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Tignanello, a blend of primarily Sangiovese accented by Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, is always elegant, but this vintage brings a surprising richness that’s balanced by the wine’s piquant acidity. Ripe sweet plums, wildflowers, and spices intertwine with notes of cedar, mint and eucalyptus. Absolutely stunning and drinking for the next decade or two.
- Country: Italy
- Region: Toscana
- Subregion: Toscana IGT
In many ways, Piero Antinori’s Tignanello represents the very best of the Super-Tuscan movement: a commitment to honoring traditional methods of winemaking combined with a desire to innovate when innovation creates a better wine. Grown in the Chianti Classico zone, and comprised primarily of Sangiovese (85%) and small parts Cabernets Sauvignon (10%) and Franc (5%), the Super-Tuscan Tignanello tends to the more Tuscan end of the spectrum, even if it and its maker are pretty much synonymous with the Super-Tuscan movement. Just as the Antinori estate has done for 26 generations, the grapes used to make Tignanello are hand harvested and processed with the utmost care. Ever since Tignanello’s inaugural vintage in 1971, Antinori has restricted his production of Tignanello to only the best vintages, and his vinification techniques have included malolactic fermentation, aging in barrique for one year, followed by an additional year of aging in bottle. However, in 2004 Antinori made a change to the regimen; he began fermenting and aging the component wines separately, assembling the wine just before aging in bottle.
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