Tignanello is one of Italy's pioneering Super Tuscan wines, breaking conventions and helping to raise the Marchesi Antinori estate to global prominence in the 1970s. With more than 50 years of rich winemaking heritage built by legendary figures like Giacomo Tachis and Émile Peynaud, Tignanello remains one of the most sought-after Italian wines for seasoned collectors.
Tignanello: Super Tuscan Pioneers
Tignanello was first produced in 1971, becoming the world's first Sangiovese aged in barriques and one of the first wines from Chianti Classico blended with "untraditional" varieties. Proprietor Piero Antinori was inspired by the work of famed oenologists Giacomo Tachis and Émile Peynaud, hoping to create an unconventional blend that could disrupt Italy's strict regulations. His work quickly joined the nearby Sassicaia, which had recently produced its inaugural 1968 vintage to great acclaim. Together, Tignanello and Sassicaia left their mark as pioneers of the Super Tuscan movement, inspiring future icons like Solaia, Masseto, and Ornellaia.
Tignanello Vineyard and Terroir
The Tignanello vineyard and estate are located in the heart of Chianti Classico, directly neighboring its sibling estate, Solaia. Gentle rolling hillsides and marine marlstone soils extend over 319 hectares in a serene Tuscan setting, with warm daytime temperatures providing optimal conditions for Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc vines.
Despite decades of pristine farming, Tignanello undertook a large renovation project across its entire estate. The Tignanello Vineyard was replanted from 1997 to 2007, introducing pulverized albarese stones under the vine rows and massal selections of the best vines. Consequently, this white limestone increased solar radiation and helped to produce more concentrated fruit. The impact was immediately recognized by critic Antonio Galloni, who labelled the 2008 Tignanello "unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage."
Additional renovation was seen in the cellar. In 2005, Tignanello redesigned its cellar to suit the vineyard's specificities, introducing smaller tanks for plot-specific vinification and conical wooden vats for fermentation. Furthermore, the estate began using Hungarian oak for aging in addition to the French oak. The savvy move was initiated as Sangiovese is better suited to Hungarian oak, seeing less vanilla and chocolate notes when aging.
Tignanello Wine Style and Tasting Notes
This special wine is produced only in exceptional vintages, as the 1972, 1973,1974, 1976, 1984, 1992, and 2002 vintages saw no release of Tignanello. As a result, every Tignanello wine is consistently noted as one of the top Tuscan wines of the vintage.
Primarily comprising Sangiovese and blended with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Tignanello displays intense ruby red hues, dark cherry aromas, and a soft, velvety texture.
Tignanello 2022
The 2022 Tignanello has been noted as one of the estate's finest vintages in recent times, earning 95+ point scores from Decanter Magazine, Antonio Galloni, James Suckling, and The Wine Advocate. The final cuvée featured a blend of 78% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc, a classic composition for the Super Tuscan. Many lauded the wine's fruit-forward palate, French oak tertiary notes, and full-bodied mouthfeel.
Tignanello 1971
The inaugural 1971 Tignanello was released in 1974, with just 25,000 bottles made. The wine featured Sangiovese and a small amount of other local varieties, with no Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend for the first and only time in the estate's history. Its label was created by Italian interior and graphic designer Silvio Coppola and now stands as one of the wine world's most iconic labels. With minimalist design featuring the Antinori signature and crest, and red sun, Tignanello is an easily identifiable bottle for any seasoned collector.
The 1971 Tignanello later sold for over $1,000 at a Christie's auction, nearly $600 above its pre-sale estimate. When retroactively reviewed by The Wine Advocate's Monica Larner, the critic underlined the bottle's legacy, stating, "this revolutionary Tuscan red is impossible to measure."
Add Tignanello Wine To Your Cellar
As one of Italy's defining Super Tuscan wines, Tignanello deserves a place in any fine wine cellar. Browse our selection of in-stock Tignanello wines and add a bottle to your collection today.
