Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc
75cl 14% ABV Tuscany, Italy
Solaia comes from the heart of Chianti Classico at the Tenuta Tignanello estate, nestled between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. The estate covers 319 hectares, of which 165 are dedicated to vineyards, including the prized Solaia and Tignanello plots. The soils here, originating from Pliocene marine marlstone rich in limestone and schist, combined with hot daytime temperatures and cool nights, produce grapes of exceptional ripeness and structure.
The 2021 vintage saw a long, slow-growing season with ideal ripening conditions in September and October. Harvest began in late September and finished on October 21st, yielding healthy, balanced fruit. Grapes are hand-picked and aged in French oak. The result is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc of exceptional richness, elegance, and depth.
The wine is an intense ruby red colour with violet hues, and reveals a complex nose of blackcurrants, blackberries and plums, with mint, myrtle, white pepper, cocoa, and liquorice. On the palate, it is rich and vibrant, with silky, well-integrated tannins, freshness, and a long, persistent finish, making it a wine with outstanding aging potential.
'Antinori's 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else, the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days, an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood, three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging.' 100pts - Antonio Galloni, Vinous