Marchesi Antinori Tignanello 2010

The Marchesi Antinori estate is one of the most famous wine producers in Tuscany and a major player in the Italian wine industry. The company's history goes back more than six centuries, and its influence on modern viticulture is considerable. 

Founded in 1385, the Antinori family has distinguished itself from the outset through its expertise in wine production. The Marchesi Antinori estate is located in Tuscany, more precisely in the heart of Chianti Classico, in the gently rolling hillsides between the Greve and Pesa river valleys. It extends over an area of 319 hectares (788 acres) of which about 165 (407 acres) are dedicated to vines. This estate has played a pioneering role in the evolution of Italian viticulture. However, it was in the 1970s that the Antinori family's impact was strengthened with the creation of Tignanello, an emblematic wine that would mark the history of wine in Tuscany and Italy. 

Tignanello was the first Sangiovese wine to be barrel-aged, and one of the first to break away from the strict rules of DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines by integrating non-traditional grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This innovation paved the way for the creation of a new type of wine, the “Super Tuscans”, wines that are not subject to traditional appellations and are now among the most sought-after in the world.

The estate is still managed by the Antinori family, mainly under the direction of Piero Antinori, the current president, who has modernized the estate while respecting its traditions. He has been at the forefront of the development of Super Tuscans, launching projects such as Tignanello and Solaia, integrating new oenological practices and paying particular attention to sustainability. 

The 2021 vintage of Tignanello is a much-anticipated cuvée, a symbol of the estate's excellence. This wine is a blend of three main grape varieties: Sangiovese (the emblematic grape of Tuscany), Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Tignanello 2021 is ruby red with intense violet highlights. The nose is complex, with notes of ripe plums, blackberries and candied orange peel leading to pleasant hints of dark chocolate, caramel and licorice. Sweet tobacco notes complete this impressive bouquet. The palate is rich, sophisticated, intense and characterized by supple, vibrant tannins, followed by a long, persistent finish. This vintage offers a fine balance between fruitiness and tannic structure. Overall, the 2021 vintage is considered one of the best ever.

"Humming with energy and life from the very moment you put your nose in the glass, Marchesi Antinori’s 2010 Tignanello shows magnificent aromatic layering and an enormous capacity to peel back and reveal itself in beautiful slow motion. This is an articulate wine with a long story to tell about the quality of its profound 2010 fruit. This Tignanello has the elegance of 2004 and the structure of 2007. A brief note on the structure: The mouthfeel here is not broad and big. Instead, it shows a sharp and elegantly streamlined feel with impressive persistency. Compared to 2009, the Sangiovese component is slightly higher with 80% of the noble Tuscan variety followed by 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.

The past 12 months mark one of the most exciting times in the long, long history of Antinori. Marchese Piero Antinori and his daughters inaugurated their monumental winery in Bargino, about 20 minutes from Florence in late 2012 after a series of last-minute preparations and sleepless nights. Winery doors officially opened to the public in 2013. It would be impossible to exaggerate to grandeur of this sprawling, multimillion-dollar underground edifice. Angelo Gaja told me at the opening that Antinori’s new winery is the most revolutionary event in modern Italian wine. I agree. With a museum, restaurant and tasting area, it represents Italy’s most ambitious effort yet to make wine the ultimate destination." - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate, (03/21/2024), Ratings: 98, Drink: 2025-2048