Tignanello 2016
Tax included.
Winery: Marchesi Antinori
Vintage: 2016
Grape: Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc & Cabernet Sauvignon
Drinking window: 2022 - 2045
Region: Tuscany
Production: 300.000 bottles
Milano Points: 220 Points
THE ITALIAN GRAPE (96)
2016 is a great year throughout Italy, including Tuscany, and if you are a top producer it is guaranteed you will produce top wine. The 2016 Tignanello shows its great class and proves why it belongs among the big boys of the Super Tuscans. This is a wine with a lot of intensity, nice acidity and medium to full bodied. The Sangiovese performed very well in 2016, and the Tignanello benefits enormously from this with a blend of more than 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remainder Cabernet Franc. Beautiful deep red color, with beautiful round well integrated tannins, I recommend leaving it for a few years, then you will enjoy it to the fullest.
ROBERT PARKER (97)
Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Tignanello will be released next year in April. This celebrated red blend is of course mostly Sangiovese with about 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. If 2015 is an ideal vintage for Tuscan blended reds made with the great Bordeaux varieties, the 2016 vintage is better suited to Italian grapes such as Sangiovese. This classic vintage of Tignanello has a leg up, albeit slim, over the previous vintage precisely because the protagonist here is Sangiovese. This wine shows a high caliber of fresh primary fruit that is direct and intense. In the mouth, the wine is focused and sharp. Ultimately, the 2016 Tignanello is slightly more streamlined compared to the more fleshy 2015. This adds to the firm elegance you get here.
JAMES SUCKLING (97)
Wonderful aromas of pine needles, rosemary, fresh mushrooms, bark and dark fruit. Full body. Very tight and tannic backbone. Racy and driven. Undertones of orange peel and wet earth. Even licorice and mint. Great finish. Better after 2021, but exciting to taste now.
About the wine
In the heart of Tuscany's picturesque landscape lies Tignanello—a wine that revolutionized winemaking since its inception in 1971. Blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it defied convention, marking a turning point in Italian wine history. Nurtured in Chianti Classico's vineyards, Tignanello thrives in soils rich in marine origins, crafting a wine of unparalleled depth and complexity. Its winemaking process, meticulously unchanged, involves aging in barriques and precise vinification, ensuring consistent quality and tradition.
Designed by Silvio Coppola in 1974, Tignanello's iconic label exudes elegance, adding a touch of sophistication to its allure. Marchese Piero Antinori's decision to have his father, Niccolò, sign the label pays homage to his legacy, symbolizing gratitude and respect. Thus, Tignanello stands not only as a symbol of innovation but also as a testament to the timeless beauty and tradition of Tuscan winemaking, captivating enthusiasts worldwide with its exceptional quality and heritage.
The autumn and winter of 2016 in Chianti Classico were mild and not overly rainy. Spring brought warm weather, leading to early bud break, 10 days ahead of schedule. Despite rain and cool temperatures in May and June, flowering and fruit set were unaffected. Summer saw consistently hot and dry conditions until the end of August, ideal for maintaining balance and ensuring berry ripening. Harvest months experienced typical weather with intermittent rain showers and sunny periods, facilitating optimal ripening of Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Sangiovese was harvested from September 23rd, Cabernet Franc from late September to early October, and Cabernet Sauvignon from October 3rd to 10th.
