Auritea Cabernet Franc Costa Toscana IGT

Cabernet Franc on the Tuscan coast – it sounds unusual, but it makes sense: coastal wind, Mediterranean warmth, and soil containing fossilized seashells shape a grape variety here that often stands in the shadow of the great Bordeaux blends elsewhere.

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

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

• Temperature: 16–18 °C
• Food: Roasted lamb with herbs, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Pecorino stagionato
• Occasion: Sunday dinner, dinner for two