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Solaia 2016 75cl

IGT | Tuscany | Italy
CHF 454.00
Critics scores
100 Robert Parker
I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit—tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical.<br/><br/>
98 Wine Spectator
This red leads off with a slight oaky edge, featuring vanilla and resin accents that meld with the black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors on the palate. This is all about purity and finesse, featuring a vibrant structure that fits harmoniously with the flavors. Cedar, iron, tobacco and fruit elements converge on the finish, which is very long, fresh and satisfying. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2040.
Producer
Antinori - Tenuta Tignanello
Tignanello, for most, the original Super-Tuscan, was first crafted in 1971 and has since remained a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. The 350-hectare estate lies amongst the picturesque hills between the Greve and Pesa River valleys, with 147 hectares of vineyards spread across the Chianti Classico appellation. Since the mid-1800s, this legendary estate, more than anywhere else, has expressed the Antinori’s family values: to display the union between tradition and modernity with wines that are genuine and characterized by their origins. Today, the leading figure in Tuscan wines, Piero Antinori, noted for his innovations and experiments in the field, manages the Marchesi Antinori group with his three daughters. Tignanello is home to two of the most influential wines ever created. The family’s flagship, Solaia and the first Super-Tuscan, Tignanello. These two iconic wines are marked by Antinori’s signature quality, they are vibrant yet complex and clearly express the presence of their unique terroir.