2023 Sesta Super Tuscan "Poggio d'Arna" Tuscany

This is a family wine in the literal sense. The Ciacci family bought these Montalcino slopes in 1850, and they still farm them. Giovanni Ciacci has run the estate since 1995, with his children Andrea and Francesca — Francesca on the winegrowing and winemaking, working land near the Abbey of Sant'Antimo that shows up in documents as far back as 714 AD.

They are not new to this. In 1966 the family bottled one of the first twelve Brunellos in Montalcino, which makes Sesta a founding house of the appellation. The estate's Brunello and Duelecci Riserva routinely earn 94 to 98 points from Suckling, Wine Advocate and Vinous, and Tre Bicchieri from Gambero Rosso. Those are the flagship Sangioveses — context for the hand behind this bottle, not this wine's own numbers.

Poggio d'Arna is the estate's step outside the Brunello rulebook: an IGT Toscana where Bordeaux grapes take the lead. The 2023 is 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Merlot, 20% Sangiovese Grosso, grown on south-facing vines at 280–300 meters and picked by hand.

A year in barrel — six months French Allier, six months Slavonian oak — then a rest in bottle, about 20,000 bottles made. In the glass: deep ruby with violet, fresh red fruit, a streak of liquorice, full and soft with fine tannin. 14.5%. Steak, hard cheese, a real ragù. Tuscan roots, French tailoring — open it without apology.