2001 Antinori Solaia

The Solaia is a SuperTuscan, a Bordeaux blend with Cabernet Sauvignon supplemented with Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The name Solaia comes from Il Sole, Italian for the sun. The vineyards for this top wine from Marchese Antinori are 10 hectares in size and are located on the south-west slopes at an altitude between 350 and 400 meters. The soil is stony with marl. They are located in the area of Santa Cristina - Val di Pesa in the Chianti Classico zone, next to the vineyards of the Tignanello wine. This top wine from Antinori is only made in the top years

The Solaia 2001 (and 2004) have been re-released to show its ageing potential. The 2001 Solaia (magnum) represents the pinnacle of an era when richness, concentration and extraction were pushed to the limits typical of many wines of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Super-ripe dark red fruit, raspberry jam, rose petals, licorice and copious new oak come together in an unashamedly rich, powerful Solaia. The 2001 is anything but subtle, but it does age wonderfully.

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Read the other reviews via the links next to the bottle image

The 2001 Solaia, far superior to the overrated 1997 (to which I also prefer the 1999 and 1994) is a classic example of central Tuscan Cabernet at its best, ruby-purple in color, warm and explosive in its expression of black currant fruit, tobacco, tar, and graphite, superbly concentrated and dense on the palate but balanced and shapely at the same time and with a noble austerity and grip on the finish which resembles the best of Bordeaux. The wine is a sure bet for another two decades of superb drinking (Parker 96/100)

96

Drinking Window
2013 - 2031

From: Antinori Solaia – A Complete Retrospective 1978-2010 (Dec 2013)

The 2001 Solaia is similar to the 1999, but with an added level of finesse that takes the place of some of the brute power found in the 1999. The 2001 drinks well better young than the 1999, but it is also likely to mature earlier.

- By Antonio Galloni on December 2013

Chronicling the great wines of Italy for our readers has been a passion of mine for many years. Vinous Events take readers off the sidelines and make them participants in historic, once-in-a-lifetime tastings. It was with that spirit we hosted this complete vertical of Antinori's Solaia a few months ago.

Putting together the first-ever complete vertical of Solaia was a huge undertaking. It almost didn't happen at all. The original date for this tasting/dinner was Monday October 29, the day Hurricane Sandy descended on the tri-state area and began wreaking unprecedented havoc. Nearly eight months passed before the vertical finally took place, which only strengthened our resolve to make the evening even better. The passage of time also allowed for the inclusion of the 2010, which is in my view the greatest Solaia ever made. Marchese Piero Antinori and longtime Winemaker Renzo Cotarella presented the wines. Even Antinori had never tasted all 28 vintages together. Eleven Madison Park's Executive Chef Daniel Humm and his team prepared a brilliant menu full of highlights, including the moral and lamb courses both of which were among the most delicious dishes I have ever indulged in at Eleven Madison Park. Wine Director Dustin Wilson and a talented group of sommeliers took care of the wines, a huge undertaking given the large number of vintages. For more perspective, readers might enjoy the videos I shot with Antinori and Cotarella just prior to the dinner.