Argiano Solengo 2022

This prestigious Super Tuscan red wine originates from Italy, crafted in the southern district of Montalcino in Tuscany. Founded in 1580, Argiano is one of Montalcino's most historic and respected estates. In 1995, legendary winemaker Giacomo Tachis (the mastermind behind Sassicaia, Tignanello, and Solaia) collaborated with Argiano to create Solengo, which means "solitary wild boar" in local Tuscan dialect. While Argiano is world-famous for its traditional Brunello di Montalcino, Solengo represents the estate’s modern, internationally acclaimed expression, combining French grape varieties grown in the warm, Mediterranean-influenced clay and limestone soils of southern Montalcino.

Wine Description

In the glass, the 2022 Solengo presents an opaque, deep purple-ruby color. The expressive and layered nose opens with dark fruit aromas of black currant, black cherry, and plum, interwoven with savory notes of cedar, sweet tobacco, crushed gravel minerality, dark chocolate, and subtle toasted oak spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, opulent, and dense, offering a lush mid-palate balanced by fine-grained, velvety tannins and a vibrant streak of natural acidity. The blend typically consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Sangiovese. The hand-harvested grapes are vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel before aging for roughly 18 months in French oak barrels (a high percentage of which are new). The alcohol by volume sits at approximately 14.5%.

Food Pairing

The deep fruit concentration, firm tannic backbone, and complex savory notes of Solengo make it an ideal partner for rich, structured cuisine. It pairs magnificently with prime cuts of grilled beef, such as Florentine steak (bistecca alla Fiorentina), roasted rack of lamb with herbs, slow-braised beef short ribs, and roasted wild boar or venison. It also pairs exceptionally well with rich pasta dishes featuring wild mushroom or truffle ragù, as well as mature hard cheeses like aged Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or sharp Gouda.

Vintage Quality

The 2022 growing season in southern Montalcino was warm and dry, requiring careful vineyard management and canopy control. Warm summer days were tempered by cool night breezes off the Tyrrhenian Sea, allowing late-ripening varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to achieve ideal phenolic maturity while retaining essential structural balance. The 2022 Argiano Solengo delivers impressive fruit density and immediate charm upon release after decanting, while holding the power, depth, and structure to age gracefully in the cellar for 15 to 20+ years.

Accolades

94 Points - James Suckling

"This wine shows bright and precisely defined aromas of cassis, leaves and raspberries. Jammy notes are supported by crisp acidity and a full body, with toasty flavors and elegant tannins. Drink or hold."

93 Points - Wine Spectator

"This is rich, dark and brooding, offering black currant, blackberry and plum fruit shaded by toasty oak. The new oak settles in with aeration, adding a resin note, while accents of iron and tobacco emerge on the finish. Shows fine balance and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Sangiovese. Best from 2027 through 2038."