Tenuta Sette Ponti, Oreno IGT, Tuscany, Italy, 2021

Producer Profile

Driven by a passionate interest in wine since his youth, Antonio Moretti Cuseri assumed control of his father’s vineyards Castiglion Fibocchi in the 1990s, and worked alongside the best viticulturists and oenologists to evaluate the land’s suitability for producing quality wines before launching his own brand.

Tenuta Sette Ponti takes its name from the seven bridges that cross the Arno river on the road from Florence to Arezzo (one of them, the Buriano, is depicted in Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa). Antonio eventually stopped selling grapes to other producers and in 1998 released his first label, Crognolo – made from clones of historic Sangiovese vines in the estate’s oldest vineyard, Vigna dell’Impero. The following year he released the first vintage of Oreno – a a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that after only three harvests featured high in the world wine rankings. By this time it was already clear that Antonio’s passion for his vines and in-depth research into the age-old art of Tuscan winemaking was making it possible to make wines of exceedingly high quality. In 2018, Antonio’s children began collaborating with their father: Amedeo is the winery director and Italian market manager, and Alberto is the communications and export director. This new generation is carrying forward the strong values laid down by their father, but with an eye to the future and the way the wine market is changing. Today, the wines of Tenuta Sette Ponti feature strongly in the Italian lifestyle, fashion and event industries, and are consistent presence on the international scene, representing Italian flair and style at its very best.

Viticulture

This label was born in 1999 with the idea of creating an elegant Bordeaux blend with a Tuscan touch. Relying on renowned nurseryman Gilbert Bouvet, they graft adult vineyards with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, which are well adapted to the Tuscan terrain. The name comes from a stream, Oreno, which runs through the estate, right in the area richest in clay where precisely our Merlot plants grow. While in the soils with a greater presence of pebbles, which ensure perfect drainage and perform a self-regulating function of temperature and humidity, Cabernet Sauvignon finds its natural place. Perfectly complementing the blend is Petit Verdot, traditionally used as a carrier of spicy notes and flavour intensity. Vines are on average 20 to 30 years old around 250 metres above sea level, cordon trellis grown.

Winemaking

A temperature-controlled fermentation and maceration for about 25 days with a manual punching down of the cap, followed by aging in small French Barrique for 18 months, 30% of which is new.

Tasting Note

Oreno conquers with its extreme intensity and olfactory complexity rich in fruity notes of ripe small red fruits and berry jam, fused with balsamic notes of eucalyptus, chocolate, cocoa and spices. The mouthfeel is enveloping, warm and soft, the elegant tannins and long, unforgettable persistence enhanced by a delicious savouriness. The body, finesse and harmony make it a wine of extraordinary potential.

Food Matching

Full flavoured meats, game, roasted and braised red meat.

Awards

Wine Advocate 94/100
A blend of organic 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot (aged in barrique for 16 months), the 2021 Oreno comes in a heavy glass bottle and reveals richly concentrated aromas to match. You get black fruit, toasted barbecue spice, mahogany and smoke. There are pronounced herbal notes with grilled sage and rosemary. This wine definitely embraces a full-bodied, old-school style that is heavily influenced by Bordeaux. Production is 48,000 bottles. 94 Points, ML, March 2024.
James Suckling 98/100
Blackcurrants and black cherries with lovely flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with ultra fine tannins that give focus and tension to the wine. Pretty and poised. A little shy now. From organically grown grapes. Drink after 2027. 98 Points, JS, July 2023.
Vinous 95/ 100
The 2021 Oreno is terrific. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best Orenos I can remember tasting. Aromatic, rich and deep, with tons of textural resonance, the 2021 has so much to offer. Scents of tobacco, espresso, spice, new leather and spice open first, leading to waves of dark, resonant fruit that build over time. Impressive. This is an especially heady, flamboyant Tuscan red. It's a style that works quite well in 2021. 95 Points, AG, August 2023.
Decanter 96/100
Dark bramble fruit and intense floral and savoury aromatics, liquorice and olive with blueberry and rose nuances. Succulent and mouthwatering yet tight and focussed, the tannins are grippy but give direction as opposed to weight or width. This remains quite straight on the palate, persistent in one line from start to finish. I love the juiciness though, the strawberry juice with herbal accents and clean iron, minerality that comes across as slightly tangy and spiced on the finish lasting with a savoury olive note. Feels well made, if still taught, with a playful core and lovely sense of place. A blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot with an average vine age of 20-30 years. Ageing 18 months in small barrels and one year in bottle prior to release. 96 Points, GH, August 2023.