2019 Scipio, Tenuta Sette Cieli, Tuscany, Italy
Critics reviews
Full bottle 1,262 g. 100% Cabernet Franc grown at 400 m asl. They have six parcels of Cabernet Franc, each one with slightly different soils and micro-climates. Every parcel responds differently to the vintage and so they vinify and age every parcel separately all the way. Never more than 40% new oak. Then in stainless steel and the best barrels get selected and blended for Scipio. 9,500 bottles. 2019 had a really dry spring and then a very rainy June. Summer was hot but not extremely. Autumn was cold at night with really fresh days.
The calligraphic precision and flow and beauty of this wine is almost impossible to take apart. It flows into itself; not a collection of elements or things which one can measure or describe (acidity, tannins, fruit, length, depth, aromas). It is a chiastic whole. A chiasmus. A pattern of cross-linking, cross-connected, cross-flowing acidity, tannins, fruit, length, depth, aromas which have so suffused into each other that the wine becomes a river experience. Dark, magnificent, a chiaroscuro play of contrasts: shafts of light across penumbral planes, the adjacencies blurring into the soft, forest-fragrant, dense weave of tannins. It is resplendent, within its close-held cloak of exquisite restraint.
Drink 2024 - 2038
Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com (March 2024)
Inviting fruit with a twist of tomato leaf character to the currants, mineral, tobacco and fine spices. The pure, medium- to full-bodied palate unleashes tight and chalky tannins, driving the fruit to a subtle yet lengthy finish. Cabernet Franc. Already delicious, but should develop additional complexity in the next three to four years.
Drink or hold
Zekun Shuai, JamesSuckling.com (February 2023)
Tenuta Sette Cieli is one of the highest estates in the hills around Bolgheri, reaching 400 metres above sea level. The vineyards are outside the appellation but the 'Bolgheri' style is very consistent. Talented winemaker Elena Pozzolini aims for clean and pure fruit, sometimes too restrained for classic Bordeaux-style wine lovers but pretty classic in this 2019 vintage. An earthy mix of leafy, cassis and bell pepper tones lead to a packed and woven palate with great concentration, refined tannins and refreshing, brillant acidity. The finish is a bit sticky due to the oak influence but this is a wine intended for ageing.
Drink 2023 - 2039
Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter.com (June 2022)
The 2019 Scipio is deep red with a garnet tinge and opens to melding notes of cherry pie, sweet baking spices, vanilla, and tobacco. This profile continues to the palate with an autumnal feel and notes of dried herbs, rich tannins, and a modest finish. It seems to be maturing more rapidly than the other two wines from Tenuta Sette Cieli and will be best over the next several years.
Drink 2024 - 2027
Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com (January 2024)
About this WINE
Tenuta Sette Cieli
Tenuta Sette Cieli transcribes as “Seven Skies Estate”, fittingly named due to the amazing panoramic views and huge skies surrounding the 16 hectares of vineyards and picturesque cantina. This trailblazing producer sits apart from the other producers of Bolgheri, both stylistically and geographically. The estate looks over towards the original Sassicaia vineyard, above Bolgheri’s fertile plains and Tyrrhenian Sea beyond. The penthouse of the region, sitting at 400 metres altitude, their organic vineyards are envied by every winemaker in the region. The site benefits from much cooler temperatures, up to 10 degrees Celsius cooler during the summer months, which results in longer, later harvests – up to one month after the fertile plains below. This gives a very different character of wine to what is expected of Bolgheri; fresh, finessed, energetic and crunchy, further enhanced by the ancient soils of the hills, which are filled with calcareous boulders and crystallised minerals giving vibrant salinity to the wines.
Wolves and wild boar roam free up in these hills, as all the vineyards are enclosed by untouched wilderness, and the deep wooded hills of the Monteverdi landscape. Originally bought as a retreat for the Ratti family, it was only planted with vines in 2001. Today, it’s under the control of superstar winemaker Elena Pozzolini, who has taken this estate to new heights. She crafts the wines with immense skill, fierce passion and sensitivity. These are not rich, blockbuster Bolgheri wines; they are nimble, detailed and elegant, standing out against the richer styles of the region. Although many of their vineyards are technically outside the Bolgheri DOCG, due to the altitude, these are some of the most exciting wines in the area. For Elena and Tenuta Sette Cieli, only the sky is the limit.
IGT Tuscany
IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) Tuscany is a wine classification from Italy's Tuscany region. It is one of the official wine classifications recognized by the Italian government. IGT is a step below the highest classification, DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), and above the DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) level.
The IGT classification was introduced in 1992 to allow winemakers more flexibility in grape varieties and employ winemaking techniques while still ensuring a certain level of quality and geographical indication. This classification gives winemakers more freedom to experiment and innovate, deviating from the strict regulations of the DOC and DOCG classifications.
IGT Tuscany wines can be produced throughout the entire region of Tuscany, encompassing various sub-regions and terroirs within the area. This classification allows winemakers to use traditional Tuscan grape varieties, such as Sangiovese, and non-traditional grape varieties, including international ones like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and others.
The IGT Tuscany classification gives winemakers the flexibility to create wines that showcase the unique characteristics of their specific vineyards and winemaking styles. It allows for experimentation with blending different grape varieties, using innovative winemaking techniques, and exploring new regional vineyard sites.
IGT Tuscany wines can vary greatly, from traditional and terroir-driven expressions to more modern and international styles. This classification has played a significant role in developing Super Tuscan wines, often IGT designated and known for their high quality and international recognition.
Overall, IGT Tuscany provides a platform for winemakers in the region to express their creativity and produce wines that reflect their unique vision while maintaining a connection to the rich heritage and traditions of winemaking in Tuscany.
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is widely planted in Bordeaux and is the most important black grape grown in the Loire. In the Médoc it may constitute up to 15% of a typical vineyard - it is always blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is used to add bouquet and complexity to the wines. It is more widely used in St.Emilion where it adapts well to the cooler and moister clay soils - Cheval Blanc is the most famous Cabernet Franc wine in the world, with the final blend consisting of up to 65% of the grape.
Cabernet Franc thrives in the Loire where the cooler growing conditions serve to accentuate the grape's herbaceous, grassy, lead pencil aromas. The best wines come from the tuffeaux limestone slopes of Chinon and Bourgeil where growers such as Jacky Blot produce intense well-structured wines that possess excellent cellaring potential.
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Description
This is made from 100% Cabernet Franc, grown in the high Campo Lungo vineyard. Only 10,000 bottles were produced. The wine spent 14 months in barrique, of which 40% was new oak. This is incredibly compelling and elegant, with notes of lifted rose, game and musk, alongside a blood orange bite and lofty garden notes of sage and wild mint. There are grippy layers of balsamic tension. This is a Cabernet Franc of the highest quality, which really shows the fragility, elegance and power of the variety – as well as the quality of the vintage, and Bolgheri’s versatility of the region.
Drink 2025 - 2040
Charlie Leech, Buying Assistant, Berry Bros. & Rudd (July 2024)
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