2023 Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva

A magnificent wine from one of Italy's oldest and most renowned wine producers, Marchese Antinori. This 'noble' Chianti Classico Riserva comes from the famous Tenuta Tignanello. The Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is Sangiovese enriched with notes of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Renzo Cotarella and the extensive technical team at Marchese Antinori are working hard to perfect their tannin management, and the beautiful results are clearly visible in this series of new releases from the classic vintage.

The growing season in Chianti Classico began with normal winter weather in terms of both temperature and rainfall. Despite these climatic conditions, the vines started budding a week earlier than the seasonal average in this area. Spring was characterized by frequent rain showers and temperatures lower than average, particularly in May, while June and July were hot and dry and not interrupted by extreme heat. Scattered rainfall in August and a dry, windy period in September and October ensured that the grapes developed to perfect ripeness, guaranteeing excellent sugar levels and polyphenolic ripeness. Harvesting began in mid-September with Sangiovese and was completed in the first half of October with Cabernet.

Upon arrival at the cellar, the bunches were destemmed and gently crushed; the must was transferred to stainless steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation took place for approximately one week. Maceration on the skins was managed using gentle pump-overs and délestage (rack and return) for intense extraction while preserving elegant and supple tannins. Malolactic fermentation, which occurred spontaneously, was completed by the end of the year. The wine was then blended and aged for about a year in French and Hungarian oak barriques. Marchese Antinori Riserva was bottled and subsequently aged in the bottle for a further twelve months before release.

The Tignanello estate is situated in the heart of the Chianti Classico production zone, nestled between the valleys of the Greve and Pesa rivers, and extends over nearly 800 hectares (319 acres), of which approximately 130 (415 acres) are planted with vines. The vineyards consist primarily of the indigenous Sangiovese grape, along with non-traditional varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The Marchese Antinori is a historic wine from the Antinori cellars that has been produced since 2011 from grapes grown on the Tignanello estate. It is a wine that presents itself as the full expression of the quality and elegance of Sangiovese from this part of Tuscany.

The Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is ruby ​​red in color. On the nose, intense notes of sour cherries, violets, and lavender, and light sensations of iron typical of Sangiovese, as well as spicy notes of tobacco and leather; the bouquet is completed by delicate hints of vanilla and cocoa powder. The taste is full-bodied, generous, and lively, with excellent compact tannins that give it a long, lingering finish. Exceptional finish characterized by red fruit and licorice. Worthy of Tignanello, but at less than half the price, so highly recommended.