WINERY: Ca’Marcanda, GAJA’s estate in Bolgheri (Alta Maremma), was born in 1996 propelled by Angelo Gaja’s ambition to challenge himself with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

WINE: The name “Promis” reminds of the Italian word promessa, which means promise. A promise, exactly as an up-and-comer that, with its young and bold character, brings along a fresh breeze of liveliness and zest. The label of Ca’Marcanda pays tribute to the image of the cypress trees and the Bolgheri boulevard, merging with the horizon (two white triangles represent the road and the sky, whereas the colored ones are the cypresses).

In Bolgheri and in the neighboring area of Bibbona, mainly planted on dark soils full of lime and clay.

This vintage is characterized by a warm winter with well-distributed precipitation from October 2019 to February 2020. In April, temperatures dropped to – 4 ° C (25F) at night, leading to two spring frosts that caused slight damage in the youngest and lowest-lying vineyards. Significant temperature fluctuations and frequent rainfall required meticulous work to tackle fungal diseases in the spring. Early summer saw scarce winds (unusual for Bolgheri) and the weather remained warm and consistent throughout the summer, with no heat waves until mid-September. The harvest was slowed by several rains. The harvest of the red varieties began with Merlot on September 5. The grapes were healthy and fully ripe, with higher-than-average sugar content and crisp, fine skins. The quality of Merlot is excellent with Shiraz and Sangiovese showing a good balance.

The three varieties ferment and macerate separately for around 15 days. After 12 months of aging in oak, they are blended and then aged for several months in the bottle before release.

Deep ruby red in color with purple hues. 2020 Promis is fruit-driven, mainly wild fruits: raspberry, black currant, and blueberry. Pink peppercorns and licorice notes come forward on the nose. This wine is medium-bodied with round tannins and refreshing acidity. It opens with aromatic herbs, followed by blackberry and black cherry ending with a savory hint of olive.