There’s something quietly impressive about a well-spoken, smartly dressed Italian man discussing wine with restrained passion and carefully chosen words. “We don’t call them Super Tuscans in Italy, for us this is simply wine,” says Federico Harrasser as he introduces the wines of Tenuta Fratini to a room full of wine trade professionals at The Royal Opera House in London.
So far, so humble, but these wines are far from simple.
Are we sitting comfortably? The Tenuta Fratini wines about to be shown for the first time in the UK. Royal Opera House, January 27, 2026.
Bolgheri veterans
Harrasser is the head of sales for Bolgheri producer Tenuta Fratini, a new addition to Ellis Wines’ portfolio who are bringing these wines into the UK market for the first time. He guides us through a trio of wines, discussing the history of the estate, the establishment of the Bolgheri DOC and how Fratini’s wines hope to stand out in a crowded field.
The three wines in question comprise a compact offering from Fratini and are all from 2022, the estate’s second vintage. This new venture began life in 2016 with the planting of three vineyards of Bordeaux varieties in the famous Bolgheri DOC, on a site located just south of Tenuta San Guido, home of Sassicaia.
The Fratini family are hardly new kids on the block, however, they have been growing and making wine in the Bolgheri region since 1999 when they established Tenuta Argentiera alongside the renowned Antinori family. Argentiera was sold in 2016 to Austrian entrepreneur Stanislaus Turnauer and soon after the Fratini family got back into the game and Tenuta Fratini began to take shape with the planting of 10 hectares of vineyards.
Vines are planted to capture all aspects of the sun at Tenuta Fratini estate
The estate benefits from both coastal and altitude influences, situated just 2km from the Mediterranean Sea and at between 50 and 300 metres-above-sea-level. “Altitide is uncommon in Bolgheri,” says Harrasser, who goes on to explain that the site was planted using soil mapping and advanced EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) analysis so that the correct vines were planted in the correct areas. This resulted in three distinctive ‘micro-parcels’ of vineyard area comprising 85 lieux-dits, offering incredible diversity when it comes to shaping the wines in the cellar.
The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Franc being the dominant grape in the estate’s top two wines. Harrasser explains that historically red grapes were not planted in Bolgheri at all, with white and rosé wines being dominant when vines began to appear here in the mid-20th century. The DOC area used to be a swamp as recently as 200 years ago, then it was largely used for growing fruit and vegetables before vines took hold and the potential for great red wines was discovered.
“Bolgheri, together with Napa Valley and Bordeaux, is internationally recognised as one of the benchmark territories for the world’s three most important Bordeaux‑heritage varieties,” says Harrasser. “These regions share a vocation for producing structured yet refined wines, each expressing these varieties through distinct soil profiles and microclimatic conditions.”
Driven by a Bordeaux legend
A winery was built on the estate in 2019, overseen by Bordeaux expert and consultant Eric Boissenot, whose lightness of touch in the blending room can be found in some of Bordeaux’s greatest wines including Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Margaux. The list goes on. Boissenot’s involvement, which includes oenology consultation and the planning of cellar operations, sees him working in Bolgheri for the first time.
This hotshot team begins in the vineyard where French agronomist Xavier Choné and Chilean vine consultant Pedro Parra bring their expertise to the focussed approach surrounding soils, rootstocks, clones and precision viticulture.
“This pioneering approach aligns Bolgheri not only with the great terroir‑driven traditions of Bordeaux and Napa Valley but also positions it as a region where research, transparency, and site-specific expression are central to the next chapter of its evolution,” says Harrasser. “We aim to reveal Bolgheri’s true expressive potential and to articulate a style that is rooted in the uniqueness of our soils, the precision of our viticultural choices, and the character of our climats [vineyard sites].”
Tasting the wines there’s a real freshness and verve across all three helped, it would seem, by planting at altitude which can slow ripening and extend the growing season, preserving balance, vibrancy and - yes - freshness. This is a style of Bolgheri that is different to many which can be more concentrated and butch, and it’s very appealing especially in a time when ABVs are on the rise across the board.
“In a blind tasting you should be able to recognise the wines,” says Harrasser, and it would be an interesting exercise to taste the Tenuta Fratini wines alongside other Bolgheris. One for the future, perhaps, for now here are my notes on the current Fratini collection, available in the UK through Ellis Wines.
Tasting the Tenuta Fratina wines
Tenuta Fratini, Clinio, Toscana IGT, 2022
Of the three Fratini wines, Clinio falls under the Toscana IGT category, largely - according to Federico Harrasser - because of limits within the Bolgheri appellation on vineyard area. It’s a no lesser wine as a result; in fact the freshness of Clinio is striking. Merlot-driven (45%), with 40% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is ruby-red in the glass with a rich nose of redcurrant and raspberry fruit and fresh herbs. This freshness continues on the palate; it’s svelte and restrained and quite savoury given the plush fruit on the nose. Some black liquorice and pencil shavings too, but it’s the fruit here which shines through. Silky tannins, and a keen and sappy finish.
Tenuta Fratini, Harte, Bolgheri Superiore DOC, 2022
Both Bolgheri Superiore wines are Cabernet Franc dominant, this is 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. This shift in assemblage is obvious in the glass, offering a more brooding boot-polish red hue and notes of very ripe strawberry, blackcurrant and a medicinal/ herby edge of fennel and rosemary. Nicely integrated. “Classic Bolgheri style,” says Harrasser. On the palate there’s a rich, mineral earthiness which offsets all that ripe fruit. This is a powerful wine but remains fresh thanks to generous acidity and well-judged tannins.
Tenuta Fratini, Hortense, Bolgheri Superiore DOC, 2022
The big gun. Just 7,000 bottles were made of Hortense, which is priced £175 on Ellis Wines’ 2026 list. Tipped even further towards Cabernet Franc (70%, with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot), this is serious, elegant and poised, but unlike the Harte hasn’t yet started to stretch out its limbs. There’s immense power here waiting patiently to be unfurled, but for now it’s still a baby and a little closed on the nose and palate. Black fruit and a delicious balsamic note are delightful, as is the complex, crunchy granite and black cherry backbone. I cannot wait to try this again in a few years.
