2006 Il Caberlot

Hand-numbered magnum number 1,147 of 2,205 produced. Date of harvest: 3 October 2006. Impenetrably deep ruby. Tight, fresh perfumed dark fruit with hints of oak and incense. Amazing balance and yet so embryonic. Captivating tactile gravelly tannins. Wonderful grip and freshness and complete, just not ready by far. A truly stunning wine. (WS)

The 2006 Il Caberlot comes across as very shut down and intensely tannic at this early stage. With some coaxing the fruit gradually emerges, and sweet, mentholated, balsamic notes appear, yet this remains a reticent wine. Today there is little aromatic development, but that will come with time. Underneath the tannins lurks a wine of exceptional balance. Like a shy teen ager, the 2006 Caberlot needs some time to overcome its awkwardness. The wine's length and polish are superb. I sampled the 2006 Caberlot from a 750ml tasting bottle, but the wine is commercially only available in magnums, and in that format is likely to be even more backward than this tasting note suggests!

The 2006 Il Caberlot comes across as very shut down and intensely tannic at this early stage. With some coaxing the fruit gradually emerges, and sweet, mentholated, balsamic notes appear, yet this remains a reticent wine. Today there is little aromatic development, but that will come with time. Underneath the tannins lurks a wine of exceptional balance. Like a shy teenager, the 2006 Caberlot needs some time to overcome its awkwardness. The wine’s length and polish are superb. I sampled the 2006 Caberlot from a 750ml tasting bottle, but the wine is commercially only available in magnums, and in that format is likely to be even more backward than this tasting note suggests! Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. Over the years Il Carnasciale has acquired cult status among readers who crave the finest Tuscany has to offer, and rightly so. These are some of the most unique wines from Italy. The estate’s flagship wine, Il Caberlot, is made from a clone originally sourced in a nursery in Veneto believed to be a cross between Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This year, I was especially struck by how reminiscent Il Caberlot is of Giuseppe Quintarelli’s Alzero, minus that wine’s sweetness. In recent years, proprietor Bettina Rogosky and oenologist Peter Schilling have introduced a second wine, named simply Carnasciale. With the 2006, they might have done too good a job with that wine, as it is simply delicious. Readers who have an opportunity to pick up these wines should not hesitate, as they are superb. Importer: The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484