Tenuta di Arceno Arcanum Toscana IGT 2015 (750ml)

 

Rated 97 Points by  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 

It would be impossible to exaggerate the grandeur and majesty of the overachieving 2015 Arcanum.  The blend is 74% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot.  This full-bodied wine is mostly defined by its texture that is exceedingly rich and smooth with significant infusions of blackberry, plum, spice, tobacco and cured leather.  The wine achieves beautiful balance, yet it remains intense and powerful all the while.

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Spectator

 

This shows fine purity to its black cherry, black currant and iron flavors, despite its dense texture and massive tannins.  There is freshness, balance and a chewy feel to the finish.

 

Rated 93 Points by James Suckling

 

Aromas of lead pencil and currants with blueberries.  Medium body, chewy tannins and a savory finish.  Needs two or three years to soften.

 

Tenuta di Arceno Arcanum Toscana IGT 2015

 

Arcanum is the pinnacle of the estate’s offerings.  Based on Cabernet Franc, the true signature of the estate, this remarkable wine is built to age yet is drinkable young, offering aromas of violets, roses and raspberries, with long and delicate spice notes; it is a wine that is seductive yet subtle.  Arcanum is sourced primarily from the Apparita and Belvedere blocks of Cabernet Franc.  With superb exposure and sandy clay soils, each year these blocks shine to produce the finest expression of the variety, and the leading wine of the estate.

 

Winemaker Notes

 

The dark and intense fruit aromas jump out of the glass with ripe plums, blackberries on the vine, and tones of sweet mint.  The mouthfeel is full, balanced by gentle acids and rich tannins.  Flavors are reminiscent of dark chocolate covered cherries and spicy black pepper.  The long finish shows cigar box and cedar spice.  A vintage that will age well into the next decade.

 

Blend:  74% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot

 

Alcohol:  14.5%

 

Winemaking Philosophy

 

“I am a servant of the soil.  The pure expression of each unique site has, from the beginning, defined my micro-cru philosophy.”  Pierre Seillan, Founding Winemaker

 

In pursuit of quality, the team implemented a micro-cru viticultural philosophy, which sub-divides each vineyard block into smaller sections based on the individual terroir and soil types.  Each micro-cru features varieties, clones, rootstocks, and viticultural practices best suited for its terroir.  The micro-crus are tended, harvested, and vinified separately, each becoming a unique expression of its particular plot of land.  It is in the final stages of the winemaking process, that various micro-crus come together to create the finished wines.

 

When replanting the vineyards, we developed detailed soil, topographical and climatic maps to gain a full understanding of the intricacies of our terrain.  To accommodate the complexity of this site we subdivided the vineyards into 63 individual micro-crus.

 

 

Tenuta di Arceno

 

Tenuta di Arceno has been a center for winemaking since the 16th century.  Located near the fork of two rivers – the Ambra, which flows to the North, towards Florence; and the Ombrone, which flows to the South, towards Grosseto – this area was formerly the nexus of the Etruscan civilization.  In honor of its history, the reference to “Arceno” comes from the Etruscan word archè, meaning "point of origin.”

 

A Remarkable Diversity of Soils,

 

Topography and Mesoclimates

 

The estate is 1,000 total hectares (2,500 acres) of which 92 hectares (220 acres) are planted to vines – the remaining land is preserved for native vegetation including 50 hectares (125 acres) of olive orchards.  Separated into 63 distinct vineyard blocks, the vineyards are planted to 50% Sangiovese and 50% international varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The ancient walled town of San Gusmè, provides a breathtaking backdrop for the vineyards of Tenuta di Arceno.

 

A Rich History

 

Through its history, the estate subsequently passed through the ownership of two historically prominent Italian families – the Del Taja family, followed by the Piccolomini family.  The Del Taja family purchased the land parcel by parcel in 1504, expanding the estate and adding architectural enhancements.  In 1829, the Del Taja family sold the property to one of the most illustrious families of Siena, the Piccolominis, who added to the grandeur of the estate – they built gardens, lakes, and many of the villas that stand on the property today.  Continuing its legacy of family ownership, Tenuta di Arceno was acquired by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke in 1994.  It was one of the first estates the Jackson Family purchased outside of California.

 

 

Rated 93 Points by Wine Spectator

 

This shows fine purity to its black cherry, black currant and iron flavors, despite its dense texture and massive tannins.  There is freshness, balance and a chewy feel to the finish.