Sette Cieli Scipio Toscana 2020

This structured and 'aristocratic' red wine originates from Italy, within the esteemed Toscana I.G.T. appellation along the high-elevation coastal hills of Monteverdi Marrittimo, overlooking Bolgheri in Tuscan Maremma. Produced by Tenuta Sette Cieli—an elite organic estate founded by the Erika Ratti family—'Scipio' represents the crown jewel flag-ship wine of the winery, named after the legendary Roman general Scipio Africanus. Sourced from choice, terraced estate vineyard blocks perched at 400 meters above sea level, the vines are rooted in nutrient-poor, rock-strewn soils composed of galestro (schistose clay), albarese (limestone), and crushed flint. The estate's unique coastal microclimate combines high-altitude solar radiation with cooling Mediterranean sea breezes and drastic diurnal temperature drops, enabling Cabernet Franc to achieve complete phenolic maturity while retaining a razor-sharp, age-worthy natural acidity and an elegant structural frame.

Wine Description

The 2018 Tenuta Sette Cieli 'Scipio' Toscana presents a deep, luminous garnet-purple color in the glass with vivid crimson and magenta highlights along the rim. Its sensory profile is exceptionally bold, high-toned, and complex, delivering an expansive, precise, and noble portrayal of coastal Tuscan Cabernet Franc. The bouquet opens with a soaring, multi-layered display of wild cassis, dark plum, and black cherry compote, seamlessly layered with complex underlays of crushed graphite, dried violets, sage brush, sweet pipe tobacco, cedarwood, and a distinct trace of crushed stone minerality. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, muscular, and athletic, showcasing a succulent core of dark stone fruits, blood orange peel, dark cocoa nibs, and savory dried herbs. It is characterized by its outstanding inner energy and an incisive, mouthwatering backbone of natural acidity that effortlessly elevates its rich mid-palate fruit density. The mouthfeel is broad, velvety, and linear, framed by firm, fine-grained, and chalky tannins that glide into an extraordinarily long, dry, and savory finish accented by lingering notes of iron, spices, and forest floor.