Solaia 2008
Tax included.
Winery: Marchesi Antinori
Vintage: 2008
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese
Drinking window: 2022 - 2038
Region: Tuscany
Production: 50.000 bottles
THE ITALIAN GRAPE (95)
The Solaia 2008 is all about balance and is now beautifully matured. It features well-integrated tannins, ample suppleness, and hints of balsamic notes. The nose is gorgeously smoky, earthy, and elegant, with exotic sandalwood spices, yet the freshness of cassis and blackcurrant shines through in this brilliant wine. Drink now through 2028, when it will reach its peak performance.
ROBERT PARKER (93)
The 2008 Solaia is richer and darker than the Tignanello, but it isn’t an appreciably more complex or complete wine. It shows gorgeous depth and textural richness to match an expressive core of blackberry jam, smoke, scorched earth, crushed rocks and cassis. This is a beautiful wine, but not as great as I had hoped. The 2008 Solaia is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 100% new oak.
WINE ENTHUSIAST (97)
Definitely on a top 10 list of Italian icons, Solaia affirms the massive potential of Italian winemaking, from vineyard to cantina to cellar and beyond. Superrich and polished, but never over the top, this gorgeous super Tuscan shows deep layers of chocolate, black cherry, rum cake and spice. The secret lies in its balance: Everything is in place, from intensity and complexity to persistency.
About the wine
Solaia, originating from the finest section of the Tignanello vineyard in the heart of Chianti, is crafted from a blend of international grapes—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Sangiovese, the symbolic grape of Tuscany. Solaia, originating from a vineyard with stony soil, has been produced by the Antinori family since 1978. Solaia has been produced only in exceptional vintages, and therefore was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1992. Symbolizing the Antinori family's legacy and revered by enthusiasts worldwide. A refined and potent wine, it ages gracefully, deserving of careful cellaring.
Solaia means ''a place where the energy of the sun radiates''. The sunniest part of the Tignanello slope is home to the Solaia vineyard. The very best grapes from the very best vineyard. Everything else is passion, utmost care and research. These are the secrets of Solaia together with the best Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes from the vineyard of the same name. Here, amidst an abundance of passion, meticulous care, and relentless research, lies the essence of Solaia's excellence.
The season was marked by a relatively mild autumn and winter, with minimal rainfall, which led to a slightly earlier bud break compared to previous years. However, spring brought challenging weather conditions with heavy, continuous rain until late May, which slowed plant growth. Despite this delay, vine health remained unaffected. June and July were warm and dry, while August brought scattered showers that supported steady growth of both the vines and the grapes. September and October provided ideal conditions for harvesting, with significant temperature fluctuations between the heat of the day and the cool of the night, perfect for enhancing grape quality. Sangiovese grapes were harvested in the last ten days of September, and Cabernet continued to be picked through mid-October. From the outset of the harvest, the musts displayed promising colors and aromas, suggesting that the vintage would be exceptionally high quality.
