Tignanello 2023 (by Tenuta Tignanello)

This structured and aristocratic red wine originates from Italy, within the prestigious Toscana I.G.T. appellation in Central Italy. Produced at Tenuta Tignanello by Marchesi Antinori the legendary Tuscan winemaking dynasty with a history spanning over six centuries this historic bottling fundamentally revolutionized Italian viticulture as the first Sangiovese aged in barriques, the first modern red blend with non traditional varietals, and one of the original Super Tuscans. Sourced exclusively from the 57 hectare single vineyard plot on the Tenuta Tignanello estate, situated between the Greve and Pesa river valleys in the Chianti Classico zone, the vines sit at 350 to 400 metres above sea level on limestone and marl rich soils known locally as albarese and galestro. The Mediterranean climate delivers warm daylight balanced by cool breezes descending from the Apennines, allowing the grapes to reach complete phenolic maturity while retaining high natural acidity and chiseled mineral drive.

Wine Description

The 2023 Tenuta Tignanello presents an intense ruby red colour in the glass with bright crimson and violet reflections along the rim. Its sensory profile is exceptionally fresh, high toned, and complex, delivering an expansive, precise, and sophisticated portrait of high altitude Tuscan limestone terroir. The bouquet opens with a soaring display of ripe sour cherries, dark plums, pomegranates, and blood orange peel, seamlessly layered with complex underlays of fresh violets, sweet cocoa, pencil lead, white pepper, tobacco leaf, and a distinct line of crushed stone minerality. On the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied, sleek, and athletic, showcasing a succulent core of tart red stone fruits, wild berries, and licorice. It is characterized by its outstanding inner energy and an incisive, mouthwatering backbone of natural acidity that effortlessly elevates its mid palate fruit concentration. The mouthfeel is broad, weightless, and silky, framed by firm, fine grained tannins that glide into an extraordinarily long, dry, and savory finish accented by persistent notes of roasted hazelnut, graphite, and cedar.

This high definition Tuscan expression is a classical, Sangiovese led assemblage:

• Sangiovese (~80%): Formulates the primary architectural core, contributing vibrant red cherry acidity, floral perfume, structural volume, and chalky tannic tension.

• Cabernet Sauvignon (~15%): Supplies dark berry weight, cassis depth, graphite focus, and age worthy tannic grip.

• Cabernet Franc (~5%): Imparts high toned herbal perfume, wild violet lift, and refined structural finesse.

The hand harvested fruit underwent meticulous sorting followed by separate temperature controlled fermentations in truncated oak tanks to preserve varietal purity and extract noble phenolics gently. The wine completed full malolactic conversion and was matured for approximately 15 months in French and Hungarian oak barriques before master blending and bottle aging. It reaches an effortlessly integrated alcohol content (ABV) of 14.5% and is finished bone dry.

Vintage Quality

The 2023 growing season in the heart of Chianti Classico was marked by moderate conditions, timely rainfall, and optimal late summer temperature shifts between day and night. Antinori's precise vineyard management enabled Sangiovese and the Cabernet varieties to attain optimal phenolic ripeness while retaining vibrant acidity. The 2023 Tenuta Tignanello offers immediate elegance and high energy drinking pleasure today, holding the structural integrity to cellar gracefully for 20 to 30 years.