Il Caberlot

Podere Il Carnasciale (also known as Caberlot) is a cult estate in Valdarno, Tuscany. The winery is famous for being the only producer in the world of Caberlot, a crossing of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, grown exclusively at the estate. As Caberlot is not a recognized Tuscan variety, the wines are designated as IGT Toscana. The estate was established by Wolf and Bettina Rogosky. The couple had met the agronomist Remigio Bordini in the 1980s, who had discovered the Caberlot crossing in an abandoned vineyard near Padua in the 1960s. The crossing was thought to have occurred naturally, showing characteristics of both varieties, leading Bordini to call it Caberlot – although no DNA testing has ever been done. Bordini agreed to allow the Rogoskys to plant it on their Tuscan property, above the Arno river, and be the first to vinify it. Allocations are still very small, and total production of each wine averages less than 1000 cases a year. The distinctive cross on the label is hand painted and, along with the label's color, changes with every new vintage. Each bottle is numbered by hand by Bettina.


At sight it has a dense and impenetrable ruby red color. The nose shows spicy and toasted notes reminiscent of pepper, nutmeg, tobacco and coffee, on a ripe fruity background. In the mouth it is tannic, fresh and savory, wrapped in a persuasive softness that defines a full body. Long, very long persistence.