2019 Tenuta di Trinoro Rosso Toscana IGT

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Grape: Merlot 60% Cabernet Franc 40% 

Culinary Suggestions: Hard cheeses or grilled meats

Vineyard Practice: Organic

Overview

Nestled between 500 and 700 metres above sea level, the Tenuta di Trinoro stands proudly in southwestern Tuscany, protected from the salty sea breeze by the mighty Monte Amiata. In 1991, Andrea Franchetti took cues from Bordeaux and planted high-density, low-training vines, a nod to the famous vineyards of Saint Emilion and Pomerol. His vineyard's unique microclimate allows him to handpick his grapes parcel by parcel, waiting for optimal ripeness and often pushing the harvest until November, a testament to his dedication to quality.

The varietals grown in Tenuta di Trinoro include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, each with its own unique flavour profile. Andrea's winemaking philosophy shuns recipes, opting instead for the taste of the grape, a refreshing departure from formulaic winemaking.

Andrea's attention to detail and commitment to quality have made Tenuta di Trinoro's wines "cult wines," revered for their exceptional quality and limited production. From its 30 hectares of land, the estate produces a remarkable 80,000 bottles each year, all without skimping on quality. That's some damn fine winemaking.

Critic Reviews

100 points

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

This is a stunning wine and one of the best in this report covering the icons of Tuscany. The 2019 Tenuta di Trinoro is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Fruit is sourced from the very best parcels, and the blending formula changes according to vintage and the style desired by vintner Andrea Franchetti. These vineyard parcels vary in altitude, ranging from 400 to 600 meters above sea level, and the soils are quite varied with pockets of clay, sand and rock. The Trinoro is profoundly deep and pure with a solid core of black fruit that is framed by an elegant contour of spice, tobacco, smoke and crushed stone. To the palate, the wine is long and the finish can be counted in minutes, but the entire experience is beautifully streamlined and velvety. This vintage saw an important freeze event on the 7th of May, and 9,000 fire candles were lit in the lower vineyard blocks to fight off frost damage.

Drink: 2023 - 2048

97+ point

Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2019 Tenuta di Trinoro is a surprisingly reticent wine. That's not a descriptor I find myself reaching for often here, but it seems appropriate. Medium in body and quite nervy, the 2019 is going to need time to come together. The tannins are a bit severe at this stage. And yet there is plenty of Trinoro intensity waiting to emerge. Time brings out hints of dark-fleshed fruit, spice, mocha, licorice and incense. There's plenty to look forward to.

Drink: 2027 - 2039