Antinori Solaia 2007

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Size: 750ml.

WS 94 WA 97 IWC 94

Solaia, which means the 'sunny one' in Italian, is a 10 hectares (25 acres) southwest-facing vineyard planted 351-396 metres (1,150-1,300 feet) above sea-level on stony calcareous soil of marl and friable albarese rock. It is located at Santa Cristina, contiguous to the Tignanello vineyard, which is on the same property, in the Mercatale Val di Pesa zone of Chianti Classico. Antinori first produced a single-vineyard wine from these vines with the 1978 vintage (which was a limited release only in Italy); the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, which was repeated in 1979. During following vintages, 20% Sangiovese was introduced and small adjustments were made (according to vintage) to the proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc used, to arrive at today's blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 20% Sangiovese.

Reviews:

"A racy wine that offers so much currant and blackberry character. Full and very silky. Goes on and on. Fascinating. Best after 2012. 6,500 cases made." -Rated 94, Wine Spectator

"The 2007 Solaia saturates the palate with a heady array of super-ripe black cherries, plums, cassis, mocha and sweet French oak. There is an exotic quality to the Solaia I find totally irresistible. Despite its considerable ripeness and opulence, the 2007 Solaia is never heavy, rather it impresses for its extraordinary finesse and balance. Minerals, graphite and crushed rocks frame a long, seductive finish. This is a wonderful Solaia loaded with vintage and vineyard character. The 2007 Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027." -Rated 97, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"Fully saturated inky ruby. Knockout nose of blackcurrant, mocha, coffee and nutty oak, plus strong soil tones of tobacco and herbs. Wonderfully ripe and full but with a sappy menthol lift to the utterly pure, drop-dead gorgeous flavors of blackcurrant, tobacco and minerals. Compared to the 2007 Tignanello, which currently comes across as a baby Solaia, this has more of everything, especially including sweetness and flesh. One of the better versions of Solaia of the last decade: it offers plenty of upfront charm and fleshy creaminess, but it may not prove to be as long-lived as the 2004 or the 2006." -Rated 94, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar