
Antinori Tignanello IGT 2022
Back in 1928, Niccolò Antinori decided to christen this wine with the name of the family’s villa to represent his own personal interpretation of Chianti Classico’s and Tuscany’s unique identity. Piero Antinori’s father, Niccolò, once described how “Villa” was originally created: “At that time, we needed to promote the Antinori name…that was still relatively unheard of except in certain circles, so I chose the name “Villa Antinori”.
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 165 (407 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”. According to Marchesi Antinori, Solaia and Tignanello are an ongoing challenge and a never-ending passion. The Tignanello estate has vineyards of indigenous Sangiovese grapes as well as some other untraditional varieties such as Cabernet Franc.
Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone. It’s produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
The wine opens impressively with aromas of cherries, ripe black cherries and pomegranate seeds with delicate notes of violets that lead to fresh balsamic hints. The bouquet is completed by elegant hints of vanilla and cotton candy.
Supple savory tannins impart a dynamic impact on the palate, dense yet fresh. The wine closes with a lengthy finish that echoes aromas perceived on the nose.