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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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Antinori’s 2018 Solaia captures all of the elegance of this important vintage. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. It speaks to the stunning beauty and pedigree of Cabernet Sauvignon as grown at the Antinori family’s Tignanello property. Sweet scents of crème de cassis, lavender, graphite, mint, spice and espresso lead into a fine, delineated palate. Bright and energetic, Solaia is decidedly medium in body in 2018, with striking purity and exceptional beauty. I can’t remember ever tasting a young Solaia with this much sheer appeal and balance in the early going. In 2018 Solaia is 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 7% Cabernet Franc. Production is down to around 60,000 bottles because of strict selection.
98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2021)
Cracked almond and bitter chocolate and a ton of blackberry and raspberry puree. It’s gourmet with butterscotch and coffee beans, a wine that you want to share. Lifts off through the palate, has complexity and delicacy and waves of flavours that invade the mouth. Set in the Tuscany hills, 300m above sea level. A brilliant wine from the Antinori family. Stefano Carpaneto director.
98 points, Jane Anson (Sep 2021)
The Marchesi Antinori 2018 Solaia reveals a silky and elegant personality, and the wine steps away from some of the more robust fruit weight and dark concentration that we've seen in the past. This elegant vintage prizes fruit purity and focus with black plum, cassis, blue flower, pencil shaving and lots of sweet spice from the oak that recalls clove and toasted almond. The blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The fruit is harvested at the Antinori family's Tenuta Tignanello at the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation. The percentage of Cabernet Franc used in the blend is the ultimate Solaia wild card. In this vintage, the Franc has been increased to 7%, and that number is expected to be even higher in 2019 as the vines get older and the fruit more complex. Production of Solaia is 65,000 bottles in this vintage. This is a beautiful wine, but if pressed I must admit a preference for the 2018 Tignanello (the other celebrated wine crafted at this property). The 2018 Solaia is delicious on all fronts as expected, but the 2018 Tignanello struck at my heart strings. Either way, these are stunning results.
97+ points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2021)
Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants, fresh herbs, white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical, multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture. Extremely long and focused. Complex and succulent. This is the smallest production of Solaia ever. Great length. This is a beautifully complex red that’s open now, but needs another three to four years to show even more of its excellence.
97 points, James Suckling (Apr 2021)
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