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B-21 Top Recommendation
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Among a handful of wines with a reputation so epic they are known by a single name, Solaia is the legendary Cabernet Sauvignon blend crafted by Marchesi Antinori that along with its sister wine Tignanello helped create a whole new category of wines known as Super Tuscans, garnering unanimous critical acclaim for over four decades and the first Italian wine to earn the #1 spot on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 back in 1997. Conveyed in perfect provenance with pristine cellar aging, these Solaia selections come from the top vintages of the last 15 years, some ready to enjoy now and all promising a thrilling evolution over the next several decades.
First created as an experiment in 1978 when the vineyards for Tignanello produced an excess of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Solaia is a uniquely Tuscan blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and a small amount of Cabernet Franc, grown at the Antinori family's Tenuta Tignanello estate in the rolling hills of Chianti Classico. Named for its southwestern exposure ideally angled to capture the sun's rays (Solaia translates as "a place where the energy of the sun radiates"), the vineyard for Solaia spans 20 hectares on a hillside located between 350 and 400 meters above sea level, the vines planted in a stony mix of albarese and galestro producing richly concentrated grapes. Fermenting each varietal separately in stainless steel and aging it in 100% new French oak, winemaker Renzo Cotarella believes Solaia starts to express its true personality at 10 years of age, many of these selections now at the beginning of their long window of enjoyment. Described as a "voluptuous, racy turn-on" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous "with a long drinking window of pure pleasure," the 97 pt. 2007 Solaia offers "vibrant fruit and bright acidity" according to James Suckling, while the "mesmerizing" 98 pt. 2010 Solaia is a "towering masterpiece" according to critic Galloni, calling it "one of the all-time legendary Solaias." Ranking it his #1 Italian Wine of the Year, James Suckling believes the dazzling 100 pt. 2015 Solaia might be "the greatest ever," promising three decades of longevity "with the best yet to come" according to the Wine Spectator's Bruce Sanderson. Also scoring a perfect 100 pt. dual rating and both vintages available in cellar worthy magnums as well as 750 ml., the Wine Enthusiast's Kerin O'Keefe describes the massive 100 pt. 2016 Solaia as "smooth and balanced, with bright acidity and polished tannins" while Jane Anson of Inside Bordeaux calls the rich 97 pt. 2017 Solaia "silky" noting its "dark fruit feel and savory rippling tannins." Speaking to the "stunning beauty and pedigree" of Antinori's Cabernet Sauvignon, Antonio Galloni describes the "mesmerizing " 98 pt. 2018 Solaia as a blend of "striking purity and exceptional beauty" while the 98 pt. 2019 Solaia offers "terrific balance, vigor and excruciating length" according to the Wine Spectator's Bruce Sanderson that the Wine Advocate's Monica Larner calls "a beautiful wine that collectors will love."
All from truly legendary vintages and credited with "redefining Italian wine" by the Wine Spectator, these Solaia selections present a rare opportunity to acquire exceptional back vintages of this highly allocated Super Tuscan, guaranteed to become the focal point of any collection with years of evolution ahead if only you can keep from opening them, which in that case, any regrets you might have will melt away with the first sip. |
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Extremely aromatic with sage, lavender, blackberries and currants. Full-bodied with chewy and very polished tannins that melt into the wine. Foursquare and slightly austere. Fresh and well framed. A wine that needs five to six years to soften and come together completely. Try after 2025.
97 points, James Suckling (Aug 2020)
Just bottled, the 2017 Solaia is naturally going to need time to come together. Even in the early going, though, it shows all the richness and opulence that is typical of the year, with terrific aromatic expansiveness and tons of persistence. I can't wait to taste it with a bit more time in bottle.
95+ points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Aug 2019)
The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Solaia offers a uniquely floral personality with wild rose and lilac that comes as a surprise, especially if you are expecting the more robust and opulent dark fruit associated with this vintage. To use a word that is popular now, the aromas are absolutely lifted. This is a bouquet-driven wine, showing great oak choices that are synergistic with the light and considerably thinner palate. Dried or pressed flowers cede to cherry, blueberry, some red meat char and a light touch of cinnamon. My impression is that the dry extract from the oak ultimately plays a bigger role in the overall flavor profile, preserving its red fruit core nevertheless. The wine is very accessible in terms of mouthfeel, showing a comparatively thinner and shorter approach. With more time in the glass, it offers some of the white soil dust that is a standard Solaia signature. It will be released the first week of September.
95 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2020)
Expressive, featuring a bright burst of cherry, black currant, iron and oak spice aromas and flavors. Fresh and fluid, with well-mannered tannins and impeccable balance. A big wine, with an elegant feel. Pulls all the elements together nicely for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2042. 500 cases imported.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Sep 2020)
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