Bordeaux Red Blend from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot

Purchase Price: $139 (Restaurant)

Wine Enthusiast 96, James Suckling 95, Jeb Dunnuck 95, Wine Spectator 93, Decanter 93, Vinous 91, ElsBob 94

ABV 14.5%

A dark red, full-bodied wine with aromas of black fruits, silky tannins, and remarkable balance. The long, enjoyable finish paired exceptionally well with our main courses of Osso Buco and Braised Italian Ribs.

A superb fine wine, currently retailing between $80–$120. Drink now or hold for 5–10 years. Cheers.

Trivia: Ca’Marcanda, GAJA’s estate in Bolgheri with roots in Barbaresco, Piedmont, part of the Wilson Daniels portfolio, was acquired in 1996 after 18 distinct and arduous negotiations with the previous owners. The name comes from a Piedmontese dialect expression meaning “The House of Endless Negotiations”, a nod to the persistence and diplomacy required to secure the land.

By Italian cultural standards, the name is not a slight but a compliment. Negotiation is seen as an art form, a process of relationship-building, emotional intelligence, and mutual respect. Naming the estate Ca’Marcanda honors that tradition: a story of tenacity, dialogue, and reverence for the craft of agreement, worn as a badge of honor by both buyer and seller.