Antinori's Solaia & Tignanello: Two Supreme Tuscans - The Vineyard

Solaia and Tignanello are the quintesential Super Tuscans. Not without controversy, Piero Antinori created in 1971 Tignanello and a few years later Solaia, setting the precedent for the whole Super Tuscan movement. Tignanello was the first blend in Chianti Classico of autochtonous varietals - sangiovese - with international varietals – cabernet sauvignon, it was also the first wine that did not include white varieties and one of the first to be aged in new oak.

The Tignanello estate is tucked away in hills of the Chianti Classico region near the town of San Casciano. The drier and cooler climate of the area greatly differentiates the wines from their coastal counterparts in Bolgheri and the Maremma. The wines from here tend to be more austere and profound as well as acidic, giving them the aging potential that makes them some of the top Italian collectibles. Tignanello is a blend of 80 percent sangiovese with 15 percent cabernet sauvignon and 5 of cabernet franc. Solaia is made up of a blend of 75 percent cabernet sauvignon, 20 sangiovese and 5 percent cabernet franc.

In this video, James visits the Tignenello estate vineyards with Renzo Cotarella, chief winemaker of the Antinori estates. The vineyards supply the grapes for both Tignanello and Solaia. Watch the video and find out how the specific location and microclimates affects the wines and differentiates them from other Super Tuscans.

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