The blend of Caiarossa in this vintage is very similar to that in 2004, although with one or two slight differences. Sangiovese leads with 23%, followed by 22% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. Lesser components include 8% Alicante, 6% each Syrah and Petit Verdot and 2% Mourvèdre. In the glass the wine has a dark and leathery-claretty hue. It takes a couple of hours to open out on the nose, so if drinking it at this tender age bear that in mind. It starts off all tight and crystalline, but with some time in the decanter it reveals aromas suggestive of a little more depth and substance, starting with a little leather, although overall its character remains intense in a crunchy-spiky style. There are cherry skins and cranberries, smoke, and nuances of dry spices to the fruit, with notes of cinnamon and cloves. More than that though it has a stony, minerally and slightly earthy-savoury character. The palate is full, tense, with the crunchy and minerally composition suggested by the nose, and a layer of bright fruit with a very dry core of robust tannins. The texture of the wine lags behind the tannic structure somewhat, and in that respect this wine resembles the 2008 Médocs to some extent. Not only the distance between the tannic backbone and the fruit, but also the spiky, crystallised-fruit character. The finish shows a dry coating of tannins with a very robust presence which really need to integrate. Not in the same league as the delightful 2004, but charming and cellar-worthy
