EVAN’S NOTES
Angelo Gaja is a 4th generation owner operator of the famed Gaja estate. He is credited with popularizing the use of Malolactic fermentation within piedmont, a process that helped to soften the harsher Malic acid to lactic acid. In his own vineyard and winery he experimented with green harvesting and the use of the smaller aging vessels of French Barriques. While some producers were transitioning to short macerations and almost exclusive use of the barriques Gaja blended the two styles opting for the more traditional maceration of up to 30 days and is followed by 1 year in the smaller barriques before transitioning to larger botti ranging in volume from 10-100 hectolitres. While Angelo had an empire in Piedmont, he was always seeking to challenge himself and expand. This is where he set his sights on Tuscany. In 1994 he first acquired the Pieve Santa Restituta estate in Montalcino shortly after in 1996 he acquired the Ca’Marcanda property in Bolgheri along the Western coast of Tuscany.
Ca’Marcanda means a deal that never closes which Angelo found to be an apt name for a venture where he had numerous prospects on a property fall through, Originally planted to a majority of Merlot through the 1990s the composition of the vineyards have shifted towards Cabernet sauvignon and Cabernet Franc as the growing season has gotten longer and the later ripening varietals have found more success. Bringing us to the Promis, the entry wine for the Ca’Marcanda estate. The Promis is the only wine from the estate to still feature merlot and in most vintages merlot is the driving force in the blend supplemented with Syrah and Sangiovese.
The Promis opens its bouquet with a supple layer of red plums and wild blackberries atop a soft undertone of liquorice, black olives, and spice. The Palate is plush rich and full with a poignant acidity filled with dark fruits and spice lasting quite some time following your last sip. Promis would be a perfect pairing for grilled and roasted red meats or a hearty pasta dish Fun Fact The Label is an abstract representation of the roads in Bolgheri Lined with the Cypress trees on either side the road disappearing into the distance and the sky expanding out.
