2018 Antinori Solaia

The 2018 Antinori Solaia is one of Tuscany’s most coveted Super Tuscans, a polished and powerful Bordeaux-style blend shaped by the sunny slopes of Chianti Classico. Crafted only in outstanding vintages, it marries international varieties with the soul of Sangiovese to deliver both pedigree and personality. Since its first release in the late 1970s, Solaia has become a modern icon, symbolising Marchesi Antinori’s role in redefining Italian fine wine on the world stage.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Solaia is a deep, radiant ruby red with a youthful, almost opaque core that hints at its concentration and longevity. The nose is intense and layered, opening with blackcurrant and ripe plum before unfolding into notes of black pepper, espresso, dark chocolate, vanilla and preserved dark fruits, all framed by fine, toasty oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet impeccably balanced, with a silky texture and a seamless integration of fruit, oak and tannin. Flavours of dark berries and plum are interwoven with nuances of licorice, roasted coffee and cocoa, echoing the aromatic profile and leading into a long, satisfying finish. The tannins are firm but refined rather than aggressive, giving structure without harshness and ensuring a long, graceful evolution in bottle. While already seductive in its youth, this 2018 Solaia has the backbone and concentration to age beautifully for 15–25 years under proper cellaring conditions.

Production
Solaia is sourced from a single 10-hectare vineyard on the sun-drenched, southwest-facing slopes of the Santa Cristina estate in Val di Pesa, within the Chianti Classico zone. Planted at 350–400 metres above sea level, the vines grow in stony, marl and limestone-rich soils with veins of marble, providing excellent drainage and imparting both power and finesse to the fruit. The fully ripe grapes (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc) were harvested by hand, with picking for the 2018 vintage already completed by mid-September. After sorting, Sangiovese was fermented for about 7 days at around 25 °C, while the Cabernet lots underwent a slightly longer maceration of about 10 days to extract colour, aroma and fine tannins. Each variety was vinified separately before being transferred to French oak barriques for the first phase of maturation. The final blend was assembled in November, after which the wine continued to age for a total of 12 months in French barriques, followed by an additional 12 months of bottle aging in the estate’s cellars prior to release, ensuring complexity and harmony.

Food & Serving
The 2018 Solaia is a natural partner for refined, flavourful dishes such as bistecca alla fiorentina, dry-aged ribeye, slow-braised beef or veal, lamb with rosemary, game birds, or truffle-infused dishes. It also pairs beautifully with matured Tuscan pecorino, Parmigiano Reggiano and rich mushroom-based dishes. Serve at 16–18 °C (about 60–64 °F) to highlight both its aromatic complexity and freshness. For optimal expression, decant for 1–2 hours in its youth to soften the tannins and allow the bouquet to unfurl; older bottles may need a gentler, shorter decant primarily to separate any sediment.

Producer
Marchesi Antinori is one of Italy’s most historic and influential wine families, with a lineage in winemaking that dates back to 1385. Based in Tuscany and led today by the 26th generation, the Antinori family has been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in Chianti Classico, where they helped pioneer the Super Tuscan movement. Solaia, together with its sibling Tignanello, has played a crucial role in elevating Tuscan wines onto the world’s finest wine lists, showcasing how traditional terroir and modern winemaking can coexist at the very highest level. Over the decades, Antinori has accumulated countless accolades and international awards, cementing its status as a benchmark producer not just for Tuscany, but for Italian fine wine as a whole.

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