Solaia
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
91 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
Solaia
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
91 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
93 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
Regular price€488.40
€488.40
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- In stock
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The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia stands as a monument to precision winemaking. This impeccably crafted Super Tuscan exudes refinement, leaving no detail out of place. However, it lacks the same undeniable allure as Tignanello. Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella described the distinction between the two wines succinctly: “Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected.” While Tignanello is defined by vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of enduring power.
This vintage displays impressive depth and layering, with soft tannins and a touch of spicy pink peppercorn from the 9% Cabernet Franc, complementing the 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese. The finish is exceptionally velvety and smooth, though the flavors grow increasingly sweet and ripe the longer the wine remains in the glass.
Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight.
The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit colour this full-bodied Tuscan red.
The 2003 Solaia (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc) reveals the essence of blackberry jam, licorice, cassis, tar and minerals in a super-ripe, heady expression of the vintage. Richly sumptuous on the palate, this beautiful, expansive Solaia offers terrific length as well as stunning balance with plenty of style. It is sure to deliver much gratification over the next decade or so.
This elegant vintage prizes on fruit purity and focus with black plum, cassis, blue flower, pencil shaving and lots of sweet spice from the oak that recalls clove and toasted almond. The blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The fruit is harvested at the Antinori family's Tenuta Tignanello at the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation.
The percentage of Cabernet Franc used in the blend is the ultimate Solaia wild card. In this vintage, the Franc has been increased to 7%, and that number is expected to be even higher in 2019 as the vines get older and the fruit more complex. This is a beautiful wine, the 2018 Solaia is delicious on all fronts as expected.
The Marchesi Antinori 2018 Solaia reveals a silky and elegant personality, and the wine steps away from some of the more robust fruit weight and dark concentration that we've seen in the past.
This elegant vintage prizes on fruit purity and focus with black plum, cassis, blue flower, pencil shaving and lots of sweet spice from the oak that recalls clove and toasted almond. The blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The fruit is harvested at the Antinori family's Tenuta Tignanello at the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation.
The percentage of Cabernet Franc used in the blend is the ultimate Solaia wild card. In this vintage, the Franc has been increased to 7%, and that number is expected to be even higher in 2019 as the vines get older and the fruit more complex. This is a beautiful wine, the 2018 Solaia is delicious on all fronts as expected.
The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Solaia presents a uniquely floral personality, with notes of wild rose and lilac that come as a surprise, especially when one might expect the more robust and opulent dark fruit associated with this vintage. To use a popular term, the aromas are absolutely lifted.
This is a bouquet-driven wine, showcasing excellent oak choices that synergize with the light and considerably thinner palate. Dried or pressed flowers give way to cherry, blueberry, a hint of red meat char, and a light touch of cinnamon.
The impression is that the dry extract from the oak plays a more significant role in the overall flavor profile while still preserving the red fruit core. The wine is very accessible in terms of mouthfeel, with a comparatively thinner and shorter approach. With more time in the glass, it reveals some of the white soil dust that is a signature of Solaia.
The Marchesi Antinori 2017 Solaia presents a uniquely floral personality, with notes of wild rose and lilac that come as a surprise, especially when one might expect the more robust and opulent dark fruit associated with this vintage. To use a popular term, the aromas are absolutely lifted.
This is a bouquet-driven wine, showcasing excellent oak choices that synergize with the light and considerably thinner palate. Dried or pressed flowers give way to cherry, blueberry, a hint of red meat char, and a light touch of cinnamon.
The impression is that the dry extract from the oak plays a more significant role in the overall flavor profile while still preserving the red fruit core. The wine is very accessible in terms of mouthfeel, with a comparatively thinner and shorter approach. With more time in the glass, it reveals some of the white soil dust that is a signature of Solaia.
The reviewer fussed over scoring the wine more than they would like to admit—tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing their impressions blindly against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, the 2016 vintage was tasted repeatedly against the 2015 vintage. A few restless nights followed as a result. Ultimately, the decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came impulsively, with a natural sense of purpose.
The 2015 vintage had also received a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite between the two stunning expressions.The reviewer states outright that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness, which extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel.
The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp, with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. The 2015 is described as the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation, while the 2016 is likened to the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet the admiration for each is identical.
There is a magical infinity, a continuous loop of compatibilities, between the icon wines of Tuscany and the 2015 vintage. The stunning 2015 Solaia is solid evidence of this perfect alignment. This was a warm vintage that, in the opinion of some, shows less favorably in different parts of Italy and with other grapes that express their most elegant performances in cooler vintages.
Pure expressions of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese would fall into this category. However, Tuscany and many of her great blended reds (made partially or fully with international grapes) operate according to a different logic. To some, their maximum expression comes when the Tuscan sunshine can be tasted beaming from within. Its rays are brilliant and warm, shining across the senses with opulence and intensity. The very name "Solaia" evokes the concept of sunshine and this unique Tuscan wine archetype.
With the 2015 vintage, Solaia is liquid sunshine, not just in name, but also in fact. The bouquet is immediately soft and sensual, with dark fruit, spice, and sweet tobacco. The mouthfeel shows intensity and power, yet there is no heavy residue from the dry extract (measured at 33 grams per liter). The wine feels glossy, tonic, and fresh.
Composed mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon, with Sangiovese and a small amount of Cabernet Franc, there is a bit of crunch or snap from the more acidity-prone Sangiovese grape (the wine measures 3.5 in pH). Finally, the tannins are beautifully sweet and ripe. This wine is meticulously executed, and the 2015 vintage lives up to the ideal of what Solaia is imagined to be.
The 2014 Solaia will be released during the second half of 2017. It is a finely tuned expression that shows a focused sense of detail and careful attention. The quota of Cabernet Franc has been increased slightly, making a significant difference, particularly in terms of the wine's bouquet. Otherwise, this celebrated Tuscan blend is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese.
It opens with dark fruit aromas, crushed mineral, pipe tobacco, pressed flower, and toasted spice. Its appearance is midnight black and profound. The wine delivers a sense of sheer excitement and nervousness that will soften with a few more years of bottle age.
Nonetheless, a certain amount of that bright edginess or rigidity is expected to remain a characteristic of this cool vintage Solaia. On the palate, the wine is firm, compact, and dense. The tannins are chiseled to the point of sublime integration. Marchesi Antinori produced 40% less Solaia in this vintage in order to maintain the exceptional quality that is evident here.
Marchesi Antinori's 2013 Solaia is a profound and meaningful wine that is based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. It sports a dark and thick texture with plump fruit and spice, grilled herb, and black pepper.
The bouquet is intense and layered with the kind of complexity that is best admired as the wine shifts and evolves in the glass. The textual impact is also impressive—you feel the inherent power and the structure, but these elements are never overdone. The best is yet to come; this Solaia is built for long cellar aging.
Marchesi Antinori's 2013 Solaia is a profound and meaningful wine that is based mostly on Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc in supporting roles. It sports a dark and thick texture with plump fruit and spice, grilled herb, and black pepper.
The bouquet is intense and layered with the kind of complexity that is best admired as the wine shifts and evolves in the glass. The textual impact is also impressive—you feel the inherent power and the structure, but these elements are never overdone. The best is yet to come; this Solaia is built for long cellar aging.
The 2012 Solaia is the ultimate comfort wine: it stands as a beautiful monument to the potential of Italian wine. To provide some context, a lukewarm review of the 2011 vintage caused some heads to turn. Fortunately, the previous vintage has served as a springboard for this current release. Both the 2011 and 2012 vintages come from hot climatic conditions, yet the wines are very different in style and content.
The heat of 2011 softened the lines that define the varietal identity of this celebrated Tuscan blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. These lines, however, are presented in sharp focus in the 2012 edition. The nose is redolent of dark berry, crushed mineral, plum, spice, and a touch of white pepper. The wine is integrated and seamless, but it speaks with a strong and articulate voice.
It is certainly a hedonistic and heady expression, but in fact, the bouquet here is very ripe, with thick tones of strawberry and blackberry intertwined with tobacco, leather, and sweet spice. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc contribute flavors of rum cake and candied fruit. There is a good amount of tannic firmness, surrounded by thick extract and fleshiness.
The 2010 Solaia puts on an incredible show that hits all the senses and keeps your unyielding attention for as long as there is wine in the bottle. There are various ways to describe the bouquet. First, is the wine’s sweet side, as this beautiful 75-20-5 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc delivers ripe cherry, black currant, baking spice and dark chocolate. After that, the wine becomes redolent of tobacco, balsam, bay leaf, rum cake and dark licorice. The bouquet is all encompassing and complete. A firmly structured backbone is padded generously by the fleshy richness of its consistency. This is a gorgeous wine that will age for decades.
The 2009 Solaia is one of the clear standouts of the vintage. Freshly cut flowers, raspberries, spices, mint, and liquorice burst from the glass as this fabulous, viscerally thrilling wine shows off its pure class. Today the oak is a bit prominent, but that won’t be an issue by the time the wine is ready to drink. In one of my blind tastings, the 2009 Solaia was flat-out great. There is no shortage of pedigree here. The 2009 has calmed down a little from its youth, when it was a much more exuberant wine, and has now begun to close down in bottle.
The 2008 Solaia is richer and darker than the Tignanello, but it does not present as appreciably more complex or complete. It showcases gorgeous depth and textural richness, complementing an expressive core of blackberry jam, smoke, scorched earth, crushed rocks, and cassis. This is a beautiful wine, though not as great as initially expected. The 2008 Solaia is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak.
The 2007 Solaia saturates the palate with a heady array of super-ripe black cherries, plums, cassis, mocha, and sweet French oak. There is an exotic quality to the Solaia that is utterly irresistible. Despite its considerable ripeness and opulence, the 2007 Solaia is never heavy; instead, it impresses with its extraordinary finesse and balance. Minerals, graphite, and crushed rocks frame a long, seductive finish. This is a wonderful Solaia, loaded with both vintage and vineyard character. The 2007 Solaia is composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak.
The estate’s 2006 Solaia is a big, powerful offering loaded with ripe blackberry jam, herbs, minerals and French oak. Like all of the 2006s from Antinori, the Solaia remains extraordinarily dense and primary. Readers will have to be patient with this wine and give it plenty of bottle age before the full range of its aromas and nuances blossom fully. Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc.
The 2005 Solaia is elegant and refined, yet it retains an incredibly primary character. Still, it is impossible not to admire the wine's layered expression of blue and black fruits. The oak is still quite prominent, but there is confidence that the wine will come together beautifully with bottle age. The Solaia vineyard, one of the most unique terroirs in Italy, has a track record of producing wines that develop beautifully in the bottle, even in smaller vintages. It will be fascinating to follow the evolution of this Solaia as it matures.
The thrilling 2004 Solaia (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc) is clearly one of the highlights of this great vintage. Endowed with massive amounts of concentration as well as structure, it is a big, powerful Solaia that does not sacrifice elegance or balance in its full-bodied personality. Packed with the essence of blackberries, chocolate, tar, smoke, cassis and menthol, this layered beauty exhibits great length and a persistent, warmly alcoholic finish.
The 2001 Solaia, far superior to the overrated 1997 is a classic example of central Tuscan Cabernet at its best, ruby-purple in color, warm and explosive in its expression of black currant fruit, tobacco, tar, and graphite, superbly concentrated and dense on the palate but balanced and shapely at the same time and with a noble austerity and grip on the finish which resembles the best of Bordeaux. The wine is a sure bet for another two decades of superb drinking.
Type: |
Red |
Country: |
Italy |
Region: |
Tuscany |
Appellation: |
Toscana IGT |
Producer: |
Marchesi Antinori |
Grapes/Blend: |
Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc |
Serving temp: |
16° - 18° C |
ABV: |
14.5% |
Pairing Sugesstions: |
Beef, Lamb, Venison, Grilled Meats, Charcuterie and Cured Meats, Mushroom Risotto, Grilled Vegetables, Pasta Dishes, Truffles, Tomato-Based Dishes, Parmesan, Aged Cheeses, Chocolate |
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Rest of the World
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