Italy · Tuscany

Tenuta Tignanello (Antinori)

Tenuta Tignanello, the Antinori family estate in Chianti Classico between Greve and San Casciano, gives its name to one of Italy's most celebrated wines: Tignanello, the Cabernet Sauvignon-Sangiovese blend first produced in its modern form in 1971 by Giacomo Tachis. Tignanello was revolutionary: it excluded the Trebbiano and Malvasia whites mandated in traditional Chianti DOCG, added Cabernet Sauvignon, and aged in small French oak barriques rather than the large Slavonian casks of tradition. This formula created what became known as the Super Tuscan category and established Antinori as Tuscany's most influential producer. At auction, 886 lots average $361 per bottle with prices reaching $4,920. The 1997 vintage is the most sought-after auction year. The Marchese Antinori Riserva and Gran Selezione San Sano represent the estate's Chianti Classico tier alongside Tignanello. Solaia—a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend from a separate 20-hectare parcel planted to 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet Franc—is the estate's rarest and most expensive bottling, released simultaneously with Tignanello but in approximately 35,000 bottles versus 350,000 for Tignanello, commanding 2–3x the price. Solaia regularly commands $400–700+ per bottle at auction and is considered by many critics to be Antinori's finest wine, outscoring Tignanello in warmer, Cabernet-friendly vintages.