Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT 750ml

Scipio takes its name from the legendary Roman general who defeated Hannibal at the final battle of the Second Punic War in 202 BC — a fitting name for a wine of genuine power. Tenuta Sette Cieli — "estate of the seven skies" — is one of the highest estates in the entire Bolgheri area, perched roughly 1,300 feet (400 meters) above sea level between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, accessed by a winding three-mile dirt track, with terraced vineyards overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, surrounded by the lush woods of Monteverdi Marittimo. In 2012, Ambrogio Rossi took over the estate, focused on quality, vineyard practice, and additional acreage, now farming roughly 17 acres of high-density, organically farmed vineyards entirely by hand.

Scipio is genuinely a selective wine — made only in the best years, when the weather stays clement into October, since the cool sea breeze and altitude delay Cabernet Franc's ripening. The vines were planted in 2001-2003 on calcareous clay soils with a high presence of clay, limestone, and stones, which stay cooler and allow slow ripening, resulting in what the estate describes as wines "with fresh acidity and floral aromas." The 2019 vintage was a particularly warm and sunny year following a mild winter. Production runs just roughly 8,000 bottles when made. The 2019 ages 24 months in French oak, with the winemaker describing "a rich, deep and complex wine that interprets what was a particularly warm and sunny year," its "high natural acidity" giving "a pleasant freshness and firmness."

The critical reception has been genuinely outstanding. Wine Enthusiast awarded 95 Points, finding "a cool, earthy nose of damp soil, wet slate and black cherries" given "a bolt of lightning and warmth from strong undercurrents of green and black pepper." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored the wine 94 Points, noting "a vegetal quality with dried curry leaf, grilled herb and dark slate," where "you feel the grape in full," the wine delivering "rich generosity, soft texture with barbecued aromas and sweet spice." James Suckling scored 93 Points and Wine Spectator 91 Points. Jeb Dunnuck, scoring the same vintage 96 Points, described "a jeweled red color" with "a lovely peppery spice that lifts from the glass along with notes of redcurrants, cedar, fresh forest herbs, rocky earth, and fresh flowers," the palate offering "more tension and a snappy feel, with crunchy, ripe tannins, mouthwatering acidity, and a great, stony textured finish." Please The Palate's tasting describes "a deep red color with a hint of garnet," with "dark cherries, raspberries, black currants, pink peppercorns, orange peel, violets, tobacco, and dried herbs," the palate "savory with firm, rich tannins, textured acidity, and a lovely freshness." This is genuinely rare, high-altitude, organically farmed Cabernet Franc — real power and finesse from one of the Bolgheri area's most dramatic sites.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Tenuta Sette Cieli 2019 Scipio is produced by Tenuta Sette Cieli, between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci, in the hills of Monteverdi Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy, owned and managed by Ambrogio Rossi since 2012. The estate's 17 acres of high-density vineyard sit at roughly 1,300 feet (400 meters) elevation, farmed 100% organically with all work done by hand, on soils of clay, limestone, and stones.

Scipio is made entirely from Cabernet Franc, planted 2001-2003, hand-harvested and sorted, fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature with indigenous yeast, with roughly 25 days of skin maceration and malolactic fermentation in barrel. The 2019 vintage ages 24 months in French oak. Produced only in the best years — approximately 8,000 bottles. Bottled at 15% ABV, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

Wine Enthusiast — 95 Points:
"The cool, earthy nose of damp soil, wet slate and black cherries gets a bolt of lightning and warmth from strong undercurrents of green and black pepper."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate — 94 Points:
"Made with Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Scipio shows a vegetal quality with dried curry leaf, grilled herb and dark slate. You feel the grape in full, and the wine delivers rich generosity, soft texture with barbecued aromas and sweet spice."

James Suckling — 93 Points

Wine Spectator — 91 Points

Jeb Dunnuck — 96 Points:
"As always, 100% Cabernet Franc spending 14 months in barrels, the 2019 Scipio pours a jeweled red color and has a lovely peppery spice that lifts from the glass along with notes of redcurrants, cedar, fresh forest herbs, rocky earth, and fresh flowers. The palate offers more tension and a snappy feel, with crunchy, ripe tannins, mouthwatering acidity, and a great, stony textured finish."

Please The Palate (extended tasting note):
"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."

Tenuta Sette Cieli (official winemaker's note):
"A rich, deep and complex wine that interprets what was a particularly warm and sunny year. The taste reveals a great balance due to a high natural acidity that gives a pleasant freshness and firmness."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Deep red with a hint of garnet. Damp soil, wet slate, and black cherry lead, joined by green and black pepper, alongside redcurrant, cedar, forest herbs, violet, and dried curry leaf.

Palate
Savory and full-bodied, with dark cherry, raspberry, and black currant carrying rich generosity, developing grilled herb, barbecued aromas, sweet spice, tobacco, and orange peel, framed by firm, crunchy tannin and mouthwatering acidity.

Finish
Stony, textured, and lingering, closing with genuine freshness and firmness — built for further cellaring.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Pork tenderloin or rack of lamb
• Grilled steak
• Prosciutto, salami, and aged cheeses
• Creamy mushroom risotto