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Marchesi Antinori Solaia 1997 is a mature-vintage, single-vineyard Supertuscan red wine from the Tuscany region of central Italy. The Antinori family have been producing wine in Tuscany for six centuries and have become the region`s – arguably Italy’s – pre-eminent wine producer. Solaia is the name of a 10ha southwest-facing vineyard near the family`s Tignanello estate. It is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. The 1997 Solaia is available here in magnum format. "The unfiltered 1997 Solaia (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc, from a single 25-acre vineyard) is aged in 100% new French oak. There are 8,000 cases of the 1997. The sensational, opaque blue/purple-coloured 1997 exhibits a complex nose of cedar, spice box, cassis, and subtle oak. With yields of only 30 hectolitres per hectare, and malolactic fermentation in barrel (a la Tignanello), this wine reveals extraordinary concentration, a thick, viscous texture, yet no sense of heaviness or ponderousness. It is a thrilling Solaia to consume over the next two decades. If a first-growth Pauillac were made in Tuscany, this would be it!" Wine Advocate, 2000
The 1997 Solaia is a wine that I remember made a huge splash on release (I recall buying dozens of cases from Switzerland to ship to Japan). It had been many years since I last tasted it. Poured from magnum, I find a little smudged on the nose compared directly with the 1988 Sassicaia. This is a voluptuous, heady bouquet with Maraschino cherries, pine, pressed iris flower and cassis, with cherry liqueur evolving in time. The palate follows in a similar character, sweet and a little confit in style, with melted tannins, kirsch, cassis fruit and a dash of allspice. It fans out nicely on the finish, though I find it just a little hedonistic for my liking. Others who prefer that kind of style will like it more than myself. There is something almost anachronistic about this Solaia that I did not discern in the 1988 Sassicaia.Neal Martin1st May 2023
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While technically a wine rather than a winery, Marchesi Antinori's flagship red wine, Supertuscan Tignanello, has become an icon in its own right. Produced from the Tignanello estate, this wine is one of Italy’s most recognized and celebrated fine wines. Tignanello is a blend of mostly Sangiovese wines with lesser parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, showcasing the Antinori family's mastery in winemaking.
Situated in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys, the Tenuta Tignanello vineyard produces these influential wines. Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet), and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region not to use white grapes. This innovation has made it a modern red wine that stands out among its peers.
The Antinori estate also produces a superb Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon Grappa, a full-bodied Bordeaux-style red called Guado al Tasso, and delicate yet refined white wines from Castello della Sala, adding to its portfolio of iconic wines. The legacy of the Antinori family is evident in every bottle of these exceptional Italian wines.
