Antinori Solaia IGT CL 75 2017 wine

2017 will be remembered as an unusual vintage. Winter, characterized only by cold weather in January, continued with mild temperatures, favoring early bud break. The sudden drop in temperatures at the end of April caused a slight drop in production. From May until August, the Chianti Classico area was generally hot and dry, with daily temperatures often exceeding 30°C. Rainfall in September partially offset the summer's stress, allowing the grapes to ripen well. Harvest took place from September 20th to October 6th.

Extreme care was taken both in the vineyard during harvest and in the cellar, where the grapes were destemmed and carefully selected on the sorting table before being gently pressed, before being gravity-fed into the tanks. It is crucial that only perfect grapes reach the 60-hectare conical vinification tanks. During fermentation and maceration, taking into account the unique characteristics of the vintage, attention to maintaining the correct balance between the fruit and the quality of the tannins, geared towards sweetness and fragrance, was crucial. Once the skins and wine are separated, malolactic fermentation begins, which, in barrique, enhances the wine's complexity and pleasantness. The aging process takes place in new French oak barrels for approximately 18 months. After an initial period of aging in separate lots, they are assembled to complete their evolution in wood.

Solaia is a vineyard of approximately 20 hectares with a southwest exposure, located at 350 to 400 meters above sea level on rocky limestone soils of alberese and galestro rock, located at Tenuta Tignanello. The Antinori family produced this wine for the first time in 1978; the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a formula repeated in 1979. In subsequent years, 20% Sangiovese was introduced and some adjustments were made to the Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc ratio, resulting in the current blend. Solaia is produced only in exceptional years and was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1992.

James Suckling
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