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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
When the initial production of Solaia began, the grape source was a parcel within the larger Tignanello vineyard. The same special characteristics as the original vineyard – altitude, soil, and exposure to the sun (which accounts for the name of the parcel and the wine: “Solaia” derives from sole, the Italian word for the sun) are also to be found in a nearby vineyard plot which, since 1997, has been integrated into the original vineyard. The Solaia vineyard, currently, consists of 20 hectares (49 acres) and is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon (15 hectares), Cabernet Franc (1 hectar) and Sangiovese (4 hectares); the vines have an average of fifteen years. Vine density ranges from 5,500 to 7,200 per hectare and a low, spurred-cordon training system is used. Over the years there has been a progressive renewal of the Solaia vineyard. This has been accomplished by utilizing the many years of experience and the more extensive knowledge of the estate’s land to further bring out the personality of Solaia as a wine.
The Marchesi Antinori firm produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage with an initial blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a blend repeated again in 1979. In the following vintages 20% of Sangiovese was added to the Cabernet grapes and the ratio of Cabernet Franc to Cabernet Sauvignon was changed in order to create a wine which has now become definitive in its various composing elements. Solaia is only produced in exceptional vintages: it was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1992. In 2002 the Sangiovese did not achieve satisfactory quality for Solaia: only Cabernet grapes were used. This vintage is known as “annata diversa” (different vintage).
Wine Information
SOLAIA
Solaia, which means the 'sunny one' in Italian, is a 10 hectares southwest-facing vineyard planted 351-396 metres above sea-level. It belongs to the Tignanello Estate which is located in the heart of Chianti Classico 30km south of Florence. Antinori first produced a single-vineyard wine from these vines with the 1978 vintage, which was a limited release only in Italy.
The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years, since Giovanni di Piero Antinor became part of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri in 1385. Throughout its long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land.
Marchese Piero Antinori, 25th generation president of the company, has brought in innovative, dynamic and visionary views that have led to Italy’s recognition as a producer of world-class wine. As the 26th generation of the Antinori family, Piero Antinori’s daughters Albiera, Allegra and Alessia are now involved in all aspects of Marchesi Antinori - and will play important roles in the prestigious producer’s future.
Piero Antinori is a firm believer in the cerebral Burgundian concept of terrior, instead of lieu-dit—the idea that the combination of different elements in one highly specific site—primarily soil, exposure, elevation, climate and grape variety, clone, and cultivation – make a wine what it is. Because of this, Antinori has purchased estates with unique viticultural attributes, concentrated primarily in central Italy, in Tuscany and Umbria. Beyond this, as a Tuscan he believes that the soul of a wine is equally important; that the soul is the reflection of man’s traditions, values, culture, foods, and passions. Antinori is therefore drawn to many regions to try to see exactly what a plot of land, a grape, and a man can best express.
If one could sum up Antinori’s philosophy in a sentence it would be, according to Marchese Piero Antinori, "Age-old roots play an important role in our philosophy, but they have not served to inhibit our innovative spirit." In fact, Antinori continually experiments in its vineyards and at its wineries.
Soil: limestone and shale
Production area: 10 ha
Grape varieties: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc
Vuosikerta 1987
Italy Vintage report by Tb: 1987 was an agricultural campaign which produced average wines, rather short-lived. After a cold winter, a dry and raw spring slowly brought the vineyards to life. The entire summer and fall were fairly cool and dry, producing an average but quality harvest. In Tuscany, the flowering phase took place in magnificent weather until the rains at harvest time spoiled what was shaping up to be an excellent year. In Montalcino, ripe grapes were harvested before the rains, resulting in an abundant harvest of exceptional quality.
However, the wines are currently at their best and will not gain further ground in bottle maturation. The surprise of the year was the Castello di Ama L’Apparita Merlot 1987, where it placed first in a Swiss Merlot competition in 1992. The Château Petrus 1988 placed second.
