Caberlot

Ever hear of a wine grape called “Caberlot”? It’s a rare, black grape believed to be a natural crossing of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Exclusively grown at Podere Il Carnasciale in Tuscany, it was first identified in an abandoned vineyard in the late 1960’s in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Only about 3,000 bottles of the wine, wearing the IGT denomination, are produced yearly. In some vintages, the Cabernet character seems to shine, while in others, the Merlot dominates. Occasionally, it is Rhone-like. Usually an intensely coloured wine, it smacks of dark fruit, pepper, tobacco, coffee, earth and roasted notes and can age decently. Apparently, it’s a very sought after wine and available in 27 countries worldwide.