The 2011 Magari IGT is a soft and savory wine that boasts dark extraction and a high degree of aromatic intensity. Lush cherry and blackberry emerge from this blend of mostly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. You feel a point of alcoholic heat that is in line with the warm 2011 vintage, that extra power folds nicely within the broad texture of the mouthfeel.

This vintage takes us back to a time when Magari was heavily based on Merlot. That grape was removed entirely from the blend in 2014 as concerns over climate change became pressing. Another difference is that the 2010 Magari is an IGT Toscana wine (its appellation changed to Bolgheri Rosso starting with the 2012 release). Compared to current vintages that are driven by Cabernet Franc, you absolutely taste the sweetness of the Merlot in this wine with baked cherry, baking spice and cured tobacco. However, this wine also features 25% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon (a grape that was slightly more penalized that year), and those varieties add more fruit weight and volume to what has become a medium-weight wine, tasted now with some age on it. In fact, 2010 was never super rich, and the wine has slimmed down nicely with bottle age.

Ripe dark cherries, plums, sweet spices and licorice are some of the notes that flow from the 2009 Magari. The 2009 is a pliant, open Magari with lovely length and an understated finish. Floral notes linger on the close. In this vintage Magari is built on a core of radiant fruit, with less aromatic nuance than the 2008. I like the way the wine comes together in the glass. Magari is 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc that spends 18 months in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017. These new releases from Angelo Gaja’s Maremma property are quite successful. That said, it is interesting to note that Ca’Marcanda (the winery) is one of the few properties in Maremma to place such a high emphasis on Merlot, which is the main grape in all three of the estate’s reds. Because of that, these wines aren’t as differentiated as those of neighboring properties. By now, I think it is also quite clear that, with few exceptions, Merlot is an excellent component in Maremma wines, but rarely the most exciting leading player. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900

The 2008 Magari is more complex and layered than the 2009. Sweet menthol, licorice, black cherries and tobacco come together beautifully in this delineated, nuanced Magari. A melange of smoke, tar and licorice adds elements of darkness and intrigue on the finish. Magari is 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc that spends 18 months in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018. These new releases from Angelo Gaja’s Maremma property are quite successful. That said, it is interesting to note that Ca’Marcanda (the winery) is one of the few properties in Maremma to place such a high emphasis on Merlot, which is the main grape in all three of the estate’s reds. Because of that, these wines aren’t as differentiated as those of neighboring properties. By now, I think it is also quite clear that, with few exceptions, Merlot is an excellent component in Maremma wines, but rarely the most exciting leading player. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900

The 2007 Magari boasts a gorgeous nose redolent of grilled herbs, menthol, spices and dark fruit. This is a relatively lithe Magari that convinces for its length, balance and finessed personality. Magari is 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017. These are without question the finest wines I have tasted from Angelo Gaja’s Ca’ Marcanda estate on the Tuscan coast. It will be interesting to see where the wines go from here. The vines are now starting to get to the age where the resulting wines show real pedigree and class. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900