Tasting Notes
Same beautiful wine, just with a damaged label. Named after the famous Roman military general who defeated Hannibal in the second Punic War. 100% Cabernet Franc, made in the best vintages. The 2017 came second only to Masseto (£600+ a bottle) and tied with Sassicaia (£240 a bottle) in a Decanter tasting of wines from the vintage in late 2020. It's a stunner. Complex spice and floral notes, dusty cherries and plums with some savoury character and green bell pepper, and grippy tannins encompassing a velvety core.
More Info
Sette Cieli arrived on the Tuscan scene a few years after the boundary lines of the Bolgheri appellation had been drawn. At the time the boundary was set, no one thought someone would plant above the woods on the next hillside over from Sassicaia, but actually above Gaja's Bolgheri property, Ca' Marcanda. But they did. Originally intended as a place to breed horses and a family retreat. Wine-loving friends came to visit and pointed out Sassicaia’s original vineyard, under the castle, that you see when you look over your right shoulder, and then a bit to the left of that, the Masseto vineyard. So they started to plant vines in 2000, and since 2012, the young Ambrogio Cremona Ratti who inherited the domain has been at the helm. He brought in winemaker Elena Pozzolini who came back to the area after several years of international experience in Argentina and California, and they share some of the viticultural team of Ornellaia. As Matthew Jukes says "this estate is a superstar in the making."