Franchetti 2017 & 2018 En Primeur Release

VINI FRANCHETTI

2017 & 2018 VINTAGES, EN PRIMEUR

“The Vini Franchetti are characterised by their extraordinary individuality, faithfully endorsing a sense of vintage, varietal, and place – honest wines where winemaking remains subservient, rather than dictating style.”

ALISON BUCHANAN Associate Director & Buyer

Tenuta di Trinoro

The Sancaba estate was acquired by Andrea’s cousin Carlo back in 2011. Carlo learned the ropes at Vini Franchetti alongside Andrea, the better to tackle the combined estates, looking to the future.

One might create a film around Barone Andrea Franchetti; Andrea’s genius, brilliance and cussed determination, set within a rather privileged, artistic background, makes for an extraordinary, complex character.

Passionate, imaginative, adventurous, Andrea is nonetheless (at least occasionally) firmly tuned into the commercial realities of planet earth. Working with cousin Carlo is one such example.

At the beginning, choosing to work in the isolated Val d’Orcia, in far flung rural Tuscany, he went one better than Robert Frost’s the “road less travelled by” when two roads converge in a wood. Andrea, faced with no such roads, carved out his own access over a tree-covered hillside, starting a vineyard from scratch, planting on terraces he himself had built in this unique inland valley. The vines are planted at between 450 and 600 meters above sea level.

The soil is variable with eroded rock in parts and in others limestone clay – reminiscent, in Andrea’s eyes, of his beloved Bordeaux. This was one reason why he looked towards Bordeaux varietals at Trinoro, rather than Tuscany’s ubiquitous Sangiovese.

There is perhaps some inherited element to this energy, this wayward personality, the Franchetti family having moved in exalted and enlightened circles over centuries. They have touched base, through marriage and friendships, with the Rothschilds, artist Cy Twombley and Ernest

Hemingway. Their palazzi, in Rome, more than nod towards their nobility yet both Andrea and Carlo look at home in their muddied boots.

Andrea forged his own path from the outset. Not perhaps the model scholar, he gave up his studies to cycle and hitchhike to Afghanistan….one can still see those film reels running. Manhattan followed, then Rome, where he had a restaurant. He sold one of his Uncle Cy’s paintings to buy Tenuta di Trinoro, which he refers to as “a godforsaken place… with an ex-volcano between it and the sea.” He has also said of his first visit “I went crazy for the place, I was mesmerised”.

If creating a vineyard where none existed, from which he produces unique, world class wines, is not enough, Andrea’s next vision was the renaissance of abandoned vineyards on grumbling, fiery Mount Etna. Six of the wines he produces there are from the indigenous varietal Nerello Mascalese, grown in separate plots, each of which offers a unique personality.

Most recently, a new wine, Sancaba, has emerged, with his cousin Carlo Franchetti’s arrival on the scene. This is a Pinot Noir grown high on the hills above San Casciano dei Bagni. The vines enjoy cooling winds, ideal for Pinot Noir, as they refresh the vines, after the warmth of the day.

Andrea’s vision and hard work, now allied to Carlo’s, refreshing input make for extraordinary results.

Corney & Barrow is proud to represent Vini Franchetti exclusively in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Vini Franchetti comprises two very different estates, Trinoro and Passopisciaro, both conceived by Andrea Franchetti and now joined by an equally distinctive property, Sancaba.

Andrea Franchetti

TUSCANY: TENUTA DI TRINORO

Tenuta di Trinoro is the eponymous flagbearer of the Trinoro estate, a rare wine, the blend of which is vintage-dependent.

Cabernet Franc and Merlot tend to dominate, with varying amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Andrea gets particularly excited by Cabernet Franc as it enjoys the conditions here and can ripen fully - not always easy in Bordeaux. The first commercial vintage was 1997, when it was offered with Palazzi, 100% Merlot – just two wines. Both wowed the wine world by their surprising intensity, the vines being then so very young. Andrea’s high density planting and savagely restricted production put paid to the generally dilute character expected of young vine fruit.

Later, an elegant, seductively harmonious wine emerged, to which we refer as the “little brother of Trinoro”, Le Cupole di Trinoro – a great wine in its own right and a tremendous introduction to Trinoro. Now, most recently, Andrea has given recognition to the individuality of three distinct vineyard sites within the estate, creating the three Campi, Campo di Magnacosta, Campo di Tenaglia and Campo di Camagi. These are single vineyards of Cabernet Franc, offering different expressions of the same variety.

THE 2018 VINTAGE

2017, in common parlance, had been something of a scorcher so the more temperate 2018 was extremely welcome. In addition, spring rains allowed the vines to recover and served to replenish the parched reserves in readiness for the summer ahead.

Farmers are notoriously pessimistic, so concerns over drought and the paucity of the vintage were suddenly transported to fears of potential over abundance. Strict avoidance measures were deemed necessary – an expensive, painstaking debudding programme - to aid concentration.

Summer was relatively sanguine, with a blend of sun, rain and cool, breezy nights. September was lovely, sunny, warm, dry and with clear blue skies. September brought beautiful weather, warm and dry days. Around the 21st of the month Merlot became more intense, in line with a full moon. Harvest began with grapes which were low in alcohol, with fresh acidity and rich in flavour, reminding Andrea and Carlos of Saint-Émilion. Dry weather continued and a temperature drop coincided with winds whirling through the valley. Following rain, there was a rather lovely late season with sun, although low in the sky, warm enough to support development through to the next new moon.

The harvest once again was picked, healthy full and ripe, despite an unexpectedly record crop. This was a year for beautiful, intense merlot and rich, fragrant cabernet franc to form the core of the blend.

“…2018 brought ripeness and complexity due to the long, dry autumn and the protracted hanging time….wines of great beauty, balance and complexity”

ANDREA FRANCHETTI, 2019

TENUTA DI TRINORO

2018

The blend is 60% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The climatic conditions were difficult for Petit Verdot, hence its absence this year. Trinoro 2018 offers a really attractive, floral nose, violet and rose, blackberry, cherry and some raisined fruit, laced with icing sugar fondant. So far so engaging, then the palate changes tack, hot and spicy with a plethora of dark, pure rounded fruit, supported by layers of substantial, fruit-coated tannins. This is robust, powerful even, yet it bears considerable weight with intriguing grace, aided by an almost haunting freshness – a tightrope between opulence and tension, more than successfully negotiated. Bravo Team Trinoro.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 to 18.5

Recommended drinking from 2023 – 2032+

£695/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£705/CASE OF 3 MAGNUMS, IN BOND UK

PALAZZI, TENUTA DI TRINORO

2018

100% Merlot as always, this has something of a 2015 profile, being a cooler year. A longer hang period thereby adds intensity. Merlot did really well in 2018, despite the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the year (according to Carlo’s brutal honesty – although if we accept the analogy more Hyde and Jekyll - with more benevolent conditions during the second part of the year). Deep ruby velvet, this reveals a warming, endearing nose, rich in black and red berries and cherries, with hints of fresh herbs and gentle spice – rather lovely. The palate, opulent and seductive, exudes elegance and finesse, underpinned by energetic minerality and upbeat acidity. The structure serves as a perfect foil to the abundance of expressive, ripe fruit.

Corney & Barrow Score 18 to 18.5++

Recommended drinking from 2020 – 2030+

£645/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CAMPO DI MAGNACOSTA 2018

100% Cabernet Franc, Magnacosta is a 1.5 hectare gravelly site where an old stream eats (magna) into a hillside (costa). The Cabernet Franc, grown from Pomerol cuttings is, in Andrea’s mind, the “lightest of the campi” It certainly tends to be the most accessible. The 2018 offers a rather high-toned, focused nose, grape must and wild blackcurrant, layered with bitter cherry on the nose, rather lovely. The palate reflects the aromatics presented on the nose whilst laying some ground rules. This is no retiring violet, rather it is robust, positively vibrant and driven, embellished by floral purity.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 to 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2021 – 2029+

£315/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CAMPO DI TENAGLIA

100% Cabernet Franc, Tenaglia, is sited at 520m altitude, west-facing. It is a mere 0.3 hectares in size, planted on friable limestone. A brilliant jet-ruby in colour, this is initially rather reticent, opening up to reveal pronounced dark fruit, on agitation. The palate is more gregarious than the nose suggests with focused cassis allied to a leafy, wild blackcurrant intensity. There is no doubting innate power here, yet it is delivered within an accessible, upbeat, fresh style, the abundant fruit complemented by light spice, all supported by a beautifully-integrated structure – velvet-textured.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 - 18+

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2030+

£265/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CAMPO DI CAMAGI 2018

100% Cabernet Franc, Campo di Camagi comes from a 1.5 hectare plot planted in 1991-92 and is the oldest of the campi. In the early days, fruit from this site would have been incorporated in Le Cupole. Last year, Andrea describes this as the “most dramatic” of the campi. It certainly makes its presence felt even in embryonic form as when we tasted. To begin with, the colour is profound, bright and enticing. The nose then offers sweet summer berry fruit, layered with plump, ripe cherries, perfumed with violets. The palate is rather promiscuous in its display of vibrant berried fruit, blueberry dominant. The purity of fruit and the aromatics are such that the tannic structure – powerful – is something of a surprise. This warrants time and has considerable potential for the patient.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 - 18

Recommended drinking from 2023 – 2032+

£310/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

BIANCO DI TRINORO, 2018

Introducing a white wine from Tenuta di Trinoro –what a surprise! Andrea elected to plant Semillon on a tiny (0.5ha) parcel of sand, in the highest reaches of the Trinoro Estate, some seventeen years ago. There has been a white produced there, on and off, since 2008. The vines, 100% Semillon, are at 630m above sea level, planted Bordelais style at 10000 vines per hectare.

This is very aromatic, wild grasses, star fruit, gooseberry and melon, all playing a role on both the nose and palate. The latter, somehow, manages to combine a rounded texture with total mineral precision – fresh and vibrant - intriguing.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2020 – 2024+

£245/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

THE 2017 VINTAGE

As elsewhere in Europe, the Val d’Orcia was hit by frost on the morning of 19th April 2017. 3.am found the Trinoro team lighting fires in the lower-lying vineyards in an effort to stave off the worst of the frost.

Although most of the primary buds were damaged, the secondary growth, swathed within protective shoots, was largely saved. It was then decided that any fruit which had survived in the affected vineyards, ought to be sacrificed to ensure all the new potential fruit would, ripen simultaneously –an extremely time-consuming process, courageous yet so correct.

The frost was not, in fact, the only challenge as drought impacted on the summer cycle. The vines were misted with water at night, simply to keep the foliage moist. A nightly occurrence, for three months, the estate’s reservoirs were running dry when, happily, more autumnal weather kicked in, the cooler temperatures allowing a spurt towards final maturity.

LE CUPOLE, TENUTA DI TRINORO

2017

Le Cupole is sprinkled by some of the gold-dust adorned by of its superstar brother, the eponymous Tenuta di Trinoro. Happily it can reveal its greatness to a much wider audience. This is a wine which invariably makes people smile – approachable from the off, seductive, silken and layered – rather decadent, in fact. This, the 2017 vintage, is a deep garnet in colour, almost opaque. The nose presents luscious berried fruit with floral lift and mocha depth. The palate is rounded and cream-textured, full, ripe and, dare one say it, pretty sexy. Whilst wearing its heart brazenly on its sleeve, there is, nonetheless, real substance here – a chip off the old block, as it were, at a very accessible price.

Corney & Barrow Score 17 to 18

Recommended drinking from 2021 – 2028+

£145/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£150/CASE OF 3 MAGNUMS, IN BOND UK

£110/CASE OF 1 DOUBLE MAGNUM, IN BOND UK

LONDON 020 7265 2430

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Vineyards at Tenuta di Trinoro

ETNA, SICILY: TENUTA DI PASSOPISCIARO

Many years ago now, Adam Brett-Smith and I were fortunate enough to be staying at Trinoro, enjoying its unique landscape and delighting in witnessing, first hand, just what Andrea had achieved in building this vineyard from scratch.

During a very convivial dinner, Andrea regaled us with an enthusiastic commentary on his latest project, based in Sicily – on the volcano Etna in fact. A combination of phylloxera, war and sheer difficulty in making ends meet may well have prompted the farmers in former times to up sticks and move elsewhere…or perhaps it was the lavebelching volcano which frightened them away. Andrea had turned his mind to some post-prandial entertainment the better to tempt us down to visit. We settled down to a film, we thought, only to see reel after reel of footage of flames, red and white hot flying rocks and rivers of apparent fire. It was not hard to see why the vineyards might have been abandoned – totally terrifying.

Andrea ought perhaps to forsake any latent ambition to working for the Sicilian tourist authorities.

That said, his courage in renovating the vineyards must be commended. He was amongst the first to raise the Phoenix from the ashes, by planting on such perilous slopes. Tenuta di Passopisciaro was established in 2000 and is seen as one of the region’s stars, producing very individualistic, characterful wines, with pronounced volcanic influence.

Here we are offering the single crus “Contrade” 2017s and the extremely rare Franchetti 2018 en primeur as well as the bottled, read to drink, accessible Passobianco 2018 and Passorosso 2017.

THE ETNA 2017 & 2018 VINTAGES

2017

Well, Etna avoided the frost, but the heat which hit the Italian mainland in summer 2017 also applied to Sicily. Etna is used to heat in summer but generally the vines enjoy more restful, cool evenings and nights – not so in 2017. The temperature was pretty unrelenting and the vines needed a little water to help the crop through to full maturity. In fact the grapes responded well and matured in a measured fashion throughout summer and on into autumn. Harvest was early. Nerello Mascalese responds well to heat, particularly since these are old, deeply-rooted vines. The resulting wines are opulent and forward.

2018

2018 was unusual on Etna, extremely wet and tropical, particularly towards the end of the summer. A lot of extra work had to be done in the vineyard to mitigate the threat of disease, stripping leaves to allow better airflow. Cesanese d’Affile withstood the humid conditions well although, harvest was earlier than usual. Petit Verdot came in healthy and ripe, rich and intense.

“Contrasting, challenging and ultimately exciting”

ALISON BUCHANAN

PASSOBIANCO 2018

Instead of the indigenous Carricante, Andrea elected to plant 100% Chardonnay here, 5 hectares on steep terraces at between 850m and 1000 m above sea level on loose, powdery, mineral-rich lava soils. Formerly called Guardiola Bianco, after the contrada in which it resides, the name had to be changed to comply with local laws. The vineyard is now 15 years old, densely planted at 12300 vines per hectare. There is no new oak, just fermentation in stainless steel, then ageing in old large neutral oak or cement, plus 6 months in bottle before release. Attractive, golden straw in colour, this has an evocative nose- orchard, stone and exotic fruit, hints of hay and stony minerals. The palate is taut, mineralfocused and precise, albeit rich in texture. At once steely and profound, delicate shades of grapefruit on the finish complete the exceptional freshness – lovely balance.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+

Recommended drinking from 2019 - 2024+

PASSOROSSO 2017

100% Nerello Mascalese grape-wise. Bright ruby in colour, perhaps slightly deeper than normal, this will tempt lovers of Pinot Noir, on looks alone. The nose continues in the same vein with ever so slightly reductive, red berry notes and wild herbs. Running in parallel is a savoury layer, reminiscent of Bresaola. Lulled into a sense of familiarity, the palate soon changes things with a gentle reminder that this means business. Amidst an array of red and black berries, there is singular tannic grip and crunchy volcanic minerals. Brooding and earthy, this will give pleasure in relative youth, with food, but will also age well.

Corney & Barrow Score 16.5 to 17.25+

Recommended drinking from 2020 - 2026+

£150/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£155/CASE OF 3 MAGNUMS, IN BOND UK

FRANCHETTI 2018

The blend in 2018 is 65% Petit Verdot, 35% Cesanese d’Affile. Deep ruby-garnet in colour, this presents highly perfumed, sweet nose, a blend of violet, cassis and fresh tapenade. The palate is rich in texture, fulsome and rather sumptuous, with plump, macerated cherries, strawberries, blueberries and cream in the offing, laced with parma violet. Given the seductive, pretty aromatics, the enormity of the palate is something of a surprise. Taut and powerful, everything is in balance but will need time – seriously impressive.

Corney & Barrow Score 18.5

Recommended drinking from 2022 - 2027+

£375/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£145/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

THE PASSOPISCIARO CONTRADE

We present the five single vineyard “crus” the contrade in in descending order of altitude. They not only range from 1,000 metres above sea level to 550m, but have different aspects and are planted on soils borne of different lava flows. The latter makes for a fascinating tapestry of terroirs which determine the style and character of the finished wines.

CONTRADA “R” RAMPANTE

2017

100% Nerello Mascalese. This is the highest parcel of the contrade, sited at 1,000 metres above sea level. Importantly, the ancient lava on which these vines are planted has developed a slightly porous, oxidative quality, ordinarily making for a rather ethereal, perfumed character. 2017 made for a much more assertive Rampante. Ruby in colour, it presents a very precise, focused nose, red and black berried fruit, pepper-spiced. The palate is rather punchy, slightly at odds with the perfumed nature of the nose in terms of the tannic structure – will be tremendous given time.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2028+

£235/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CONTRADA “S” SCIARANUOVA

2017

100% Nerello Mascalese and 850-900m altitude. The name alludes to what Andrea calls a “relatively new” (200 year old!) lava flow upon which this contrada is sited. The nose combines saline, rocky minerals, sweetly-perfumed berries and savoury character. The palate is beautifully adroit with cassis focus, within a medley of spiced cured meats and dried herbs. Structured, this has an unexpected elegance and promises greater complexity in the months and years ahead.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5 to 18

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2028+

£235/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CONTRADA “G” GUARDIOLA

2017

100% Nerello Mascalese. Here we find 100 year old vines planted at 800m altitude, on a lava flow from an eruption in 1947. This presents a really extraordinary nose, redolent of lamb cooled in hay, savoury, herbal and mineral. The palate is plump and ripe, rich and creamy in structure. It combines innate power with mineral poise, finishing long.

Corney & Barrow Score 17.5+

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2028+

£255/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CONTRADA “P” PORCARIA

2017

100% Nerello Mascalese, sited at 650m altitude. Andrea tells us that this is Etna’s most sought-after contrada, recognised for its plush style. The 2017 has good colour, and reveals a heady nose combining fruit, flowers, meaty notes and salted minerals. The palate is plump and richlytextured, the tannins fruit-coated and fine. There is an abundance of fruit, complemented by strong espresso coffee notes, finishing with layers of fruit and dark chocolate - very fine in 2017.

Corney & Barrow Score 18+

Recommended drinking from 2020 – 2027++

£295/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

CONTRADA “C” CHIAPPEMACINE

2017

100% Nerello Mascalese, planted at 550m altitude. Lying on the edge of a lava flow, this tends to have a more rounded, ebullient style. The 2017 offers a seductive combination of savoury, volcanic minerals and pretty, very pure, sweetly-perfumed berry fruit. Floral and elegant, it wears red fruits proudly on its sleeve, focused and delightful. Wonderfully accessible, with hints of spice, this is lovely, through to a long, precise finish.

Corney & Barrow Score 18

Recommended drinking from 2022 – 2026+

£215/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

Carlo Franchetti

SANCABA

“High up in the hills above the small town of San Casciano dei Bagni, at 650m of altitude, lies a place where climate and soil provide ideal conditions for growing pinot noir.“

CARLO FRANCHETTI

Not far from Trinoro, Andrea’s cousin, Carlo Franchetti, acquired a 45 hectare estate on the border of Umbria and Lazio. This area had been popular since Roman times, with its natural beauty and thermal baths. It had no real history of winemaking however and, surrounded by forest, was pretty inhospitable territory. Today it houses remarkable and surprising Pinot Noir vines, cooled by north easterly winds and enjoying surprising diurnal temperature differences. A significant difference between day and night temperatures increases intensity. Another particular feature of Sancaba is its soil, a poor, crumbly, shale and calcium-rich clay which both struggles to retain moisture and heats up rapidly in the midday sun. Most red grapes would struggle to ripen here but Pinot Noir seems to acclimatise well to these conditions.

The wine was first produced in 2013. Carlo tasted with us and shared both his enthusiasm for the future and his irritation with his first efforts. He is now planting even higher, on the north side of the estate and is sure that this will prove to be even more interesting. He is very scathing of his initial attempts, as he ascended a steep learning curve. 2017 is really his first commercially viable vintage, with 2018 looking like a very positive follow up next year.

SANCABA PINOT NERO

2017

Limpid, pale ruby in colour, this has a nose of caramelised red fruits, allied to salty minerals. The fruit - adroit concentrated cherry - is extremely pretty and aromatic on both the nose and palate with the latter revealing substantial grip. The finish is poised, ripe and perfumed, violet and rose-scented with a dash of pink peppercorns.

Corney & Barrow Score 17

Recommended drinking from 2021 – 2026+

£245/CASE OF 6 BOTTLES, IN BOND UK

£250/CASE OF 3 MAGNUMS, IN BOND UK

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