Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno 2019

Tenuta Sette Ponti is one of the most innovative estates in the center of Chianti.  Considered a critical darling and tastemaker within the category of Super Tuscans, the wine from this estate combines passion, tradition, and some of the choicest viticultural talents in Europe.  The term, “Super Tuscan,” is used to describe a wine that may not contain the traditional indigenous Italian varietals.  With all that in mind, Super Tuscans are certainly not lacking in terms of creativity and expressing Italy’s amazing terroir.  Oreno is a distinctive Bordeaux-style blend featuring Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot.  The second release and flagship wine from Tenuta Sette Ponti, Oreno is the perfect wine for those interested in discovering the magic of classic Bordeaux varietals nurtured in Italian terroir. 

Tenuta Sette Ponti has a long and storied history.  The name of this property derives from the seven medieval bridges crossing the Arno river that borders the estate.  One of the bridges, Ponte Buriano, can be seen painted in the background of Leonardo da Vinci’s legendary work, “The Mona Lisa.”  The property was owned by Italian royalty – Princesses Margherita and Cristina Savoia d’Aosta and eventually purchased in 1957 by Alberto Morretti.  The estate was known for its vineyards, but the vines were sold off to neighboring wine producers.  Moretti saw the potential of the fruit coupled with the promise of fantastic terroir and decided he wanted to make his own wine at the estate.  Ever the sensible business owner, he hired Gilbert Bouvet, one of France’s most gifted enologists.  Gilbert Bouvet brings a lot of traditional French viticultural techniques to crafting Oreno. 

Though several other wines at the estate use Italian varietals such as Sangiovese and Trebbiano, Oreno uses international varietals that thrive in the rich clay and limestone terroir of this 300 hectare property.  Though the estate is quite large, only 54 hectares at the property are planted with mixtures of Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  At Tenuta Sette Ponti, there are a mixture of clay, sand and limestone soils coupled with the stony galestro that is often found within the region.  This unique soil type is often found in some of the best vineyards in Tuscany.  The nutrients within the galestro often lead to varietals with balanced levels of acidity and freshness.

With each vintage of Oreno, grapes clusters are significantly reduced to ensure the highest level of quality.  Everything is harvested by hand at the property, and the skins are gently broken to ensure a soft and supple wine.  Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled open top tanks and the wine is aged in French oak barriques for 18 months prior to resting 12 months in bottle. Oreno is a spicy, soulful and distinctive wine, with plenty of balanced acidity, herbal qualities, and power.  The tannins are beautifully integrated in Oreno, and it has plenty of ageing potential.  With a richly complex bouquet of the darkest currants coupled with balsamic and herbal flavors, it is a truly stunning wine.

"Wow. Fantastic aromas of blackberries, currants, minerals, violets and graphite. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins that are incredibly polished and intense, yet ever so refined and integrated in the wine. It goes on for minutes. The is one of the best modern-day Orenos so far. Best in 2025 and onwards." - James Suckling, Ratings: 99

"Dark ruby red colour tinged with decisive violet tones, expresses on the nose incredible sensations of fullness and complexity with a note of ripe berries the give sensations of chocolate and nuances of balsam. Oreno is a captivating wine, rich in structure but decisively dynamic, enhanced by the nuances of new oak and an interminable finish" - Tenutta Sette Ponti