2021 Antinori Solaia

The 2021 Antinori Solaia is one of Tuscany’s most sought‑after “Super Tuscans,” crafted from the very best parcels on the famed Tignanello hillside. Sourced exclusively from the sun‑drenched Solaia vineyard, this wine marries power, elegance, and remarkable aging potential in a single, iconic bottle. With the 2021 vintage, the blend showcases a slightly higher proportion of Cabernet Franc, reflecting both evolving climate conditions and Antinori’s constant fine‑tuning of this modern classic.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Solaia shows a deep, radiant ruby red hue with purple highlights at the rim, hinting at its youth and concentration. The nose is intense and layered: expect notes of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum interwoven with black pepper, espresso, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, and hints of dried and preserved fruits. Subtle tones of sweet tobacco, graphite, and Mediterranean herbs emerge with aeration, underlining the wine’s complexity. On the palate, Solaia is full‑bodied yet supremely polished, with a velvety texture driven by its Cabernet Sauvignon core and beautifully integrated tannins. Flavors mirror the nose—black and blue fruits, licorice, roasted coffee, cocoa, and a touch of balsamic spice—carried by vibrant acidity and a finely etched mineral backbone from the stony marl soils. The tannins are firm but refined, promising a long life, and the finish is long, layered, and persistent, with dark fruit, spice, and gentle oak tones echoing for minutes. The 2021 has outstanding aging potential and will reward 15–25+ years in the cellar; while approachable with ample aeration in its youth, it will reveal its full complexity with time.

Production
Solaia comes from a single, 10‑hectare vineyard on the sunniest, southwest‑facing slopes of the Tignanello estate in the Chianti Classico zone, at 350–400 meters above sea level. The soils here are notably stony with a high content of marl, offering excellent drainage and naturally low yields, which in turn concentrate flavor and structure in the grapes. Meticulous, largely manual vineyard work—green harvesting, strict bunch selection, and hand‑picking at optimal ripeness—ensures only the finest fruit makes it to the winery. The 2021 blend is approximately 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, and 15% Cabernet Franc, with the latter playing an increasingly important role in recent vintages. Fermentation typically occurs in temperature‑controlled vats, with careful extraction to preserve elegance and aromatics, followed by maturation in small French oak barrels (predominantly barriques) to refine tannins, add subtle spice, and enhance the wine’s overall complexity, before final blending and further bottle aging.

Food & Serving
This is a quintessential gastronomic wine, ideally suited to refined yet flavorful dishes. Pair it with bistecca alla fiorentina, roasted or grilled lamb, slow‑braised beef short ribs, venison, or other game, as well as rich ragùs over pappardelle, truffle‑accented dishes, or aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Toscano. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large Bordeaux‑style glasses to allow the aromatics to fully unfurl. For the 2021 vintage, decanting is highly recommended: allow at least 2 hours in a broad‑based decanter if drinking young, while more mature bottles may need a gentler, shorter decant to separate sediment and let the bouquet blossom.

Producer
Marchesi Antinori is one of Italy’s oldest and most influential wine families, with a history dating back to 1385 and over 26 generations of continuous family stewardship. From their Tuscan stronghold, the Antinoris helped ignite the Super Tuscan revolution with wines like Tignanello and Solaia, redefining what Chianti Classico and Tuscan reds could be on the world stage. The Tignanello estate in the Santa Cristina – Val di Pesa area has become a benchmark for innovative yet terroir‑driven winemaking, seamlessly blending international varieties with native Sangiovese. Consistently high critical acclaim and top ratings for Solaia across vintages have cemented Antinori’s status as a true reference point for premium Italian wine, and the 2021 vintage continues this tradition of excellence.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.