Caiarossa is a Biodynamic estate in Riparbella, Pisa Province, in Tuscany, Italy. What is now called Caiarossa was once a farm known as Podere Serra all’Olio, just a small part of the vast property holdings of the noble degli Albizi family. Olives, cereals and grapes were grown, while the woods were ideal hunting grounds. Caiarossa in its current form was established in 1998 by Flemish businessman Jan Theys, a former music and TV producer. He made money when he sold his music label to Sony, but having invested between 4 million and 5 million euros in the property since 1998 ran out of capital and looked for a buyer who shared his interest in natural vineyard management, in this case Eric Albada Jelgersma. A Dutch entrepreneur, Jelgersma also owns the Margaux estate Château du Tertre and its neighbour Château Giscours. Jelgersma changed the name from Fattoria Fiamminga Serra all’Olio to Caiarossa, and brought in Alexander van Beek as manager.
Staff: Manager Gianluca Mattia (335.6113846 or gianlucamattia@tele2.it; showed us around in 2005.) Winemaker: Dominique Genot (French but Australian-influenced). Office: Linda Boekhoorn.
Estate vineyards 16ha in the Val di Cecina. Entitled to the Montescudaio and Val di Cornia DOCs (both, or just one?). The vineyards are set closely around the winery. Most are south-west facing to the Tyrrhenian Sea with the silhouettes of the islands of Elba and Capraia on the horizon. When the wind is from the right direction, it brings in the perfume of the sea.
Soil: Jan Theys made a geological analysis from 1998 which revealed an extremely varied soil with a prevalence of calcareous clay in the lower areas (between 150 to 200 meters above sea level) but also with vast areas of ferrous sand mixed with stones (mainly the higher vineyards).
Wine grapes:Twelve diverse geological lots were defined, each of which was then planted with the most suitable grape varieties, currently eleven: Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Mourvèdre for the reds; Chardonnay, Viognier for the whites. The vineyards are high density (9,050 vines per hectare), cordon trained and spur pruned.
Organic certification: 1998 First vintage with organic certification.
Biodynamic certification: 1998 Converted from olives to vines. 2001 Demeter and Ecocert for the first time. 2013 Demeter. Other products Extra virgin olive oil.
White wines
La Ripa Bianco: 2010 Chardonnay and Viognier. Nicely herby at Vinitaly 9th April 2013.
Oro di Caiarosso Bianco: 2009 Vino Bianco da Uve Stramature. 100% Petit Manseng.
Red wines
Toscana Rosso, La Botra Cabernet: 2003 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot.
Toscana Rosso, La Sassa Sangiovese:
Toscana Rosso, La Serra Merlot: 2002 94% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot.
Toscana Rosso, Pergolaia: Pergolaia is the second wine to the top red, Caiarossa, and is mainly Sangiovese. | 2004 95% Sangiovese. Fermented in oak. | 2005 Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Merlot. | 2006 90% Sangiovese, 7% Merot, 3% Cabernet Franc. | 2009 87% Sangiovese, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. £8-14.99. Broad, sappy, traditional style, sapid fruit in the middle with dry tannins in the finish so not too badly matched. 16 Points. Bronze at DWWA 30th April 2013.
Toscana Rosso, Caiarossa: Caiarossa is the top wine, a cuvée of the best grapes of the year. | 2004 33% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, 22% Sangiovese, plus some Petit Verdot (6%), [the red-fleshed] Alicante (3%), Syrah (2%) and Mourvèdre (1%). 25% new wood. | 2005, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon.| 2006 23% Sangiovese, 22% Cabernet Franc,21% Merlot, 12%Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, 2% Mourvèdre. | 2008 Quite smoky, oaky at Vinitaly 2013. | 2009 25% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 19% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Other grapes [probably Petit Verdot, Alicante, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre]. £30-59.99. Clean and plump, elegant and wild, nice sweet fruit, dense at Vinitaly 9th April 2013. Fruit seems a bit pinched, but is merely reserved, lots of crushed raspberries and vanilla oak, well made international minor key style. 17 Points. Silver at DWWA 2nd May 2013.
Contact
Fattoria Caiarossa
Loc. Serra all’Olio 59
56046 Riparbella (PI), Italia
Tel+39 0586.699016 | Website: www.caiarossa.it
Bibliography :Visit in 2005.