2001 Sette Ponti Toscana Oreno, 6-bottle Lot, Wood Case

Tenuta Sette Ponti is a 125-acre estate in the heart of the Chianti region. Though the estate dates back to the early 19th century, it was purchased in 1950 by the architect Alberto Moretti, and it is now run by his son Antonio, who owns several other wine estates in Italy. Although the estate has been growing grapes and making wine for centuries, it was only in 1996 that the younger Moretti started producing blended, estate-bottled Super Tuscans. Oreno, the estate’s signature wine, is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Gambero Rosso, Italy’s leading wine journal, has awarded its highest rating several times to the Oreno. Another Sette Ponti wine that earns compliments is the primarily Sangiovese-based Crognolo.

Tuscany, or Toscana in Italian, is Italy’s best-known wine region and its most diverse. Historically Sangiovese was the primary grape grown in Tuscany and Chianti was considered the purest expression of Sangiovese. Sangiovese and its many clones are still important, and they are the grapes used for the Tuscan appellations of Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Chianti, Chianti Classico and Carmignano. But in the last 50 years innovative producers, many of them in southwestern Tuscany in the area called Maremma, have also planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The tradition defying producers have blended those varietals with Sangiovese to produce dazzling wines that do not conform to Italy’s appellation regulations. Such wines are called Super Tuscans and cannot be labeled with either of Italy’s highest level quality designations, which are in order of status Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantia, (DOCG), and Denominazione di Origine Controllata, (DOC). (This has not at all hindered the demand for Super Tuscans, some of which are consistently among the world’s most admired and well-reviewed wines.) Tuscany has six DOCG appellations and thirty-four DOCs. Though famous for its red wines, Tuscany also produces whites made primarily from Trebbiano and Vernaccia. There are also many Tuscan Indicazione Geographica Tipica (IGT) wines that are often an innovative blend of traditional and non-traditional grapes. This relatively new appellation status was started in 1992 as an attempt to give an official classification to Italy’s many newer blends that do fit the strict requirements of DOC and DOCG classifications. IGT wines may use the name of the region and varietal on their label or in their name.