2006 Le Cupole de Trinoro

Powerfully ripe red fruit, finely polished red cherry, liqueur, slightly volatile varnish quality on the finish. (RH)

The 2006 Le Cupole di Trinoro is a surprisingly mid-weight, almost ethereal version of this wine. Sweet spices and licorice add complexity to the dark fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. Ideally, the 2006 Le Cupole is best enjoyed over the next few years, as it doesn't appear to have the stuffing to develop much from this point forward. In 2006 Le Cupole is 47 % Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Merlot and 9.5% Petit Verdot.

The 2006 Le Cupole di Trinoro is a surprisingly mid-weight, almost ethereal version of this wine. Sweet spices and licorice add complexity to the dark fruit as the wine opens up in the glass. Ideally, the 2006 Le Cupole is best enjoyed over the next few years, as it doesn’t appear to have the stuffing to develop much from this point forward. In 2006 Le Cupole is 47 % Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Merlot and 9.5% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013. Andrea Franchetti’s Tenuta di Trinoro is located in Sarteano, one of the most remote corners of Tuscany. Franchetti crafts his top wine, also called Tenuta di Trinoro, from densely planted vineyards cropped to minuscule yields. In the cellar, the selection is equally stringent, with only the finest barrels making it into the ‘Grand Vin.’ Tenuta di Trinoro remains one of the most iconic wines being made in Tuscany today. Unfortunately I don’t get a chance to taste the Tenuta as much as I used to as its price has become prohibitive. I can’t argue with what Franchetti puts in the bottle, however, as these are spectacular wines. Fortunately, in recent years Franchetti has introduced a second wine, Le Cupole di Trinoro, which in its finest vintages delivers incredible quality for the money. Importer: T. Edward Wines, Ltd., New York, NY; tel. (212) 233-1504