Tenuta di Trinoro 2021
ABOUT THE VINTAGE
Tenuta di Trinoro is always comprised of the first selection of grapes, a vintage-specific blend of cabernet franc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and petit verdot grown on thin, hard, rocky soils rich in quartz and limestone, which tend to come from the higher parcels of the estate.
THE VINTAGE AND THE VINEYARDS
The short winter of 2021/2022 ended with an abundant snowfall in February, but saw an unfortunate comeback in April, when our plants had already begun their journey towards the harvest. From April 7th to 9th, nighttime temperatures dropped below zero, and we lit up our vineyards with 4000 frost candles to protect the buds.
The record heat and lack of rain in the following months caused the vines to draw water from the deepest layers of the root system. We irrigated and carried out a rigorous green harvest so that each plant could focus on the ripening of the few remaining bunches. We only trimmed the vines lightly, so that leaves and branches could provide shade and protect the bunches from sunburn.
On September 17th, the long-awaited rain arrived and revitalized everything. It momentarily lowered the temperatures and enhanced the aromatics of our Merlot which we picked from the 21st to the 24th, taking advantage of the cooler hours of the day. It had loose and light bunches with fiery red stems. Then we waited for the Cabernet Franc while temperatures rose again and when Autumn arrived with repeated rains from October 4th to 7th, we harvested.
Small, whole grapes with thick skins and generous pulp. From October 16th to 21st we picked the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The yield in each vineyard was extremely low.
The vineyards of Tenuta di Trinoro are located at an altitude ranging from 450 to 600 meters / 1450 to 1950 feet a.s.l. and have now reached 29 years of age. They have a density of 10000 plants per hectare / 4000 plants per acre. Each harvest meticulously documents the year’s challenges through a radical parcelization of the vineyards. In 2021, we harvested 45 separate parcels.
VINIFICATION
Fermentation took place in stainless steel. The wine aged for 8 months in French barriques and for an additional 12 months in concrete vats.
BLENDING
Tasting the 45 batches revealed exceptional parcels of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, while the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot lacked the balance for the making of a great wine.
The final blend consists of 60% Merlot from 5 different parcels and 40% Cabernet Franc from 4 parcels. The Merlot expresses itself with authoritative fullness, driven by concentration and disarming persistence, while the Cabernet Franc contributes with crisp freshness and persistency. 8590 bottles were bottled during the waning moon of May 2023.
REVIEWS
The Wine Advocate, 96 points: “Made with Cabernet Franc and a smaller part Merlot, the 2021 Tenuta di Trinoro has a very generous and open-knit character with thick layers of dark fruit, blackberry confit, rhubarb, sweet earth and toasted spice. The wine’s appearance is inky dark, and like the other wines in this portfolio of new releases, the alcohol is recorded at a high 15.5%. I have adored recent vintages of this wine, especially the 2019, and this 2021 feels a little more open and accessible in comparison.”
Decanter, 95 points: “The heat and drought in the summer of 2021, following an April frost, led the team at Tenuta di Trinoro to carry out a significant green harvest to enable the vines to focus on ripening just the few remaining bunches. The canopy was left largely intact to provide shade. Rain finally arrived in mid-September, providing a welcome relief for the vines and giving back some aromatic complexity to the grapes. Displaying a ripe, fleshy nose of black and red hedgerow berries, along with touches of sous bois, currants, bitter herbs and floral notes, this is an immediately appealing Trinoro 2021. In the mouth it conveys brightness along with depth and sapidity of succulent dark fruits, all the time lifted by a balsamic character. While not as brilliantly crunchy and textural as the 2020 (remember that we are comparing a 60% Merlot with a 92% Cabernet Franc) this nonetheless features fine, grippy tannins and fresh acidity which lurk on the periphery, supporting the fruit without interfering. Vertical, succulent and bright, with some sweet violet, tobacco, damp earth and graphite notes emerging on the long and poised finish.
Jancis Robinson, 17++: “Velvety dark, shaded crimson. Very rich, spicy nose. Lots of ripe fruit with a balsam note on the mid palate with a hint of tamarind. At the moment, it finishes just a little too soon but it’s certainly distinctive with its salty-sweet finish.”
Vinous, 98 points: “The 2021 Tenuta di Trinoro is an elegant, sleek wine. I can’t remember tasting a Tenuta with this much textural finesse and silkiness. Ripe tannins wrap around a core of blue/black fruits, lavender, sage, mint and chocolate. Medium in body, yet also fleshy and very deep, the 2021 is positively stellar. What a wine!”
BLEND
60% Merlot
40% Cabernet Franc
ALTITUDE
450-600 m asl
PRODUCTION
8,590 bottles
