04 Dec Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio, Toscana IGT

Cabernet Franc is one of the most widely planted red grapes in the world. This is in part thanks to Cardinal Richelieu who lived in southwest France in the 17th century. He loved this particular blue-black grape so much that he transported vine cuttings from Bordeaux to the Loire Valley. Today, Cabernet Franc is found around the world, including Italy, which is where I enjoyed the delicious Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio, Toscana IGT, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Tenuta Sette Cieli

Winemaker Elena Pozzolini started at Tenuta Sette Cieli in 2013, after working in Italy, California, Australia, and Argentina. I first met her in 2015 at a dinner in Los Angeles and was immediately taken with her positive energy and friendliness. It was no surprise that Wine Enthusiast Magazine considers her one of the “trailblazing women leading the wine industry forward.” Now, almost ten years later, I had the pleasure of seeing her again, this time in Bolgheri. She took me to visit the vineyards and learn more about the grapes, soils, and terroir.

Tenuta Sette Cieli, or “the Estate of Seven Skies”, was aptly named for the property that sits on a hill at 1300 feet elevation with incredible views in every direction. Located in Tuscany between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Tenuta Sette Cieli is owned by the Ratti family. They purchased 80 hectares (198 acres) in 1994 for horseback riding and wild boar hunting but realized the potential of the land for winemaking. They began planting vineyards in 2001 and today have 10 hectares (25 acres) of high-density certified organic vineyards planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. The first vintage of Tenuta Sette Cieli was in 2005.

Only a small portion of the vineyards owned by Tenuta Sette Cieli sit within the Bolgheri DOC. The majority of the vines are planted on a hill at 400 meters (13oo feet). These vines are the highest in Bolgheri but sit outside the Bolgheri DOC limits. So, the wines made from grapes in the vineyard are labeled IGT. The soils consist of pressed clay and crystallized calcareous soils which are soft and chalk-like. The calcareous clays stay cooler allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and resulting in wines with fresh acidity and floral aromas.

Elena believes that “a balanced wine comes from a balanced vineyard.” Elena spends lots of time in the vineyard and under her direction, the organic vineyards are farmed completely by hand and each variety and single plot is vinified separately. Fermentation starts with wild yeasts, and the final selection of the wines is made only after a period of barrel aging in French oak barrels. Each year presents different challenges and Elena approached each year individually. When you taste a wine from Tenuta Sette Cielie, Elena hopes you “feel the place, the grape varieties, and the vintage.”

Tasting Notes

Scipio is a wine made from 100% Cabernet Franc. Scipio (skeep-e-oh) was a famous Roman general and statesman who defeated Hannibal at the final battle of the Second Punic Wars in 202 BC. The Cabernet Franc was planted in the high-elevation vineyard in 2002 and 2003. Cabernet Franc is a tough variety to grow as it needs warm weather. Too hot and it loses its elegance and too cold and the wine has pyrazines. Scipio is only made in the best years and 2019 was a warm and sunny year with a mild winter. The wine was aged for 24 months in French oak. The Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio is a deep red color with a hint of garnet. The wine offers notes of dark cherries, raspberries, black currants, pink peppercorns, orange peel, violets, tobacco, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is savory with firm, rich tannins, textured acidity, and a lovely freshness.

Food Pairing

The wine is bold but also lush and should be paired with something that can stand up to the wine. Of course, this is a wine that will pair with pork tenderloin, rack of lamb, or other meat dishes, such as grilled steak. Or enjoy it simply with a selection of prosciutto, salami, and cheese.

Where To Purchase

The Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio retails for approximately $90. Check your local wine shop or look on Wine-Searcher.com for a retailer that carries the wine.

Meet the Winemaker

Read about winemaker Elena Pozzolini who I first met in 2015 and wrote about for the Napa Valley Register.