2019 Camartina
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Tasting notes
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Sangiovese, from vines at 450 meters elevation, the rich ruby-colored 2019 Camartina is very appealing aromatically, with notes of fresh blackberry, mossy forest earth, and graphite. It’s full-bodied without being heavy and has a refined and elegant feel, with a backbone of Sangiovese to keep things more linear, ripe tannins, and a clean finish with good length. It’s showing quite well now but will improve with another few years in a bottle. Drink 2026-2045. Translating to “beautiful oak,” Querciabella has 72 hectares of vines in Greve, Radda, and Gaiole. They are certified organic and practice vegan viticulture and winemaking. Winemaker Manfred Ing, of South African descent, has been making remarkable strides forward in recent years, with the wines showing an increasing level of refinement and balance while retaining outstanding purity and depth. They have also begun utilizing fruit from the village of Lamole, which he feels has added freshness and vibrancy to the wines.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
An organic blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, the 2019 Camartina (in a heavy glass bottle) shows dark fruit nuances with savory tobacco and spice. This wine is mostly driven by the heft and concentration of the French grape, but it also shows some of the bright cherry and freshness of the Italian grape. Some 10,000 bottles were released.
The 2019 Camartina is a dense, powerful wine. After tasting a large flight of Sangioveses, the Camartina really stands out because of its strong Cabernet imprint and more obviously present sweet oak. Dark red fruit, mocha, new leather blood orange and sweet spice all take shape in the glass. Camartina is undoubtedly an excellent wine, but there is also no doubt it has been surpassed as the flagship here. Cabernet Sauvignon components were aged in standard 225-liter barrels, while the Sangiovese was aged in 500-liter tonneaux.
About the producer
Literally translating as “beautiful oak”, Querciabella was created in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni. A pioneer in Chianti, he started farming biodynamically and experimenting with both varieties and winemaking – one result of which was Camartina, the property’s flagship Super Tuscan.