Wow. The 2013 Ilatraia jumps right out at you. This is a tremendous effort - I tasted this wine three times blind and it always came out on top. Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) is blended with Petit Verdot (40%) and Cabernet Franc (20%). The complexity and the ever-changing nature of the bouquet is mind-bending. Ilatraia shows enormous depth and sophistication, and it leaves a profound impact. The wine sports deep color saturation with brilliant flashes of dark ruby. The texture is immensely soft, yielding and seamless in its integration. Dark fruit and blackberry is followed by light notes of tobacco, toasted nut and scorched earth. I am in awe of its complexity. Drink Date 2017 - 2030
This is perhaps the finest set of wines produced by Barbara Widmer and the excellent team at Brancaia. The 2013 Ilatraia (made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) is among my top three favorite wines tasted during this September session.