{"product_id":"antinori-nobile-la-braccesca-1997","title":"Antinori, Nobile, La Braccesca 1997","description":"\u003cp\u003eAntinori Nobile La Braccesca 1997 is a mature expression of Sangiovese (here in its local guise, Prugnolo Gentile) from the rolling hills of Tuscany. Drawn from Antinori’s La Braccesca estate near Montepulciano, this wine captures the elegance, structure and savory depth that have made Vino Nobile di Montepulciano a classic in Italian wine culture. With nearly three decades of age, it offers collectors and Sangiovese lovers a chance to experience Tuscan nobility at full maturity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 1997 La Braccesca Nobile shows a garnet core shading to brick at the rim, a clear sign of its evolution in bottle. The color remains vibrant, with good clarity and a refined, almost translucent depth typical of well-aged Sangiovese-based wines.\n\nThe nose opens with dried red cherries, stewed plum and blood orange peel, followed by layers of tobacco leaf, leather, cedar, and potpourri. Underneath, subtle notes of dried herbs, balsamic, forest floor and a hint of sweet spice (clove, nutmeg) reveal its extended time in oak and bottle. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a silky, resolved texture; tannins are fine-grained and fully integrated, framing flavors of macerated cherry, dried raspberry, and savory notes of tea leaf, cigar box and earth. Acidity is still lively, giving lift and freshness, while the finish is long, persistent and gently savory, with echoes of dried flowers and spice. At this stage, the wine is at or near its plateau of maturity and should be enjoyed over the short to medium term, with proper storage and careful service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLa Braccesca lies in the appellation surrounding Montepulciano, where Sangiovese (locally known as Prugnolo Gentile) thrives in a mix of clay-limestone and sandy soils that contribute both structure and aromatic finesse. The 1997 vintage, a notably warm and generous year in Tuscany, allowed for optimal ripening and careful selection of bunches at harvest, often done parcel by parcel to capture ideal fruit expression. After fermentation, the wine underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation and was then aged primarily in new Hungarian oak barrels (300 L and 225 L), with a smaller portion in new French barriques (225 L). Following malolactic, the lots were rigorously tasted, blended, and returned to these barrels for roughly 14 months of maturation. Each barrique was subsequently evaluated again, with only the best cuvées selected for bottling, followed by an additional 12 months of bottle aging before release, ensuring integration of oak and development of the wine’s complex bouquet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis mature Nobile is ideally suited to classic Tuscan cuisine and other refined, savory dishes. Think handmade pappardelle with ragù di cinghiale (wild boar), braised lamb shank, roast pork with herbs, or aged pecorino Toscano served with chestnut honey. Its evolved tertiary notes also work beautifully with truffle dishes, mushroom risottos and slow-braised beef. Serve at 17–18°C (around 62–64°F), and decant gently for 30–60 minutes to allow any sediment to settle and to let the aromatics fully unfold. Use medium-sized Burgundy or large Sangiovese stems to highlight its delicacy and aromatic complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Antinori family is one of Italy’s most influential and historic wine dynasties, with roots in winemaking dating back to 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild, the “Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri.” Over more than six centuries, the family has combined respect for tradition with a pioneering spirit, a balance that helped shape modern Italian wine—most famously through their cult Supertuscans Tignanello and Solaia. Today, Marchesi Antinori is led by Albiera Antinori, supported by her sisters Allegra and Alessia, with their father, Marchese Piero Antinori, serving as honorary president. While the family’s historical heart lies in Tuscany and Umbria, they have invested widely in Italy and abroad, developing estates like La Braccesca to express distinctive terroirs with high potential. Their achievements—both in classic appellations such as Chianti Classico and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and in boundary-pushing Supertoscans—have secured Antinori’s reputation as one of the foremost producers of fine Italian wine.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antinori","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54256124363089,"sku":"EOW-ANT-RØDV-1997-075","price":121.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/DSC09218-Edit.png?v=1783462810","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/antinori-nobile-la-braccesca-1997","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}