"The 2021 vintage is considered to be one of the best vintages ever." ~Marchesi Antinori's Winemaker Tasting Notes

The Antinori family has been running the show in Italian winemaking since 1385. Yes, six centuries. Giovanni di Piero Antinori kickstarted this dynasty when he joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild, and ever since, the family’s dedication to the craft has been nothing short of legendary.

The Solaia vineyard sits on the sunniest, most blessed patch of the Tignanello hillside. Picture this: 140 acres of prime terroir perched between 1,150 and 1,312 feet above sea level, with soils soaked in Pliocene marine marls, limestone, and shale. This isn’t just dirt — it’s the very foundation of what makes the Antinori wines iconic. From this vineyard come two of the most iconic wines ever produced by the family: Solaia and its equally renowned sibling, Tignanello.

These two wines aren’t just well-made or famous; they are among the most influential wines in Italian winemaking history. Why? Because they essentially rewrote the rules. When they emerged, they challenged the status quo of traditional Chianti wines and helped launch the entire "Super Tuscan" movement — a revolution that transformed Italian wine from humble rustic reds into world-class powerhouses. They showed the world that blending Sangiovese with noble international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc could create something utterly spectacular and timeless.

So, when you pour the 2021 Solaia, you’re tasting more than just a wine. You’re sipping on a bold statement of innovation, passion, and six centuries of unyielding craftsmanship. It’s a wine that carries the legacy of tradition but wears the crown of modern greatness — a liquid icon that has shaped Italy’s wine story forever. This is the wine that collectors dream about, that critics praise, and that enthusiasts cherish as a milestone in Italian winemaking history.

Aging: 16 months in new French oak barrels.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. Intensely ruby red in color with violet hues, Solaia 2021’s nose is remarkably complex: intense notes of small dark ripe fruit especially black currants, blackberries and purple plums that follow through to fresh hints of mint, myrtle and spicy notes of white pepper. Sweet aromas of powdered sugar, cocoa powder and licorice are seamlessly integrated. Entry on the palate is rich, enticing, vibrant with an excellent and well-balanced structure. Silky tannins accompany a lengthy finish defined by a persistent aftertaste with hints of dark chocolate.

Antinori's 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else, the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days, an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum, mocha, licorice, chocolate, spice, lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood, three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging.  ~100 Vinous Media

Sophisticated and full of finesse. Medium- to full-bodied with racy, super silky tannins that go on for minutes. Blackberries and blackcurrants with hints of graphite and lead pencil. Such beautiful tannins. Racy and fine. Give it five or six years before drinking. ~98 James Suckling

All said and done, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia is a monument to perfect winemaking. This coiffed supermodel does not show a single hair follicle out of place. However, it doesn't quite have the same sex appeal of the Tignanello. In my conversations with Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella during this tasting, it was expressed this way: "Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected." Whereas Tignanello is a wine of vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of lasting power. The wine offers generous depth and layering with soft tannins and some of the spicy pink peppercorn you get from the 9% Cabernet Franc (added to 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese). The finish is extremely velvety and soft, but I notice that the flavors seem to become sweeter and riper the longer this wine stays in the glass. This newest release will hit the market in September. ~97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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