TENUTA DI ARCENO
TUSCANY, ITALY 2020
WHY BUY: A 96-point flagship with 7 years of bottle age and no end of energy for under $84 and a case-worthy, Wine Spectator #24 Wine of 2024 for less than $37: these two estate-grown and -bottled treasures from Tenuta di Arceno show why this 500-year-old Tuscan estate remains not just relevant, but admired and in demand.
CONTEXT: Forbes declared that Arceno is "changing outmoded views" of Chianti, and it’s true. But they’re also making a persuasive argument: that, with great terroir and forward-thinking winemaking, it’s possible to defy price expectations while remaining true to your origins.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: James Suckling lavished 96 points on the Arcanum 2018, reveling in its profusion of "blackberries and walnuts on the nose with some violets," and describing it as “full-bodied, yet lively and agile, with polished tannins that run across the palate and show class and focus." He concluded: "One of the best I have had from here.” Wine Spectator not only gave the Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 an impressive 94 points but also ranked it #24 on their Top 100 Wines of 2024: “a supple, fluid red marked by flavors of macerated cherry, raspberry and boysenberry,” it wrote. "Well-structured, with flashes of graphite and tobacco as this builds to the long, compact finish.”
OUR TASTING NOTES: The Arcanum 2018 arrives with an aristocratic bearing that belies its rather modest price tag. Seven years of careful evolution have polished its edges without diminishing its vitality – an impressive feat of balance. What captivated us most, in our tastings, was the wine's remarkable structural integrity; it possesses that rare quality of being simultaneously substantial and weightless, with a tensile strength that carries through to a persistent finish. The Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 delivers a more exuberant, youthful expression that nonetheless showcases the estate's commitment to elegance over mere power. Beneath its approachable exterior lies a sophisticated architecture of savory elements and subtle mineral inflections. The tannins here are remarkably fine-grained – present enough to suggest promising evolution, to be sure, but already integrated to provide textural pleasure rather than astringency.
THE STORY: Tenuta di Arceno's storied history stretches back all the way to 1504, when the Del Taja family established this picture-perfect estate on the southernmost edge of Chianti Classico. Today, the property encompasses 1,000 hectares, with 90 dedicated to vineyards separated into 63 distinct blocks, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the ancient walled town of San Gusmè. When Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke of Jackson Family Wines acquired the estate in 1994, they were no strangers, of course, to excellence — their portfolio includes the great Vérité, which has accumulated more than a dozen 100-point scores. Working alongside deeply experienced winemakers Pierre Seillan and Lawrence Cronin, they maintained the focus on native Sangiovese, while also cultivating international varieties like Cabernet Franc, which Seillan identified as the estate's shining star. The property's unique location in the butterfly-shaped commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga – closest in proximity to Siena and rightfully referred to as "the most Senese Chianti Classico" – puts it in elite company, neighboring world-renowned producers while retaining a style that is proudly, and distinctly, its own.
SPECS: The Arcanum takes its name from the Latin word for “secret," and represents the flagship of the estate. It's sourced primarily from the L'Apparita and Belvedere blocks of Cabernet Franc, which enjoy excellent sun exposure and sandy clay soils that produce the property's most expressive manifestations of the variety. The Chianti Classico Riserva comes from high-elevation vineyards (approximately 1,400 feet above sea level) where rocky soils composed of limestone, loam, and galestro stress the vines, resulting in lower yields of highly-concentrated fruit.
FUN FACT: While Tenuta di Arceno's formal history dates to the 16th century, winemaking in the Chianti Classico region stretches back nearly 3,000 years, with reports dating to approximately 1,000 years before the Common Era.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we source our wines directly from the estate to ensure perfect provenance. Secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NE, NY, OK & TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, April 17th, 2025.