Tenuta Sette Ponti Orma Toscana IGT, 2013
We always like Sette Ponti wines. The Oreno, which is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. The Sette Ponti Crognolo (sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot), which is one of the best-value premium Tuscan wines. The Sette Ponti Orma with first vintage made in 2005. These 3 branded wines from Sette Ponti are all different but are they are the creations from the No. 1 enologist in Tuscany – Carlo Ferrini.
The way we view the Sette Ponte is: this Orma 2013 is a big wine from blend of 40% Merlot 20% CS, 40% Cabernet Franc. It has a big and balanced structure. Dark purple, opaque. First nose, eucalyptus, tar, cedar in the front with a hint of chocolate. Dark fruit. Long finish. Second nose, rich tomatoes paste on plum with graphite tar bay leaves stew. Third nose, vanilla sweet hints of leather and spice. It is an alternative to the merlot-based Ornellaia and to some extent the cabernet-based Sassicaia, albeit at a fraction of the prices. The Orma is unique in the sense that this is the only wine from this winery. It has been awarded a stunning JS98.
Tis wine needs decanting and to savour over an hour.
Composition of the land is mainly pebbles, with clay and little sand. System is Spurred Cordon. 7000 vines per ha seems very tight; yield is low as per Yield x hectare is only 40 q/ha. Maceration for 18 days, which is long enough for bigger wines, 15 days for fermentation, maturation for 14 months in oak barrels of 225 liters really for wines to keep for longer period of time. Aging 12 months aging in bottle. Alcohol is 15.00% by volume, but you don’t feel that much Because of acidity from Cabs. The vineyard is almost at sea level(20 meters high), vines are young. Method is new.
In our view, the Orma is almost otherworldly. Oreno is classic ‘claret’, while Crognolo from Sangiovese is true Tuscany.
