Marchesi Antinori, Tignanello, Tuscany, Italy 2019

“The Marchesi Antinori 2019 Tignanello was born in a classic growing season that saw some cooling summer rains and relatively stress-free conditions. This is an elegant and extremely polished wine made with mostly Sangiovese and smaller parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Here too, the small blending element of Cabernet Franc has been slowly increasing in recent years. The 2019 vintage was born with a good amount of power and tannic structure, and maceration times were slightly reduced as a result. This less extractive approach shapes a polished and elegant wine with plenty of bright berry fruit, cherry, dried mint, blue flower, blood orange and rusty earth. The palate is more compact and streamlined. It shows beautiful grace.”-96WA

The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which about 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines. Two of the estate’s prized vineyards are on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils that originated from marine marlstone from the Pliocene period rich in limestone and schist. The vines enjoy hot temperatures during the day and cooler evenings throughout the growing season. The estate’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture”.

Throughout the 1970’s, Tenuta Tignanello was a sort of laboratory for Marchesi Antinori, a center for new viticultural research and development as they introduced new winemaking techniques and new varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Innovations concerning vine density or pruning techniques and the selection of the Sangiovese grape were always intended to obtain grapes with concentrated fruit and soft tannins. In this unique terroir, Sangiovese and Cabernet are able to fully express their own distinctive personalities and reflect the territory’s signature characteristics.