2014 Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Bottle (750ml)

RP95 "The 2014 Solaia will be released during the second half of 2017. This is a fine-tuned expression that shows a focused sense of detail and careful attention. The quota of Cabernet Franc has been upped by a hair and this makes a big difference, especially in terms of the wine's bouquet. Otherwise, this celebrated Tuscan blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Sangiovese. It opens to dark fruit aromas with crushed mineral, pipe tobacco, pressed flower and toasted spice. Its appearance is midnight black and profound. The wine delivers a sense of sheer excitement and nervousness that will subside with another few years of bottle age. Nonetheless, I think a certain amount of that bright edginess or rigidness will always be part of this cool vintage Solaia. In the mouth, the wine is firm, compact and dense. The tannins are chiseled to the point of sublime integration. Marchesi Antinori made 40% less Solaia in this vintage in order to maintain the quality you taste here." ML for TWA Apr 2017
"If you could see the vineyards of Chianti Classico from space, I’m sure the Tignanello vineyard would be the easiest to spot. Each row has been painstakingly covered with bright white stones along the entire length of each trellis line. Large Alberese limestone rocks were crushed with a cement grinder to make smaller pebbles. The rocks glow with silver luminosity when hit by the Tuscan sunshine." Published April 28, 2017