An elegant, expressive Bolgheri red from Gaja’s Ca’ Marcanda estate, Magari 2023 blends the richness of the Tuscan coast with the precision and finesse Gaja is renowned for.
Led by Cabernet Franc, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2023 is beautifully aromatic and polished, offering ripe dark fruit, Mediterranean herbs, subtle spice, and fine tannins. Generous enough to enjoy now, yet with the structure to develop beautifully in the cellar.
Producer: Gaja – Ca’ Marcanda
Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy
Appellation: Bolgheri DOC
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 60% Cabernet Franc • 30% Cabernet Sauvignon • 10% Petit Verdot
Style: Dry, medium-to-full-bodied red
Alcohol: Approximately 14% ABV
Nose: Inviting aromas of blackberry, dark cherry and plum mingle with violet, rose, eucalyptus and Mediterranean herbs. With air, notes of tobacco, graphite, cedar and sweet spice add further complexity.
Palate: Rich and expressive, with ripe blackberry, cherry and blueberry supported by fresh acidity and beautifully fine-grained tannins. Cabernet Franc brings perfume and freshness, while Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure and Petit Verdot adds depth and spice.
Structure: Polished and beautifully balanced, with enough concentration to feel substantial without becoming heavy. The 2023 combines a creamy texture with freshness and a distinctive savory, slightly saline character.
Finish: Long and refined, with lingering dark fruit, herbs, tobacco, graphite and spice.
The name “Magari” is a wonderfully expressive Italian word that can mean something along the lines of “If only…”, conveying a sense of hope, desire and possibility.
The wine comes from Ca’ Marcanda, the Gaja family's estate on the Tuscan coast in Bolgheri, where Bordeaux varieties thrive in the Mediterranean climate.
Magari represents a beautiful meeting point between Bolgheri's generous coastal personality and Gaja's trademark elegance and precision.
The 2023 Magari is particularly attractive for its combination of ripe fruit, freshness and elegance.
Cabernet Franc takes center stage, giving the wine an aromatic, lifted personality alongside the darker fruit and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
The vintage has received excellent critical recognition, with leading international critics placing it firmly in the low-to-mid 90-point range, and some assessments reaching as high as 96 points.
Drink now–2038
Magari 2023 is already wonderfully expressive and approachable, but its balance and fine tannins give it excellent potential for further development.
Over time, expect the fresh blackberry and cherry fruit to evolve toward tobacco, cedar, leather, dried herbs, and more savory complexity.
If drinking now, open approximately 30–60 minutes before serving.
Serve at 16–18°C.
Pairs beautifully with grilled ribeye, beef tenderloin, lamb, veal, braised short ribs, wild mushroom risotto, pappardelle with ragù, roasted vegetables, and mature Pecorino.
Its combination of fruit, freshness and fine tannins makes Magari particularly versatile at the dinner table.
A superb introduction to Gaja’s Bolgheri wines.
Magari occupies the sweet spot in the Ca’ Marcanda collection—more structured and serious than Promis, while remaining more immediately approachable than the flagship Ca ' Marcanda.
For guests who enjoy Bolgheri, Bordeaux blends and Super Tuscans, this is an easy wine to recommend. It has the dark fruit and richness people expect from the Tuscan coast, but with the freshness, elegance and precision that make Gaja so distinctive.
The excellent 2023 vintage makes this a bottle to enjoy now with dinner or confidently put away for the future.
The Tasting Room Rating: 94/100 — Drink • Cellar • Highly Recommended
