“Carnasciale” Rosso Toscana IGT 2021

Il Carnasciale | Tuscany
Il Carnasciale s.r.l. soc. agr. | Loc. Podere Il Carnasciale | IT 52020 Mercatale Valdarno

29112321 · 0,75 l · 76,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

In Valdarno di Sopra, where Tuscan hills meet the foothills of the Apennines and time itself seems to pause, one of the most fascinating love stories in wine is born. Carnasciale is more than just a wine – it is the legacy of a vision that began in Berlin in 1963, when Bettina Schnabel and Wolf Rogosky met. Their love led them via New York to Mercatale Valdarno, where they bought an abandoned estate in 1972 and realised a dream: to create the most unique wine in the world. The secret lies in Caberlot, an enigmatic grape variety that agronomist Remigio Bordini discovered in the late 1960s in an overgrown vineyard near Padua – a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Merlot that is not cultivated anywhere else in the world. When a devastating frost destroyed the olive trees in 1985, Wolf Rogosky saw his chance: in their place, he planted the first Caberlot vineyard with a revolutionary 10,000 vines per hectare. Superstitiously, he buried a bottle of Sassicaia under the first vine – a ritual that was to point the way to future success.

The 2021 vintage benefited from an exceptional climate in Tuscany: a mild winter was followed by a warm but not excessively hot summer with night-time cooling due to the altitude of 425 metres. These ideal conditions created grapes of remarkable aromatic concentration and phenolic ripeness. After a hand-picked harvest and strict selection, the Carnasciale undergoes the same careful vinification as its big brother Il Caberlot: Fermentation in steel tanks, followed by 18 months of ageing in French barriques. The difference lies in the selection: Carnasciale combines grapes from younger vines and those lots that are accessible earlier – a "second wine" that possesses all the elegance of the terroir, but favours youthful drinkability.

A light ruby red colour with violet hues is indicative of the exceptional finesse of the 2021. The bouquet unfolds a beguiling complexity: geranium and Mediterranean herbs mingle with the characteristic notes of white pepper that characterise the Caberlot terroir. Dark cherries and plums merge with floral accents of violets and a mineral depth that comes from the iron-rich sandstone soils. On the palate, the Carnasciale 2021 is seductively elegant: velvety and powerful at the same time, with a texture reminiscent of great Saint-Émilion, yet retaining the unmistakable Tuscan minerality. Notes of tobacco, leather and dark spices envelop a core of ripe fruit, while silky tannins and lively acidity ensure perfect balance. The long, aromatic final lingers for minutes – proof of the uniqueness of this legendary grape variety and the dedication of a family who created one of the rarest wine wonders in the world out of love for Tuscany. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cosy aromas of blueberries and herbs; has fullness and polish on the palate, finishes long and very harmonious. Convinces with its polish." Vinum

"Bright ruby red colour. Elegant spice on the nose, redcurrants, red pepper, some graphite and blood, precious wood, cold smoke, elderberries. Juicy, clear on the palate, with an exciting entry and progression, savoury, young tannins, repeatedly juicy on the finish, good foresight." Falstaff

"Impenetrable, deep ruby red colour. brooding and gentle red fruit flavours with a hint of oak on the nose. Elegant and a little lively on the palate. Light yet concentrated, cool red fruit with polished, fine, long tannins." Jancis Robinson

"The wine has dark underlying tones of blackberries and plums and shows good support and structure on the back end. Over time, you get pronounced herbal or green notes, and the medium-bodied mouthfeel is infused with powdery tannins." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Carnasciale is infused with dark berries, mocha, new leather, liquorice and rose petals. This is a particularly aromatic, restrained vintage for the Carnasciale, where the flavours are quite prominent, while the fruit is more in the background and hidden by the structure of the wine. This wine really demands aeration or, even better, a few years in the bottle. It is a very serious, deep second wine from the estate." Vinous

"Dried herbs and peppercorns reminiscent of Chinese herbs and black beans. Also dark cherries and mushrooms. I love the freshness of this wine with a steady, crisp palate of medium weight releasing fresh acidity and very refined tannins. Fresh and savoury finish at the end. Excellent length." James Suckling

"With aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, violets, liquorice and iron, this pure red wine is racy and well-structured. Harmonious and persistent, with a long aftertaste that has a salty flavour alongside the fruit, it is simply radiant." Wine Spectator