Andrea Franchetti’s genius and resourcefulness is well represented by his famous wines on Etna volcano and in Val d’Orcia, in Tuscany: the famous Franchetti and the iconic Tenuta di Trinoro. The latter, thanks to its international reputation, reached prices that currently make it a wine to be acquired, aged and opened exclusively on particular important occasions. However, who would have a sage in sixteenth-notes of this wine character can try to fall back on his younger brother, Le Cupole, the entry-level wanted by Franchetti himself. Curiously, the first vintage of Le Cupole, 1995, predates the first vintage of the “grands vins” of the company, which were born in the three-year period 1997-99, and in fact those who possess this wine vintages prior to that three-year period would hold a small treasure, because it is the “masked” big brother.
The wine is a blend of numerous micro-plots planted with cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot (with a predominance of cabernet franc), lying between 400 and 600 meters above sea level. After a maceration of two weeks in contact with the skins, the must ages for 8 months in barrique (second, third and fourth passage) and then for another 10 months in cement.
The wine obtained, in this 2018 vintage, shows a beautiful full ruby red, of great consistency, necessary to support the 15 degrees of alcohol. On the nose there are mainly notes of ripe red fruit, most black cherry than cherry, most cooked plum than cassis, spaced out by delicate and subtle spicy hints between between green pepper and young damp tobacco. The mouthfeel is not particularly complex but has a nice soft/fresh balance and is certainly enjoyable: a wine of great impact that rests on essential and well defined bases.
Rating: 89/100
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