Solaia
The wine
The sunniest part of the Tignanello’s hillside is home to the Solaia vineyard. The first vintage of Solaia was 1978 and is only made in exceptional years with passion, the utmost care and dedication to research together with the finest grapes from its namesake vineyard.
Vinification
The sunniest part of Tenuta Tignanello estate’s hillside is home to the Solaia vineyard. Approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) at an altitude between 350-400 meters above sea level, the vineyard faces south-west, on calcareous rocky soils rich in Alberese (rocky, clay and limestone) and Galestro (marl of limestone and sandstone).
The first vintage of Solaia was 1978 and is only made in exceptional years with passion, the utmost care and dedication to research together with the finest grapes from its namesake vineyard.
Winemaking
The utmost care and attention were given both in the vineyards during harvesting operations and in the cellar. Grapes were destemmed, meticulously selected on sorting tables, delicately crushed then transferred by gravity flow into vats. It was imperative that only the finest berries reached the 60 Hl truncated cone shaped fermentation tanks. During fermentation and maceration on the skins, it was essential to maintain the right balance between fruity compounds and quality of the tannins to best express the softness, fragrance, identity, and character of Solaia. Immediately after racking, malolactic fermentation began in barriques, enhancing the complexity and pleasantness of the wine. Aging took place in new French oak barrels. The various lots were aged separately then blended and reintroduced into barrels to complete the aging process.
Historical Data
The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines.
The current 16th century manor house was built on the foundations of an estate that dates back to 1346 when the property belonged to the Buondelmonti’s, a noble family that owned a great part of the land in Valle della Pesa. In the seventeenth century, a cadet branch of the Medici family took possession of the estate and named it Fonte dei Medici. In the mid 1800’s the Antinori family acquired the estate.
The “Carocci”, a historical-artistic guide of the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa, described the Tignanello farm and extensive vineyards in 1892 as one of the highest and more picturesque localities in the entire territory.
Tasting Notes
Intense notes of small dark ripe fruit especially black currants, blackberries and purple plums follow through to fresh hints of mint, myrtle and spicy notes of white pepper. Sweet aromas of powdered sugar, cocoa powder and licorice are seamlessly integrated. Entry on the palate is rich, enticing, vibrant with an excellent and well-balanced structure. Silky tannins accompany a lengthy finish defined by a persistent aftertaste with hints of dark chocolate.
The sunniest part of the Tignanello’s hillside is home to the Solaia vineyard. The first vintage of Solaia was 1978 and is only made in exceptional years with passion, the utmost care and dedication to research together with the finest grapes from its namesake vineyard.
The sunniest part of Tenuta Tignanello estate’s hillside is home to the Solaia vineyard. Approximately 20 hectares (50 acres) at an altitude between 350-400 meters above sea level, the vineyard faces south-west, on calcareous rocky soils rich in Alberese (rocky, clay and limestone) and Galestro (marl of limestone and sandstone).
The first vintage of Solaia was 1978 and is only made in exceptional years with passion, the utmost care and dedication to research together with the finest grapes from its namesake vineyard.
The utmost care and attention were given both in the vineyards during harvesting operations and in the cellar. Grapes were destemmed, meticulously selected on sorting tables, delicately crushed then transferred by gravity flow into vats. It was imperative that only the finest berries reached the 60 Hl truncated cone shaped fermentation tanks. During fermentation and maceration on the skins, it was essential to maintain the right balance between fruity compounds and quality of the tannins to best express the softness, fragrance, identity, and character of Solaia. Immediately after racking, malolactic fermentation began in barriques, enhancing the complexity and pleasantness of the wine. Aging took place in new French oak barrels. The various lots were aged separately then blended and reintroduced into barrels to complete the aging process.
The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres), of which 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines.
The current 16th century manor house was built on the foundations of an estate that dates back to 1346 when the property belonged to the Buondelmonti’s, a noble family that owned a great part of the land in Valle della Pesa. In the seventeenth century, a cadet branch of the Medici family took possession of the estate and named it Fonte dei Medici. In the mid 1800’s the Antinori family acquired the estate.
The “Carocci”, a historical-artistic guide of the town of San Casciano Val di Pesa, described the Tignanello farm and extensive vineyards in 1892 as one of the highest and more picturesque localities in the entire territory.
Intense notes of small dark ripe fruit especially black currants, blackberries and purple plums follow through to fresh hints of mint, myrtle and spicy notes of white pepper. Sweet aromas of powdered sugar, cocoa powder and licorice are seamlessly integrated. Entry on the palate is rich, enticing, vibrant with an excellent and well-balanced structure. Silky tannins accompany a lengthy finish defined by a persistent aftertaste with hints of dark chocolate.
Tenuta Tignanello
The Tenuta Tignanello estate is in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys.
The estate’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture”.
