Sassotondo Franze 2019

Sassotondo Franze 2019, the singular pairing of two grape varieties

In the Franze 2019, Ciliegiolo and Teroldego come together on a single plot, in the heart of a less expected Tuscany. I recommend this organic red for its single-vineyard origin and its measured aging in previously used French barrels: here, the wood accompanies the wine without becoming the main subject.

A tuff plot, between Sovana and Pitigliano

Sassotondo Franze is an IGP Toscana from a cru located in Sovana, in the area of Sorano and Pitigliano, around the former volcanic basin of Bolsena. The vines grow on tuff soils and were planted between 1998 and 2003. Ciliegiolo and Teroldego make up the blend, two grape varieties whose characters are presented as complementary: the tannic structure of Teroldego balances the elegance of Ciliegiolo.

The history of the Sassotondo estate gives this cuvée a particular grounding. Edoardo Ventimiglia, a film camera operator in Rome, and his wife Carla Benini discovered this territory and chose to leave the film world to revive a neglected estate. Their approach is organic, and Franze is produced only in years judged to be very favorable. The grapes are harvested by hand; each variety is vinified separately, without added yeasts. Fermentation, including maceration, lasts 25 to 30 days. For aging, the available information mentions used French barriques: twelve months for the 2019 vintage, with an overall announced duration of twelve to eighteen months.

The tasting sheet describes a red wine of medium body, with an intensity situated halfway between lightness and power. Its profile leans moderately toward spice rather than fruit, while the cask aging remains discreet on the proposed scale. The sources do not detail the shade of the color, precise aromas on the nose, or particular flavors on the palate; I therefore prefer not to attribute notes of cherry, spice or undergrowth that are not documented. What can be retained is the choice of a structured blend, separate vinification and aging in used wood, rather than a profile dominated by new oak.

At the table, without ceremony

The estate recommends both white and red meats. I readily imagine it with roast poultry or a cut of beef, depending on the meal and your mood; these are pairing suggestions, not a promise of how it will taste. Serve it at a dinner where you can take the time to discover a single-vineyard wine, shaped by two grape varieties and by a tuff terroir. If you are looking for an organic Tuscan red that favors origin and a measured presence of wood, Franze 2019 deserves a place at your table.