Tasting Notes
Climate
The growing season was characterized by an autumn 2007 and a winter 2008 not particularly cold and with little rainfall, conditions which led to an early bud break compared to the previous vintages of the same period. The spring, which marked the beginning of vine development, was marked by difficult weather, with frequent rainstorms up until the end of May and a resulting slowdown of vine growth which did not, however, compromise the health of the vineyard. June and July, in contrast, were quite warm and further rainfall did not arrive until the month of August, with scattered precipitation which assisted the plants in the development of both their vegetation and their grapes. September and October were very favorable for harvest operations, thanks as well to temperature swings between daytime heat and nighttime rain which gave grapes of optimum quality. The finest selections of Sangiovese and Cabernet for the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva were harvested during the first days of the month of October and, from the very beginning of their transformation into wine, the musts showed very interesting aromas, flavors, and color, which promised a high level vintage.
Vinification
The climatic conditions allowed a planning and execution of harvesting operations which fully brought out the character of the individual vineyard plots, and picking, entirely by hand, was adapted to the differences of exposure, altitude, ripeness level, and analytical characteristics of the grapes of the various plots. The grape bunches, once in the fermenting cellars, were delicately destemmed and pressed to conserve to the maximum degree the varietal character of the aromas and flavors, an operation of great importance in the case of Sangiovese. Once in the stainless steel fermenting tanks the grapes were macerated with the aid of periodic, and very soft, pumping over the cap of skins and of délestage (“rack and return”) techniques in order to guarantee an extraction which was intense and, at the same time, capable of giving wines of elegance and roundness of tannins. From the very start of fermentation operations the musts showed rich colors and structure thanks to the highly favorable weather of the growing season. The fermentation lasted approximately seven days and was followed by a further eight to nine days period of skin contact in the fermenting tanks. Immediately after it was run off its skins, the wine went into small oak barrels, for the most part of French origin, in order to go through a complete malolactic fermentation, which took place spontaneously by the end of the year. After racking, the wines, still separated by their vineyard provenance, were aged for a year in French and Hungarian oak barrels. During this lengthy phase the various lots were constantly tasted and monitored in order to maximize their quality level during this period of barrel aging and were then assembled into a final blend at the end of their aging cycle. The wine was given a further twelve months of bottle aging before release.
Historical Data
The Tignanello estate is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico production zone, nestled between the valleys of the Greve and Pesa rivers, and extends over close to 800 total acres (319 hectares), some 130 of which (415 hectares) are planted to vines. The vineyards consist principally of the native Sangiovese grape along with such non-traditional varieties as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The Marchese Antinori is an historic wine of the Antinori cellars which, since 2011, is produced from the grapes of the Tignanello estate. It is a wine which presents itself as the full expression of the quality and elegance of the Sangiovese of this part of Tuscany.
Tasting Notes
A very intense ruby red in color, the Marchese Antinori 2008 shows a nose with captivating notes of ripe fruit (blackberries, plums, and wild cherries) which perfectly reflect the characteristics of the growing season. On the palate the wine is well structured, with supple tannins which are both sweet and rounded; the lengthy finish promises long life and the aftertaste recalls, together, notes of ripe fruit and licorice.
Climate
The growing season was characterized by an autumn 2007 and a winter 2008 not particularly cold and with little rainfall, conditions which led to an early bud break compared to the previous vintages of the same period. The spring, which marked the beginning of vine development, was marked by difficult weather, with frequent rainstorms up until the end of May and a resulting slowdown of vine growth which did not, however, compromise the health of the vineyard. June and July, in contrast, were quite warm and further rainfall did not arrive until the month of August, with scattered precipitation which assisted the plants in the development of both their vegetation and their grapes. September and October were very favorable for harvest operations, thanks as well to temperature swings between daytime heat and nighttime rain which gave grapes of optimum quality. The finest selections of Sangiovese and Cabernet for the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva were harvested during the first days of the month of October and, from the very beginning of their transformation into wine, the musts showed very interesting aromas, flavors, and color, which promised a high level vintage.
The History
Back in 1928, Niccolò Antinori decided to christen this wine Villa Antinori, in honor of the family’s eponymous villa; it was a reflection of his own personal interpretation of Chianti Classico’s and Tuscany’s unique identity.
The Style
Villa Antinori was first crafted in 1928 by Marchese Niccolò Antinori, Piero Antinori’s father, as the Antinori family’s signature wine; an exceptional wine that can represent the family’s history, identity and continuity like no other. “Villa Antinori is a full-blooded Tuscan red […] which grapes are grown, mature and are harvested from our Tuscan estates and then fermented and aged in the Antinori family estates.” Piero Antinori.
The design
The label’s design represents our concept of home, our territory and Tuscany. “The French have châteaux, but we have Villas!” Niccolò Antinori cheerfully explained his choice for the illustration on the front label, an innovative design that broke with more traditional packaging conventions of that time.
In Honor of the Monaldeschi della Cervara Family
The wine’s name honors the Monaldeschi della Cervara family who was the historic owner of Castello della Sala in the XVI century.
An old railway station
The Vignaferrovia vineyard takes its name from a characteristic old nineteenth century railway station still located a short distance from the vines.
Grown in an area with Great Potential
Poggio alle Nane comes from a winegrowing area well known for its production of high quality wines, an area in which both Cabernet and Carménère best express their characteristics.
A red amidst whites
At Castello della Sala, an area historically important for white wines, Pinot Nero offers an authentic and typical expression of its variety with a strong territorial character.
An ancient grape variety
Aleatico, an old and traditional Tuscan grape variety grown since Etruscan times, is able to give a modern expression of itself in this unique territory.
Villa del Cigliano
Villa del Cigliano, located in the gently rolling hillsides of San Casciano Val di Pesa, in the province of Florence, has always been a symbol of strong family relationships; the villa has watched over the lives of generations of Antinori family members since 1546, the year Alessandro di Niccolò Antinori became the owner of the property.
The Design
The label was designed by Silvio Coppola in 1974 for the release of Tignanello 1971. The idea to commission this artist was discussed at an event at Castello della Sala in 1973. Silvio Coppola was an important Italian graphic and interior designer who was famous for his minimalist lighting fixtures and austere furniture but also for book cover designs for Italian publishing company Feltrinelli. Silvio Coppola was the perfect match for the job.
The Bolgheri Amphitheater
The Guado al Tasso estate’s most characteristic geographic feature is the Bolgheri Amphitheater, a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides that faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. The shape of the territory creates a unique microclimate with beneficial temperature fluctuations. The estate’s vineyards are located at the foot of the amphitheater, an optimal position as cold nocturnal breezes cool down the vines. These particular climatic conditions give the grapes pronounced aromas and guarantee a perfect ripening of the berries.
The Barrique
Cervaro della Sala was one of the first Italian white wines to have malolactic fermentation and aging take place in barriques.
The Name
Poggio alle Nane’s name comes from the area where its vines grow. Duck breeding farms once existed and the name “Nane” is local dialect for duck. The vineyards extend from the hillside to the lake that are still part of the property.
Rocky soils
The Vignaferrovia vineyard grows on rocky, gravelly soils, a condition that naturally limits the grapevine’s growth rate and enhances the quality of the berries.
Winding vineyards
The 4 hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero grow along the hillsides shaping the landscape into a series of sinuous terraced vineyards.
A single letter symbol
“A” represents in one single letter the combination of the estate’s initials, Fattoria Aldobrandesca, and the grape’s variety, Aleatico.
The Signature
Marchese Piero Antinori, the current Honorary President, decided to have his father, Niccolò Antinori, sign the label as a sign of recognition for his father’s confidence in him.
Te Duce Proficio
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules.
The Concept
The idea behind Cervaro della Sala was to craft a white wine able to age over time.
Sea breezes
Southwestern vineyard exposure allows sea breezes to mitigate hot summer temperatures and limit heat spikes.
Understanding nature
The particularly hot climate of Castello della Sala has forced agronomists to invent new ways to protect the grapes from the hot summer sun. The vines’ shoots are allowed to grow in length and are then folded over the plant so its leaves can shade the Pinot Nero grape clusters.
A Pursuit for Balance
“A” was crafted following the family’s pursuit for exceptional balance between Aleatico’s pronounced character and the unique qualities of the estate’s volcanic soils.
Te Duce Proficio
The historic family crest of the Antinori family
A Tribute to the Della Gherardesca Family
Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
The Enologist
In 1985, Renzo Cotarella, who was chief enologist at Castello della Sala at that time, made the first vintage of Cervaro della Sala.
A personal interpretation
The Antinori family wanted to give their own deeply personal interpretation of the historic wine, Brunello di Montalcino.
The Sun
Tignanello’s stylized “Sun” by Silvio Coppola
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
