“Il Carnasciale has acquired cult status among readers who crave the finest Tuscany has to offer, and rightly so.” Antonio Galloni
Situated high in the mountains in southern Chianti is Podere IL Carnasciale. The estate is renowned for its highly sought after IL Caberlot – rated 100 points on Vinous for the 2018 vintage. The smart buys here, though, are the two lesser known wines – which both offer outstanding value for money.
IL Carnasciale is the first of these, and made in exactly the same way as IL Caberlot. It comes from a fascinating hybrid unique to the estate, which combines the plush exuberance of Merlot with the fragrance of Cabernet Franc. Production is tiny, and high density planting limits yields and enhances concentration. The only difference between IL Carnasciale and the flagship wine is the barrel selection at the end of the winemaking process. The resulting 2018 is very similar in style to 100 point rated IL Caberlot – at a fraction of the price.
Ottantadue is another great buy. This varietal Sangiovese is the newest wine of the estate. It has been highly praised by the critics since release, with a score of 94 points for the 2019 vintage from Vinous. At just £20 in bond per bottle, this offers a lot of wine for the money.
These are superb wines from a cult producer. They tend to disappear rapidly from the market. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste the wines of an estate like no other – at a very reasonable price.
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