Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties, specifically Cabernet and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Tignanello is a milestone and set the trend for many other "super tuscans" that followed. It’s produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Vinification: 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 were 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 it underwent malolactic fermentation to accentuate aromatic finesse and complexity. Aging took place in French and Hungarian oak barrels, partly new and partly second passage, for a total of 14 – 16 months: after an initial period of aging the lots separately, they were assembled 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.

Weather:The 2019 growing season in Chianti Classico was defined by normal climatic conditions, winter was rather cold with limited rainfall and the first half of spring was cool and rainy especially during the months of April and May. Summer weather was hot, uninterrupted by major heat spikes, with slightly higher than average precipitation levels ensuring a normal growth cycle of both the vines and grape clusters. Ideal climatic conditions set in at the end of August and continued throughout September and October allowing all grape varieties grown in the Tignanello vineyard to reach optimal ripeness. Harvesting activities began in the second half of September beginning with
Sangiovese and were concluded the 16th of October with Cabernet.

Technical Information:
Grape Varieties: 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Production: 154,800 Bottles

Tasting Note: Tignanello 2019 is a deep ruby red color. Its nose offers exceptional complexity with notes of red fruits, strawberries and pomegranate that give rise to delicate aromas of apricots and peaches in syrup accompanied by elegant sensations of vanilla, dried flowers, chocolate, and pleasant spicy sensations of nutmeg. Its bouquet is completed by notes of coffee, caramel, and aromatic Mediterranean herbs. A graceful and mouth filling palate presents silky, vibrant tannins and imparts liveliness, sapidity and a lengthy flavor profile. The aftertaste is characterized by notes of roasted coffee and bitter chocolate.

The Tenuta Tignanello estate is 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 130 (321 acres) are dedicated to vines. Two of the estate’s prized vineyards are on the same hillside, Tignanello and Solaia, on soils that originated from marine marlstone from the Pliocene period rich in limestone and schist. The vines enjoy hot temperatures during the day and cooler evenings throughout the growing season. The estate’s two signature wines, Solaia and Tignanello, are produced from these vineyards and have been defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture”. According to Marchesi Antinori, Solaia and Tignanello are an ongoing challenge and a never-ending passion. The Tignanello estate has vineyards of indigenous Sangiovese grapes as well as some other untraditional varieties such as Cabernet Franc.