Tasting Notes
Climate
The growing season in Chianti Classico was characterized by a cold and rainy late autumn and winter, rainfall which guaranteed a good supply of ground water for the spring which followed, one with mild temperatures and with no return of the previous cold. Bud break, consequently, was a regular one, and within normal seasonal averages; in June and during the first days of July there were rainstorms which favored the vegetative vigor of the vines. Flowering and fruit set, accordingly, were regular as well even if the rain influenced the size of the berries and grape bunches, whose development in this period was ahead of seasonal averages. The vines continued to vegetate rather vigorously during the summer, only to encounter an August, and an initial ten day period in September which were very hot and dry. Despite these somewhat extreme conditions, the weather pattern during the second half of September and the month of October was quite favorable to the final ripening, with warm days and cool evenings and nights, a pattern which was very positive for the complete maturation of the crop. Both the Sangiovese and the Cabernet grapes needed many days on the vine to complete and perfect their ripening, to the point that picking was principally carried out during the last days of September and the first days of October. The level of the grapes brought to the cellar was extremely high both from the point of view of healthiness and, above all, quality potential and aroused exceptional of true excellence in the wines to be made. Total annual rainfall: 29. 5 inches (73.9 centimeters) Average daily temperatures April 1st – October 31st: 21° Fahrenheit (21.7 ° centigrade) Total rainfall April 1st – October 31st : 11.7 inches (29.3 centimeters)
Vinification
The climate of the final phases of the growing season allowed picking to be carried out in as selective and targeted a way as possible in order to fully respect the relevant factors for each individual plot; picking, entirely by hand, was carried out on the basis of exposure, altitude, ripening date, and the analytical values of the grapes. The grape bunches, once in the cellar, were gently destemmed and pressed in order to preserve typical flavors and aromas, so important in Sangiovese. Once in the stainless steel fermenting tanks, maceration was accompanied by soft extraction methods (pumping over and délestage) aimed at an intense extraction which also preserved elegance and supple, sweet tannins. From the very beginning of the fermentation process, the musts showed much richness of color and structure thanks to the very favorable growing season. The fermentation lasted approximately eight days and the wine remained in contact with its skins for another nine to ten days. After the wine was run off its skins, it immediately went into small barrels, principally of French oak, where it went through a complete and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, which terminated by the end of the year. After racking, the wine, still kept separate on the basis of its individual vineyard source, was aged for a year in 60 gallon French and Hungarian oak barrels. During this lengthy period, the various lots were regularly tasted and monitored in order to maximize the quality to be achieved during the phase of oak aging; they were then assembled for the final blend at the end of the aging period. The wine was bottled and then given an additional twelve months of bottle aging before commercial 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
An intense ruby red with occasional brick-toned highlights, the wine’s aromas are fragrant and fresh with pleasurable notes of red berry fruit and exotic fruit and hints of liquorice, currants, vanilla, and passion fruit. The notes of Chianti Classico-style Sangiovese dominate the nose and fuse perfectly with a Cabernet which is equally important in characterizing this wine. On the palate the wine is highly pleasurable, supple, round, and soft in texture and savory as well. Tonic and vibrant sensations characterize a notably elegant finish and aftertaste.
Awards
I Vini Di Veronelli 2013 Guide Tre Stelle Italy James Suckling 93/100 USA
Climate
The growing season in Chianti Classico was characterized by a cold and rainy late autumn and winter, rainfall which guaranteed a good supply of ground water for the spring which followed, one with mild temperatures and with no return of the previous cold. Bud break, consequently, was a regular one, and within normal seasonal averages; in June and during the first days of July there were rainstorms which favored the vegetative vigor of the vines. Flowering and fruit set, accordingly, were regular as well even if the rain influenced the size of the berries and grape bunches, whose development in this period was ahead of seasonal averages. The vines continued to vegetate rather vigorously during the summer, only to encounter an August, and an initial ten day period in September which were very hot and dry. Despite these somewhat extreme conditions, the weather pattern during the second half of September and the month of October was quite favorable to the final ripening, with warm days and cool evenings and nights, a pattern which was very positive for the complete maturation of the crop. Both the Sangiovese and the Cabernet grapes needed many days on the vine to complete and perfect their ripening, to the point that picking was principally carried out during the last days of September and the first days of October. The level of the grapes brought to the cellar was extremely high both from the point of view of healthiness and, above all, quality potential and aroused exceptional of true excellence in the wines to be made. Total annual rainfall: 29. 5 inches (73.9 centimeters) Average daily temperatures April 1st – October 31st: 21° Fahrenheit (21.7 ° centigrade) Total rainfall April 1st – October 31st : 11.7 inches (29.3 centimeters)
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
