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Trinoro
proprietor Andrea Franchetti founded this estate in 1992, with the sworn aim to
make "the best wine in Italy." As a wine broker, Franchetti fell in
love with the great right bank Bordeaux properties. At Trinoro he is seeking to
duplicate the sensory experience of those wines, while maintaining a distinctly
Italian viewpoint. After years of searching, Franchetti found the ideal location
for his project just outside the hamlet of Sarteano in southeastern Tuscany.
Located high on a ridge overlooking the Orcia river, Trinoro is protected from
coastal tempering by Mt. Amiata to the west and from inland fogs by Mt. Cetona
to the east.
In addition to a magical climate, Trinoro also possesses a
providential vineyard site. The soils are a limestone-rich clay and gravel mix -
not unlike the soils of St. Emilion. Planting began in 1992, emphasizing
Cabernet Franc, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot to round
out the blends. A small parcel of the native grape, Cesane d'Affile, was also
planted. Franchetti is producing two wines. Tenuta di Trinoro is a
blend of approximately 80% Cabernet Franc, with the balance in Cabernet
Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, with a total production of about 1000 cases. Palazzi
is a roughly equal blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. A mere 700 cases are
produced. Both are fabulous wines, massively structured and concentrated, with
layers of ripe, chewy, mouth-filling fruit and a spicy, exotic character.
"One
of the new superstar estates in Tuscany, the first vintage of proprietor Andrea
Franchetti was 1997. He is obviously a perfectionist, and is doing some things
that have never been done with the likes of Cabernet Franc outside Bordeaux and
a handful of California wineries. All of Franchetti's wines are made from low
yields, given indigenous yeast fermentations, micro-oxygenations, and no
racking, fining, or filtration prior to bottling. I have been a fan since the
first releases. The wines go from strength to strength ... in the style of
Franchetti's friends, Peter Sissick and Jean-Luc Thunevin, was not fined,
filtered, or stabilized, and essentially represents the most honest/authentic
essence of their vineyard. This is the wine of a genius." Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
Trinoro
2000
$124.99 limited
"The prodigious 2000 Tenuta di Trinoro is a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc,
35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Petit Verdot, also from yields of 15 hectoliters
per hectare. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of
freshly ground truffles, damp earth, licorice, black currants, blackberries, and
white flowers. There is extraordinary intensity, great richness, a profound,
multi-layered texture, and a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. This is
compelling wine from a brilliant proprietor. Sadly, there are only 800 cases of
this profound offering that wants to be the Cheval Blanc of Tuscany. Anticipated
maturity: 2006-2018." 95 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #144
Cupole
20002000
$47.99
limited
""The 2000 Cupole di Trinoro is a blend of 78% Cabernet Franc, 11%
Merlot, 6% Cesanese, and 5% Troia. Get this ... yields were 15 hectoliters per
hectare, and the wine spent 14 months in 100% new French oak. There are 2,300
cases of this gorgeous opaque ruby/purple-colored effort. It offers up a sweet
perfume of menthol, red as well as black currants, licorice, smoke, graphite,
and vanilla. Rich, intense, and medium to full-bodied, but remarkably light and
delicate on its feet, this stunning Italian red should drink well young, yet
last for 12-15+ years." 92 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #144
Andrea Franchetti
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