Marchesi Antinori - Solaia 2020
At the heart of Chianti Classico, Solaia is produced on the Tenuta Tignanello, the emblematic estate of the Antinori family located between the Greve and Pesa valleys. The vineyard that gives it its name extends over about twenty hectares facing southwest, between approximately 350 and 400 meters in altitude. Its stony soils, rich in alberese and galestro, combine limestone, natural drainage, and low fertility, conditions particularly favorable to producing concentrated grapes while maintaining beautiful freshness. Created in 1978, the Solaia cuvée has gradually established itself as one of Tuscany's great wines by mainly combining Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc. This blend allows combining the depth of Bordeaux varieties with the energy and Mediterranean personality of Sangiovese. The 2020 vintage benefits from a generally balanced season, with summer conditions favorable to regular ripening and a harvest that preserves beautiful aromatic precision. Overall, it gives a deep and harmonious Solaia, where natural concentration is supported by a fresh and particularly refined structure.
Solaia 2020 blends 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Sangiovese, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The three grape varieties are harvested and vinified separately to respect their ripening rhythms and preserve the characteristics unique to each lot. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the blend with deep structure, precise black fruits, and remarkable aging potential. Sangiovese brings more liveliness and tension, while the relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc enriches the wine with floral, spicy, and balsamic nuances. Vinification is conducted with great attention to the quality of extractions and the finesse of the tannic grain. Malolactic fermentation precedes prolonged aging in French oak barrels, with different lots worked separately before the final blend. The 2020 vintage stands out for its balance between density, precision, and freshness, with a still young architecture called to refine over many years.
The color shows a very deep ruby hue with purple reflections still marked by youth. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, accompanied by violet, licorice, and fine spicy notes. Aeration gradually reveals nuances of mint, cedar, cocoa, and tobacco, as well as a balsamic dimension that brings a lot of freshness to the bouquet. The palate is ample and structured, but the tannins have a particularly fine grain that gives the wine a velvety texture rather than a sensation of massive power. Cabernet Sauvignon brings depth and length, while Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc add more relief and energy to the mid-palate. The finish is long-lasting on black fruits, spices, graphite, and cocoa, with persistent freshness highlighting the vintage's potential. Solaia 2020 will accompany a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, a roasted rack of lamb, pigeon, game birds, or refined cuisine around black truffle.
Grape varieties: 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc
