Villa Antinori Rosso 2018
Climate
The vineyards entered the 2018 growing season with a slight delay as vine development began several days later than seasonal averages. Spring weather was marked by mild temperatures and frequent rainfall that helped the vines catch up to a normal pace and guaranteed good groundwater reserves for normal bloom and fruit set. The beginning of July throughout the end of August brought sunny weather with consistent temperatures that were never excessively high, followed by a period of light, occasional rain showers. September weather was relatively hot and dry. Grape harvest began right on schedule starting with Merlot and Syrah during the second half of September and Sangiovese at the beginning of October. Late-ripening varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, were picked the first week of October. This year’s harvest was average in terms of quantity but excellent in terms of maturity.
Vinification
Harvested grapes were destemmed, gently crushed and then transferred to temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation took place over a period of 5 to 7 days while maceration on the skins lasted for 8 to 12 days. Temperatures during fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot never exceeded 28 °C (82 °F) coaxing the gentle extraction of color and supple tannins. Fermentation temperatures for Syrah and Merlot never exceeded 25 °C (77 °F) to preserve the grape varieties’ aromatic compounds. Malolactic fermentation took place during the months of October and November and the wine was then transferred to French, Hungarian and American oak barriques for aging. Villa Antinori was bottled as of July 2020.
Tasting Notes
Villa Antinori 2018 is deep ruby red in color. Its nose is intense and complex defined by notes of wild berries; blueberries and blackcurrants, and notes of toasted hazelnuts, spices and vanilla. A full-bodied palate is well-rounded with supple velvety tannins and a long savory finish.
The Wine
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 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.
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.
Climate
The 2024 growing season began with a generally mild and rainy autumn and winter, conditions that favored regular budbreak in April together with early flowering and fruit set. The summer period was characterized by generally warm and dry weather from mid-July through the last week of August. This phase was followed by rainfall and temperatures below seasonal averages; these conditions provided relief to the vines, favoring the completion of ripening and resulting in grapes with lower sugar levels than average and a complex aromatic profile. The grape harvest, earlier than in 2023, began in early September with Merlot, continued with Sangiovese and was completed with Cabernet during the first ten days of October.
Vinification
Harvested grapes were destemmed, gently crushed, and then transferred to temperature-controlled tanks. Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature of 25-26 °C (77-79 °F) and was completed in approximately one week. Maceration of the skins continued for an additional 10 days and was managed through careful pump-overs, favoring the extraction of color and supple tannins while preserving aromatic compounds. Following malolactic fermentation, completed by November for all grape varieties, the wine was transferred to French and Hungarian oak barriques where it began its aging period. Villa Antinori was bottled starting at the end of April 2026.
Historical Data
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.
Tasting Notes
Villa Antinori 2024 is ruby red in color. Intense notes of black cherry and blood orange are accompanied by delicate hints of green pepper, boxwood and pleasant sensations of toasted oak and tobacco. The palate is soft and enveloping, supported by pleasant freshness and supple, sweet tannins that lead to a long and persistent finish.
Villa Antinori
Villa Antinori was first of all an idea, a plan that envisioned the winemaking process: research and development on one side and historical heritage on the other. Villa Antinori is an important corner stone as its name is associated with over 100 years of history. At the same time it represents ongoing progress. The one essential principle is continuous research for increasingly higher quality standards. This idea produced two different wines that share a common passion for quality: Villa Antinori Rosso and Villa Antinori Bianco. Villa Antinori was originally produced in 1928 by Marchese Niccolò Antinori as a Chianti Classico that could age and that would improve over time. Soon after, Villa Antinori was found in the most prestigious cellars in embassies, royal houses, important hotels and restaurants. In 1931, Villa Antinori Bianco was made from traditional Trebbiano grapes. In the 1980’s a small percentage of Chardonnay was added in order to give the wine better structure.
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
