val di Cecina, on the Tuscan coast. The winery was founded  in 1998 and it was eventually acquired in 2004 by Eric Albada Jelgersma, a Dutch entrepreneur  with a great passion for wine and also the owner of Château Giscours and Château du Tertre – two Grand Crus classé in Margaux, Bordeaux.

From the beginning of 1998, an effort was made to discover the potential of this terrain through careful geological analysis. The results revealed an extremely varied soil. This diversity led to  the definition of 12  vineyard lots, depending on the soil type, which were then planted with the most suitable grape varieties.

Biodynamics reign in the vineyard and there are currently 11 grape varieties planted: Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre for the reds; Chardonnay, Viognier and Petit Manseng for the whites.

There are currently two Caiarossa wines, both IGT Tuscan reds, with the first year being 2002. The top wine is Caiarossa (a cuvée of the best grapes of the year), the second wine is Pergolaia.

The wines are allowed to age in a mixture of barriques, tonneaux and large oak casks. Only a small percentage (35%) of new oak is used for Caiarossa.