Antinori

In 2001 Tignanello captures a super-concentrated and dense expression of fruit that has been achieved with some loss of aromatic complexity and overall finesse. This is a super-ripe style with tons of dark fruit, smoke and toasted oak in a heavily extracted style that veers on excess. There is remarkable power here, but not the level of balance that is typical of the very finest vintages.
Antonio Galloni - In the Cellar Jan 2009

Now firmly amongst the greats of the Italian wine scene, Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Vigneto Tignanello‘ made for the 1970 vintage. Even at this point it broke new ground by being the first Sangiovese aged in small oak barrels, and the die was cast from the 1971 vintage, when it became a Vino da Tavola della Toscana and was named Tignanello after the vineyard from where the fruit originates. Over the following eleven years Tignanello gradually evolved into the wine we recognise today – a wine that no longer follows the rules laid down by Chianti Classico Disciplinare.

This is a Tignanello vintage with wonderful purity of fruit on the nose first and foremost. Pure, unadulterated bramble, hedgerow fruit – exquisite! Behind that initial and impressive wave of fruit there are complex layers of nutmeg, black tea and Asian spices. This continues apace on the palate, and also where the Sangiovese really comes into play. The taut structure and fine tannins build neatly through the midpalate where more layers of hoi sin, dark coffee and subtle meatiness. The finish is textbook Tignanello, refined yet focussed and wonderfully long. Drinking from 2018 onto 2030.
Gary Owen, Fine Wine

Tignanello releases are always of huge interest – a superb Super Tuscan red which still offers significant value. This 2012 release demonstrates the quality and consistency of the Antinori estate very well indeed. The nose offers generous dark fruit, black cherry and cassis with notes of clove and dried herbs. The palate is laced with fine acidity giving real energy and vibrancy, very moreish. Fine, silky and eminently approachable now, but there is more to come of course and more layers will emerge over the coming years. Drink 2018 – 2028.
Martyn Rolph, Fine Wine 

The best vintages of Solaia are 1990, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010 and now 2013. Marchesi Antinori's 2013 Solaia is a profound and meaningful wine that is based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. It sports a dark and thick texture with plump fruit and spice, grilled herb and black pepper. The bouquet is intense and layered with the kind of complexity that is best admired as the wine shifts and evolves in the glass. The textual impact is also impressive—you feel the inherent power and the structure, but these elements are never overdone. The best is yet to come; this Solaia is built for long cellar aging.
Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate, 30th Dec 2016

The 2009 Antinori Solaia is similar to the 2007 in its volume and richness, but it is less extroverted. This is another gorgeous Solaia that will drink well pretty much during its entire life. The warm year yielded a racy Solaia with no hard edges and fabulous overall balance.
Antonio Galloni - Dec-2013

The 2010 Solaia is even better than the Tignanello. Here, too, it is the wine's energy and sheer vibrancy that stand out most. Blackberry jam, graphite, tar, espresso, violets, crushed rocks and spices all take shape in the glass. The 2010 is a wine I have followed since its infancy, and it has never failed to deliver the goods. Earlier this year I had a chance to taste every vintage of Solaia back to the inaugural 1978. It is still early, but there is little question the 2010 is one of the greatest – if not the single greatest Solaia ever made
97/100 Antonio Galloni - Aug-2013

Really classy on the nose, this is a classic Bordeaux blend with hints of graphite. Beautifully elegant on the palate it shows a touch of French oak barrique alongside full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon fruit in perfect balance, followed by a fine, long and satisfying finish. Superb!
David Berry Green, Fine Wine Buyer, August 2011

It is no surprise at all that this is a beautifully woven wine, coming from the famed Antinori stable and using the tried and tested combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a splash of Petit Verdot. It is a rich multi-layered wine with plum, mocha and sweet spice. Its origin is unveiled with the Mediterranean herbs that come through in the finish. This is a real masterclass in producing a fully flavoured wine that can hold itself perfectly in check with a wonderful balance. 
Matthew Tipping - Private Account Manager

Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico known simply as “Vigneto Tignanello” made for the 1970 vintage. From 1971 the wine was classified as lowly Vino da Tavola, and the Cabernets were added to the Sangiovese for the first time. The original Super Tuscan was born. The 2013 is the first release since the passing of the great Giacomo Tachis, Head Winemaker at Antinori from the late 1960s through to the 1990s and creator of Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and many of the notable wines of Tuscany and Italy. The 2013 is a fitting tribute to this very talented man.

Solaia is derived exclusively from its namesake vineyard, Solaia—meaning sunny one—a 10-hectare, southwest-facing site that is comprised principally of marl soils and albarese rock.. The Marchesi Antinori firm produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with an initial blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a blend repeated again in 1979.

Solaia is a 50 acre (20 hectare), southwest-exposed vineyard of the Tignanello estate situated between 1150 and 1320 feet (350-400 meters) above sea level on stony soils consisting of calcareous clays and limestone rock. The Marchesi Antinori produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with a blend consisting of 80% Cbernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, repeating the initial production in 1979. In the following vintages 20% of Sangiovese became part of the blend and certain corrections in the ratio of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were made as well until the current composition of the blend was defined and became definitive. Solaia is produced only in high level vintages and was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983,1984, and 1992.

Renzo Cotarella’s favourite. Still very concentrated purple with lots of mineral notes. Very charming and fresh with extreme vitality. Great stuff! Wonderful completeness and energy. Fully ripe. Great combination of freshness and intensity.
Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2015

2011 Solaia has a ripe, perfumed nose with sweet plum, blueberry, morello cherry and cassis notes. It is a nose that really confirms the favourable growing conditions they had in 2011, there was clearly an abundance of healthy grapes. The palate is less flamboyant than the nose, which at this stage of its evolution can only be a good thing. The cassis and blueberry show again with a really pleasing acidity that gives the wine a lovely definition and flow. It is mouthfilling and stylish with herb and cedar notes on the finish rounding things off beautifully.
Matt Tipping, Fine Wine Sales Manager

We often taste wines which leap out of the glass, but 2011 Solaia does this with a vengeance. On the nose there is a beautifully crafted wall of complex blackcurrant and juicy dark fruit from the pure, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. Laced within this are light, deft touches of subtle cherry and dark plum fruit coming from the Sangiovese. On the palate this purity is clear to see again where there further complexity comes from the refined and framing oak. As the fruit of the palate seamlessly moves into the structure and body of the wine there are notes of coffee, fine chocolate and a whole span of herbs and spices – nutmeg, cloves but also sage and rosemary to name but a few. There is no doubt that this is a bold wine if you take it as a whole, but there is a very uncommon level of refinement and subtly here. 2011 Solaia can be drunk now such is the finesse and subtly of the tannins but I feel that if you can leave this in the cellar even for 2 or 3 years there will be added layers of complexity ensuring that this is a very special wine indeed.
Gary Owen, Private Account Manager

Another triumph from the superb 2011 vintage in Bolgheri, Tuscany. Stunningly rich and focussed, the high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend is clear to see. Lifted and pure cassis fruit dominates the nose, supported by plum, ripe cherry and notes of graphite, liquorice and sweet spice. Exotic yet refined, a wonderful nose. The vibrancy continues across the palate, impossibly fine tannins, perfect balance. Offers precision and class at every moment, the finish is effortless with violet and mineral hints. Utterly delicious.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager Antinori is the most famous name in Italian wine and the influence of Piero Antinori in the last 25 years has been nothing short of revolutionary. Antinori's flagship wine, Tignanello, first appeared in 1971 and caused a sensation by its use of Cabernet Sauvignon in a Sangiovese blend and with its practice of ageing in small French barriques. Antinori was accused of vinous treachery and treason but soon barrique-aged blends of Sangiovese and Cabernet began appearing all across Tuscany.

Solaia, a twenty hectare (50 acre) vineyard of the Tignanello estate with a south-western exposure, is situated at 350-400 meters (1175-1325 feet) above sea level on a soil of calcareous rock (known as “alberese in Tuscany). The Marchesi Antinori firm produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with an initial blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a blend repeated again in 1979. In the following vintages 20% of Sangiovese was added to the Cabernet grapes and the ratio of Cabernet Franc to Cabernet Sauvignon was changed in order to create a wine which has now become definitive in its various composing elements.

Balsamic notes prevail on the nose of this wine, followed by aromas of ripe fruit and spices. On the palate the first sensations are velvety, with soft tannins and much finesse. The finish and aftertaste are well supported by the mineral notes which give it a lovely length and persistence, while the vineyards are situated on rocky, slightly limestone soil. Benchmark plus Bolgheri!
David Berry Green

"Wow" was my first comment about the 2008 Tignanello. Deep rich concentration somehow combined with real elegance and surprising freshness. The dense dark glossy cherry fruit is balanced by sweet vanilla oak followed by a beautiful fine long finish.

The cool September nights followed a summer more typified by drought really
concentrating flavours while retaining the fresh dark cherry fruit characteristics. The final blend of the 2008 is 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.
Fine Wine Team

Truly an iconic wine, Tignanello’s origins lie in a single vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Vigneto Tignanello‘ made for the 1970 vintage.  Even at this point it broke new ground by being the first Sangiovese aged in small oak barrels, and the die was cast from the 1971 vintage, when it became a Vino da Tavola della Toscana and was named Tignanello after the vineyard from where the fruit originates.  Over the following eleven years Tignanello gradually evolved into the wine we recognise today – a wine that no longer follows the rules laid down by Chianti Classico Disciplinare.andnbsp; A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc that is produced only in the finest vintages.

Over the recent years, the growing excitement and appetite for Italy’s top wines and in particular the Super Tuscan wines has become insatiable.

The excitement behind the renaissance of the Super Tuscan wines is paraphrased brilliantly by Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate – “The buzz is back. Italy’s most iconic wine estate – the ground zero for all fine wine made in the country today – has entered an exciting new chapter with a renewed sense of purpose. This change was not sparked by any single event, rather a confluence of events starting with a fortuitous string of great vintages.”  With a string of very good vintages such as 2008, 2009, 2010 and now 2011, Tignanello is on fine form.