Capezzana - Under the Tuscan Sun
From The Wine Spectator to The Wine Advocate, there is no shortage of rave reviews for the wines of Tenuta Capezzana, one of the prestigious Italian wineries in the Mionetto portfolio. We started representing Capezzana when Mionetto picked up the brands from Moet last year, and at the time, admittedly, we did not know a lot about this storied winery. Then we discovered the appeal of the winery from those who are really in the know, sommeliers and industry veterans know this wine well.
While it may not be a household name in America, the Capezzana estate goes back centuries. In fact, there’s even evidence of wine making and wine drinking here from as far back as 1000 B.C. They actually found wine jars and tasting cups in Etruscan tombs.Wondering where Capezzana is, well, it’s literally “under the Tuscan sun,” in Carmignano in the northern part of Tuscany. Carmignano also happens to be Italy's smallest DOCG region. And that Tuscan sun is definitely helping with what’s in the bottle. The wines are layered with character, flavor and depth. But while the history plays a major role in the physicality of the property, Capezzana has embraced modern winemaking technology and they are not afraid to show it. Yes, they have classic D.O.C.G. wines, but they have also introduced I.G.T. wines, the progressive new classification that lets a winery really express itself.
Capezzana loves its Sangiovese, the native grape of the region, but they have had huge success growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and even Syrah, blending these grapes with the classic Carmigniano grape, Sangiovese. And it’s this modern take on the classic wine that has created a whole new tier of Italian wines.
Two key offerings from Capezzana really hit home: Barco Reale is the young version of Carmignano, made with the same grapes (Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon) and the addition of Canaiolo. It is named after the historic Medici Royal property known as the Barco Reale, enclosed by a boundary wall which was over 30 miles in length. Villa di Capezzana is the estate's historic wine and is highly representative of the qualities of Carmignano. D.O.C. status was re-obtained in 1975 and D.O.C.G. in the 1990's. It is produced from Sangiovese (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). D.O.C.G. wines are matured for over one year in tonneaux and then laid down for a further twelve months in bottles.
Capezzana has been at the forefront of this “new” Italy but they are also keenly aware of the history and character of their estate. That combination of history, tradition and innovation places Capezzana among the few wineries with a proven track record, a wonderful story, and fully ready to embrace modern wine tastes of the 21st century.
