Tenuta di Trinoro is an isolated Tuscan estate in Sarteano, in the Val d’Orcia on the border with both Umbria and Lazio (Latium). Franchetti says as far as he is concerned his estate is in Lazio.

Founder owner: Andrea Franchetti. See also his other, second to be created, Italian estate, Passopisciaro on Etna, Sicily. Franchetti had an American mother. He was born in New York, but brought up in Rome. He had a wine distribution company in NY in the mid-1980s, so was very influenced by Bordeaux. He is a good friend of Noemi Marone Cinzano. Andrea Franchetti bought the estate in 1980. In 1990 Andrea finally came to live here in a semi-derelict house which had a view to over the neighbouring property with vines on the next hill for his home. Franchetti created a from-scratch winery and vineyard. Franchetti planted the vineyard with red Bordeaux grapes, his model being St-Emilion and Cheval Blanc, hence his love for Cabernet Franc.

At Il Moro on 22 Sept 2015 John Salvi MW told me said that before Andrea Franchetti planted Trinoro he stayed at Chateau Sénéjac in Bordeaux where John Salvi MW and his wife were also staying and said “I am going to make the most expensive wine in Italy.” In 1991 Franchetti planted his first vineyards. 1995 was the first vintage of Trinoro. 1997 was the first commercial vintage of Trinoro.

Vineyards: 200 hectare estate with woods, lakes and arable land. 300 year-old olive trees. 500-700 metres. Protected from sea influence by Mount Amiata. So much later picking than by the coast. 25 ha of vineyards. Andrea told me he is not a fan of Sangiovese; so he opted for Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Also Cesanile di Affile from Lazio.

Terroir: Hard soils. Dry conditions. High elevations. 

Winemaking: Picking by hand, parcel by parcel. Hand plunging, hand selected grapes (I think). No Sangiovese means the wines cannot sell as DOC Orcia.

White wines

Bianco di Trinoro: Made with Semillon from a small plot on sandy soils at 630 metres elevation.

Red wines

Campo di Magnacosta: 100% Cabernet Franc.

Campo di Tenaglia: 100% Cabernet Franc.

Campo di Camagi: 100% Cabernet Franc.

Cincinnato: 2001 Vina da Tavola di Toscana Rosso 96% Cesanese d’Affile, 4% Petit Verdot.

Le Cupole di Trinerò: The second wine to the Tenuta di Trinoro, below. Le Cupole adds Lazio’s Cesanese and Puglia’s Uva di Troia to the Bdx mix. | 2000 Vino da Tavola di Toscana Rosso 78% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 6% Cesanese d’Affile, 5% Uva di Troia. | 2001 Vina da Tavola di Toscana Rosso 43% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cesanese d’Affile.

Palazzi: 100% Merlot.

Tenuta di Trinoro: The flagship red. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot. Petit Verdot. | 1997 First vintage. No estate winery at the time. | 2000 Vina da Tavola di Toscana Rosso 55% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. Good texture with lots of wood when tasted with Pepe Schib and family on December 26th 2004 at Argiano. | 2001 Vina da Tavola di Toscana Rosso 48% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot. Said to be an exceptional vintage. | 2007 50% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc. | 2009 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 15% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. | 2011 100% Cabernet Franc. 16% alc (hot year). | 2012 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 16% alc.

Contact

Tenuta di Trinoro

Via Val D’Orcia, 15

53047 Sarteano (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0578.267110 | Website: www.tenutaditrinoro.it