Now for many years one of the representative wines for Querciabella, Camartina is a rightful member of the Supertuscan family, and specifically of that sub-group that sees Sangiovese blended with international varieties, to make a mix of grapes in Tuscan sauce even more territorial.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese vineyards, found on both Querciabella estates located in Chianti and in the Grosseto Maremma, were begun to be managed organically in 1988 and then switched to biodynamic in 2000, delivering us today a vegan wine following the complete elimination of every product traceable to the animal world by decision of Sebastiano Castiglioni.

After careful selection on the vine and harvesting in crates of about 10 kg each, the grapes are destemmed and crushed followed by alcoholic fermentation in oak vats, where the Cabernet Sauvignon berries are placed in maceration for about three weeks as opposed to a scant two weeks for the Sangiovese and also undergo malolactic fermentation before racking into barriques and further selection of the best barriques to create the final blend, which follows a total aging of 18 months in wood before an additional 12 months after bottling.

On tasting, the Camartina has a deep, concentrated ruby red color with garnet highlights, while a broad bouquet emerges on the nose, ranging from typically Mediterranean scents such as myrtle, cassis and bay leaf to black currant, tamarind and then vanilla, sandalwood, tobacco and chocolate. In the mouth emerges fullness and richness, but also elegance thanks to a dense but well-integrated tannin, a well-present savoriness paired with an acidity that is still the protagonist and a fine dosage of softness to make the sip harmonious, progressive and refined, with a lingering closure and return with hints of black fruit in gelée.

Camartina is undoubtedly an elegant, intriguing and multifaceted wine in its many nuances, well representing Querciabella’s message to the world and giving maximum credit to the rigor with which the winery has decided to operate. Produced only in optimal vintages in about 10,000 units, it has the merit of enriching a well-set table or a collection of Tuscan wines within which it stands out for its thick personality.