Tignanello

For Sangiovese-prominent Super Tuscan wines like Tignanello, focus on herby, spicy meats and mushrooms, and tomato-based pasta dishes like lasagna.

The 2018 growing season in Chianti Classico began with normal winter weather both in terms of temperatures and rainfall. Despite these climatic conditions, the vines began bud break a week earlier than seasonal averages in this area. Spring was characterized by frequent rain showers and lower than average temperatures, especially during the month of May, while June and July were hot and dry uninterrupted by extreme heat events. Scattered rainfall in the month of August and a dry, breezy spell in September and October allowed the grapes to progress to perfect ripeness guaranteeing excellent sugar levels and polyphenolic maturity. Harvest activities began around September 20th with Sangiovese and were completed on October 12th with Cabernet.

The wine was left to age for approximately 14 to 16 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels, in a combination of new and second-fill barrels. After this initial period of aging, the final blend was made and then completed barrel aging. Tignanello, made primarily with Sangiovese and a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, underwent an additional 12-month period of aging in the bottle before being released.

This growing season’s climate trends challenged us to be focused and diligent both in the vineyards during harvesting activities and when grapes were brought to the cellar where sorting operations and initial winemaking processes were essential to achieve optimal results. During fermentation in truncated conical tanks, each individual must was macerated on the skins giving particular emphasis to preserving aromas, extracting color, and encouraging desirable tannins that are supple and elegant. Racking was performed after rigorous daily sampling and tasting. Once separated from the skins, the wine was transferred into small oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place, accentuating aromatic finesse and complexity.

The Antinori family of Florence one of the world's oldest and most distinguished wine producers has lived in Tuscany since the 14th century and celebrated its 625th anniversary as wine makers in 2010. The current company president Marchese Piero Antinori believes in the tradition that the primary role of wine is to accompany food and enhance the dining experience. In Florence the Antinori family has led a Renaissance in Italian wine making by combining long traditions a love of authenticity and a dynamic innovative spirit.