Indian Wine: Fratelli Sette

This wine, Sette from Fratelli, costs 2000 rupees per bottle, which is over 30 USD. That makes it one of India's most expensive domestic wines, but is it worth it? We will soon find out.

Fratelli, which means brothers in Italian, is the the second largest wine producer in India. The company was founded in 2006, by three pairs of brothers, two from India and one from Italy. The Italian master wine maker from Tuscany, Masi Piero, has also been there from the start, so it is clear where the wine inspiration is coming from. Fratelli is located in the Solapur district, in a town called Akluj, approximately 170 kms south of Pune. Here they have planted their own vineyards, not sourcing any grapes externally.

Sette (seven in Italian), is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. It has matured in French oak barrels for 14 months. It is a nicely balanced, fruit-forward wine, with plums and cherries upfront. The tannins are soft, with a medium body, and a long, lingering finish with a little bit of menthol to it. I like it. It is probably my favorite Indian wine so far, and it can definitely compete with European and American offerings. But at 30 USD, you can get a lot of good wines, and in that price range Sette would not be my top choice. But in this restricted Indian market, it is as close as you get to European quality.