Auritea Cabernet Franc Costa Toscana IGT

Cabernet Franc on the Tuscan coast – that sounds unusual, but it makes sense: coastal winds, Mediterranean warmth and soil containing fossilized seashells create a grape variety that elsewhere is often overshadowed by the great Bordeaux blends.

Tenuta Podernovo is located in the Costa Toscana , an IGT zone that allows winemakers more freedom than the strict DOC regulations of Tuscany. The name Auritea refers to the Arca aurita – a fossilized seashell that lies beneath the estate's soil. This mineral-rich, calcareous soil is the reason for the unusual salinity that runs through the wine.

In the glass, the Auritea displays dark currant jam and black olive, along with rosemary, a hint of cocoa, and a balsamic note reminiscent of eucalyptus. The body is medium-bodied, the tannins well-integrated, and the finish long and slightly mineral and salty – a fingerprint of the fossilized soil.

• Temperature: 16–18 °C
• Dishes: Roast lamb with herbs, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Pecorino stagionato
• Occasion: Sunday dinner, dinner for two
• Drinking window: now until 2029