Capezzana Villa de Capezzana Carmignano 2017

Capezzana Villa de Capezzana Carmignano 2017 is an organic Tuscan red wine from the Carmignano DOCG, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Scoring 93 points from both Vinous and Decanter, this vintage highlights the historic link between Carmignano and Bordeaux varietals — Tenuta di Capezzana famously sourced its Cabernet Sauvignon cuttings from Château Lafite Rothschild, making it one of the original architects of the Super Tuscan movement.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Carmignano DOCG, Tuscany, Italy  |  Vintage: 2017  |  Producer: Tenuta di Capezzana

Production & Heritage

Tenuta di Capezzana has been in the Contini Bonacossi family since the early 20th century, though the estate's winemaking history stretches back centuries in the hills west of Florence. Villa de Capezzana is the estate's flagship Carmignano, built on an 80% Sangiovese and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon blend — the Cabernet tracing directly to cuttings brought from Lafite Rothschild decades before the Super Tuscan category even had a name. The wine is aged for 18 months partially in large oak casks, and the estate farms organically, lending a purity of fruit that defines the house style.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The wine takes its time opening in the glass, initially presenting dusty dried cherry and a whisper of dried rose. With air, aromas of bright red fruit emerge alongside camphor, tobacco leaf, and a subtle earthiness suggesting truffle and savory herbs.

Taste: On the palate, dark, mineral-tinged blackberry fruit arrives in elegant waves, offset by a vibrant twang of sour citrus that keeps the mid-palate taut. Berry fruit transforms through crushed plum and raspberry, while hints of cocoa, sweet herbs, and animal musk build complexity. Sour cherry, graphite, and savory tones layer through a tremendously complex mouthfeel.

Finish: Long and polished, with graphite and sour cherry extending into tobacco and cocoa on the close. The tannins are resolved and fine-grained, leaving a persistent mineral impression.

How to Drink Villa de Capezzana

This is a wine that rewards patience — decant it for 30 to 45 minutes and serve at 60–65°F to let the full aromatic spectrum unfold. It is at its best alongside food rather than in cocktails, given its structure and complexity. Pair it with bistecca alla fiorentina, where the wine's tannin and acidity cut through charred, rare beef. Slow-braised wild boar ragù mirrors its earthy, savory depth. Aged pecorino toscano draws out the wine's underlying mineral thread.

Best For

• Serving as a centerpiece wine at an Italian-themed dinner party
• Gifting a Tuscan wine enthusiast seeking depth beyond Chianti Classico
• Cellaring for special occasions — the 2017 vintage has proven aging potential
• Exploring the historical roots of the Super Tuscan movement

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Villa de Capezzana 2017 taste like? It delivers dark, mineral-driven blackberry and crushed plum fruit layered with tobacco, cocoa, graphite, and savory herbs, all carried by a polished tannic structure and bright sour-cherry acidity.

How does Villa de Capezzana compare to Tignanello? Both blend Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon in Tuscany, but Villa de Capezzana is rooted in the Carmignano DOCG — a region that legally sanctioned this blend centuries before Super Tuscans existed — giving it a more mineral, restrained profile compared to Tignanello's richer, more internationally styled fruit and new-oak influence.

Is Villa de Capezzana 2017 good for cellaring? Yes — the wine's firm tannin structure, bright acidity, and 93-point scores from Vinous and Decanter suggest it will continue to develop complexity over the next five to ten years with proper storage.

Where is Villa de Capezzana made? It is produced by Tenuta di Capezzana, an organically farmed estate located in the Carmignano DOCG hills west of Florence in Tuscany, Italy.

What foods pair well with Villa de Capezzana 2017? Grilled lamb chops with rosemary complement its herbal, savory character. Slow-cooked wild boar ragù echoes the wine's earthy complexity. Bistecca alla fiorentina matches its bold tannic structure. Aged pecorino toscano highlights its mineral backbone. Mushroom risotto with porcini draws out its truffle-like undertones.

What sizes does Villa de Capezzana come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format for this wine.

Is Villa de Capezzana 2017 worth the price? It positions as a premium Tuscan red that punches well above its weight — dual 93-point scores, organic farming, and a pedigree rooted in Lafite Rothschild Cabernet cuttings make it a strong value compared to similarly scored Super Tuscans and top-tier Chianti Classico Riservas.

Why Villa de Capezzana?

Few Tuscan wines carry the historical significance of this bottling. Tenuta di Capezzana introduced Cabernet Sauvignon from Lafite Rothschild to the Carmignano hills before the Super Tuscan phenomenon even existed, effectively pioneering the Sangiovese-Cabernet blend that would later define an entire category. The 2017 vintage earned 93 points from both Vinous and Decanter, confirming its place among Tuscany's most respected reds. Organic farming, 18 months of large-oak aging, and a centuries-old terroir give this wine a distinctly site-driven character that stands apart from the more oak-forward, internationally styled competition.