Very few things get me more excited than a new release of one of my favorite wines: Il Caberlot. I personally own 14 vintages of Caberlot. Every time I open one of these gems, people take notice. I describe this wine as the “Italian Cheval Blanc” since it is made from a grape called Caberlot, a natural crossing between Cabernet Franc and Merlot, which is the blend used for Cheval Blanc. Just add Italian sunshine and Presto - Caberlot!
Caberlot 2020 – 1.5L $324.99 (USA Low)
Carnasciale 2021 $64.99 / 59.99 3+ (USA Low) Sometimes referred to as the “Baby Caberlot”
These wines are available now!
il Caberlot Magnum (1.5L) 2020
Poderi il Carnasciale
$324.99 x 15 magnums (3 bottle OWC) US Low
Grapes: 100% Caberlot
Soil: limestone soils with chalk and sandy components
40+ distinctive lots: Each parcel is vinified and matured in wood separately until the blending is conducted.
Vinification: Vinified in stainless steel
Maturation: Aged in Burgundy sized casks (228L) of new and used French oak barrels
2020: 96 pts Falstaff
Bright ruby red. On the nose initially of mint chocolate, ripe blackberries, dried rose petals, plus cold smoke and cold stone, some leather and pepper in the echo. Substantial on the palate, with a delicately creamy body, punchy, compact, comes in many layers. In the final still some young tannin, salty and very long echo." - 96/100, Falstaff
2019: 95WA
2018: 100VM
2017: 97VM
2016: 97VM
2015: 96VM
2014: 96VM
il Carnasciale (Caberlot) 2021 93WA
$64.99 / 59.99 3+ (USA Low)
2021: 93WA
The Il Carnasciale 2021 Carnasciale is a 100% expression of a grape called Caberlot, and this is the only estate I am aware of that makes a commercial wine with it. You won’t find much information on the Internet, but apparently, it was identified in 1975 in the Colli Euganei in northern Italy and was planted in the Emilia Romagna region. The name “Caberlot” is a so-called “fantasy” name, and DNA testing links it to Cabernet Franc (some say it’s crossed with Merlot). The grape ripens late, in the last week of September, and at least 10 days after the Merlot for Petrolo’s Galatrona (just down the hill) comes off the vines. The 2021 vintage was a very sunny year, and if anything, it lacked rain. You get dark primary tones of blackberry and plum, and the wine shows good support and structure at the back. With time, you get distinctive herbal or green notes, and the medium-weight mouthfeel is laced with powdery tannins. Production this year is 10,390 bottles.
2020: 91WA
2019: 91VM
2017: 93VM
2016: 91VM
2015: 92VM
2014: 93VM