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CAPEZZANA

TUSCANY

CAPEZZANA

TUSCANY



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ABOUT THE WINERY

Few wineries in the world possess the stature, respect and devotion that the Contini Bonacossi family has cultivated and maintained over five generations with their Tenuta di Capezzana winery. The estate is located 12 miles west of Florence in the Carmignano sub-zone, one of the oldest recognized wine producing areas in Tuscany. Ancient Etruscan artifacts have shown that grapevines were cultivated in the area for wine production over 3,000 years ago. The first reference to Capezzana dates to 804 A.D.  An ancient parchment stored at the Florentine state archives shows the granting of a lease of vineyards and olive groves for the cultivation of wine and olive oil to a place called Capezzana.

Over the centuries, the estate passed through several families. But the story of today’s Capezzana started when the Count Alessandro Contini Bonacossi and his family returned to Italy after living in Spain and purchased the estate from Raimondo Franchetti’s widow, Sara de Rothschild, in 1920.  Not content with this original holding, Count Alessandro acquired the two neighboring farms, “The Poggetto” and “Trefiano,” dividing the property into three distinct estates with more than 120 poderi. The winery was dedicated to the production of high-quality wine and olive oil with the first vintage of Villa di Capezzana in 1925. 

Augusto, Alessandro’s son, took over the management of the estate and in 1945, his son, Ugo, joined him. Ugo had completed a degree in Agriculture before heading to the War, and he was devoted to increasing the quality of the family’s wines – a notable endeavor during a time when most producers were still selling their grapes by weight. It was Ugo’s vision that gradually moved the estate away from sharecropping towards a modern-day winery. 

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WINERY LOCATION: TUSCANY
REGION: Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC, Carmignano DOCG, Toscana IGT
VINEYARD LAND: 197 acres (80 ha) Estate: 670 acres (271 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Certified Organic
GRAPE VARIETIES: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Canaiolo, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Trebbiano, San Colombano
WINE STYLES: Dry red still, Dry Rosato, Sweet still
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 400,000 - 450,000 bottles per year
YEAR FOUNDED: 804
OWNER(S): Contini Bonacossi Family
WINEMAKER(S): Benedetta Contini Bonacossi

WINES

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA TREBBIANO BIANCO DI TOSCANA IGT

The Trebbiano grape, also known as Ugni Blanc in France, has a long history in Tuscany. Known for its high acidity and neutral flavor profile; it a versatile grape for producing a wide range of wine styles, from crisp white wines to dessert wines. Capezzana produced its first 100% Trebbiano wine, with the 2020 vintage, using high-quality cultivation techniques and mass selection of grapes. The wine spends six months in barrique and tonneaux followed by and additional six month maturing in the bottle. This is a complex wine, that is released in late Spring, and produced in very limited quantities.

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA BARCO REALE DI CARMIGNANO DOC

Named after the historic Medici property known as "Barco Reale" - meaning Royal Property - which was established in 1626. Today Sangiovese, Cabernet and Canaiolo grow in this ancient area that was a hunting preserve surrounded by walls over 30 miles long.  Barco Reale is a younger version of Carmignano that received DOC status in 1994.

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA VILLA DI CAPEZZANA DI CARMIGNANO DOCG

With vintages dating back to 1925 in their cellar, Villa di Capezzana is the flagship wine of the Tenuta di Capezzana estate and representative of Carmignano's greatest quality. Created as one of the very first protected wine-producing regions in Italy, the history of Carmignano dates back to 1716 when Cosimo III de' Medici granted the area special legal protections which prohibited other regions from using the name "Carmignano" for their wines.  

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA TREFIANO CARMIGNANO DOCG RISERVA

Made in only the best vintages, the grapes for the Trefiano Carmignano Riserva come from five hectares of vineyards that surround the historic Villa di Trefiano located in the Carmignano DOCG.  Belonging to the Rucellai family, construction on the Villa was started in the 15th century.  The family lost favor with the Tuscan Grand Dukes shortly thereafter and were sent into exile and the Villa was never finished.  In the early 1920's the Conti Bonacossi family bought the Villa and finally completed its construction.

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA GHIAIE DELLA FURBA TOSCANA IGT

In 1979 Ugo Conti Bonacossi created Ghiaie della Furba from vineyards planted among the pebble (Ghiaie) rich soils of the Furba stream.  Originally planted with clippings from the famed Chateau Lafite estate in Bordeaux, the wine was made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot until the blend was changed in 1998 with the addition of Syrah.  The inclusion of Cabernet Franc was slowly discontinued and today the blend includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah and is made only in the best vintages.  

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA UGO CONTI BONACOSSI TOSCANA IGT

Ugo Contini Bonacossi wine is a tribute to Count Ugo, the father of Carmignano. Sangiovese for the Viticciana vineyard, designed by Count Ugo himself. The wine spends 18 months in French oak barriques. 

TENUTA DI CAPEZZANA VIN SANTO DI CARMIGNANO DOC RISERVA

This exceptional dessert or ‘meditation’ wine is made from selected white grapes, mainly Trebbiano, which are dried for several months in the traditional manner on cane matting. The must is then fermented and matured for over six years in cherry wood, oak and chestnut kegs. The yield is very low: from 1/4 to 1/5 of the original weight of the grapes. Small production. 

LOCATION


WINERY:
Carmignano, Prato, Tuscany

VINEYARD:
Carmignano, Tuscany

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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93
SEPTEMBER 2021
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2018

A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright garnet of medium intensity. Aromas of black cherry, morel cherry and a hint of anise. Medium-full with expressive ripe black fruit, very good acidity, medium-full tannins and well-integrated oak. There is impressive persistence; the finish offers notes of black plum and clove. Very appealing now; will offer greater character in 2-3 years. peak in 6-8 years. 

94
FEBRUARY 2023
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2013

The library release 2013 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana Dieci Anni is a total pleasure on the nose, finely detailed with rich plum sauce and crushed cherry notes complicated by flowery underbrush, mint and old cedar spice box hints. It's supple and silky on the palate, with juicy acidity enlivening its ripe red fruits as a flourish of rosy inner florals and cedar evolve toward the close. While still lightly structured with adolescent tannins, the 2013 is so enjoyable today, tapering off with licorice and confectionary spice echoing that linger on and on. There's no harm in cracking open bottles today or losing them in the cellar to enjoy over the next decade.

92
MARCH 2021
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2010

Dark and brooding, this powerful red is mellowing, with aromas of fading black cherry and plum, forest floor and leather. Its tannins are still pretty active, but there are ample ripe fruit and mineral notes. Think bistecca or wild boar stew. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2032. 250 cases made, 40 cases imported.

96
DECEMBER 2020
Tenuta di Capezzana Vin Santo di Carmignano DOC Riserva 2012

What a beauty. The Tenuta di Capezzana 2012 Vin Santo di Carmignano Riserva (packaged in a 375-milliliter bottle) inches forth from the tiny bottle slowly and ultimately reveals a spectacular color that is orange, copper and almost green at the same time. I tasted bottle number 962 of a precious 4,968 produced. This Vin Santo puts on a real show thanks to its rich viscosity that slides, shifts and glistens in the glass. There are many aromas to describe, and it is hard to do this wine justice given how quickly they shift and change. There is honey, brown sugar, dried herb, forest mushroom, caramel and tilled earth. I even got a hint of rubber boot. This is a work of art and a clear passion project. Assigning a numerical score to an aspirational wine like this somehow misses the point, but here goes nothing.

95
DECEMBER 2020
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2010

This is a special anniversary late-release wine, and what a treat it is. A blend of mostly Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta di Capezzana 2010 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana 10 Anni is a real stunner. This wine has aged gracefully, resulting in extremely fine and silky results today. You'd hardly guess its age, as its tertiary aromas barely show. The bouquet is seamless and smooth with wild berry, blue flower and some soft earthy tones. The tannins have integrated, although the wine's structure remains firm and crisp.

90
JUNE 2023
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2019

A slightly brooding red, with firm tannins underlying plum, cherry and earth flavors, while accents of iron and tobacco emerge on the solid finish. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2027. 5,916 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.  

90
APRIL 2021
Tenuta di Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC 2016

The 2016 Barco Reale di Carmignano is fabulous. Deep, rich and inviting, the 2016 is such a pleasure to taste today. Succulent black cherry, licorice, spice, menthol and plum flesh out in a juicy red to drink now and over the next handful of years. The 2016 is a gorgeous wine in its peer group.

94
DECEMBER 2020
Tenuta di Capezzana Villa di Capezzana di Carmignano DOCG 2016

Made with organic fruit, the 2016 Carmignano Villa di Capezzana is an 80/20 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is open and accessible, showing a graceful and pure quality of fruit with dark cherry, blackberry, spice, tar and tobacco. The mouthfeel is streamlined and compact, but what this wine lacks in power it makes up for in elegance. This sample from 2016 was sent along with a bottle from 2010 so that I could track its impressive bottle evolution. In fact, I widened my suggested drinking window after tasting that older bottle.