Marchesi Antinori Solaia 2020

Few Italian wines have as sterling a reputation as Solaia.  Solaia is the gold standard of Super Tuscan.  For those who love a richly dense wine that sings a symphony of fruit, floral, and herbal aromas – look no further than this monumental wine.  Super Tuscan was a term coined to identify a new category of red wines from Tuscany, one that differs from other Tuscan wines (like Chianti) by blending in grapes that are not indigenous to Italy.

The Chianti region experienced more than its fair share of troubles after World War II.  Quality of the wines was low.  But some vigneri wanted more.  Marchesi Antinori was one of them.  Considered one of the Godfathers of the Super Tuscan movement that took the world by storm in the 1970s and 1980s, Marchesi Antinori comes from a family with a long line of winemakers dating back to the 14th century.  He was one of the originals who decided to break the rules of only using indigenous varietals (like Sangiovese) to make red wines.  Instead, he and his cohorts embraced the non-indigenous grape varietals, grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which are famously used by winemakers in Bordeaux to perfection.

These non-indigenous grapes were actually well-suited to the Tuscan climate and had their own unique expressiveness due to the richly distinctive Italian terroir just outside the Chianti district.  Though the bureaucracy overseeing Italian wine legislation initially balked at such an idea and classified these wines as vino di tavola – or “table wine,” Marchesi would not let this insult deter him from producing a world-class red wine, powerful enough to compare with the grand vin of Bordeaux.  Through the pioneering success of Tignanello and Solaia, the new style of red wines from Tuscany won the world over.  Thus, the “Super Tuscan” was born!

The sunniest part of Tiganello’s estate is where the Solaia vineyard rests.  Only the choicest parcels are reserved for this wine.  The grapes are tended to with utmost care and precision prior to being vinified in this unique blend.  The vines rest on a steeply sloping hillside mixed with limestone and schist soils.  There is a deep bed of clay, and the vines are able to draw water from them during drought-ridden years.  They enjoy warmer temperatures during the day, and cooler temperatures at night.  In addition to foreign varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, some indigenous Sangiovese vines are also planted.  The Antinori family brings a mixture of traditional Italian know-how with a spirit of innovation to making Solaia.  It is fermented in conical wood vats to preserve the wine’s softness, and aged in French oak barriques.  The goal is to create a wine with power and well-integrated tannins.

Solaia is one of the tastemakers in Italy and considered one of the most influential wines to come out of that region.  The wine cemented the Antinori family's reputation as one of the leaders of Italian viticulture. They have now expanded to be present globally, recently setting their sights on Napa and producing world-class wines including the Antica A26 Chardonnay and their single vineyard Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  Considered by Decanter Magazine to be “a cellaring classic,” Solia is a benchmark wine with great length, intensity and ageing potential.

"A great vintage of the iconic Solaia, full of cloves, sage, graphite, grilled dried herbs, underbrush and roasted cherry pit. There's fruit too, bilberry and cassis, juicy and mouthwatering, both understated and exuberant, ensuring a Tuscan fingerprint despite its majority Cabernet Sauvignon construction. Has grip and length, and effortless charm, reflecting an excellent vintage with low yields after a hot dry summer. Antinori family showing once again why this wine, that comes from 20ha the sunniest slopes of the Tignanello estate, set at 350-400m altitude, is so hard to resist. Winemaking director Renzo Cotarella." - Jane Anson, (07/03/2023), Rating: 98

"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 color this full-bodied Tuscan red." - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (05/31/2023), Rating: 96, Drink: 2024-2045