Marchese Antinori 2014 Chianti Classico Riserva

This Chianti is a signature wine for Antinori and is consistently one of the most outstanding wines from the Chianti Classico region. Since 2011, it has been produced exclusively from a selection of the grapes of the Tignanello estate. Upon arriving in the cellars, the grapes are destemmed and the berries carefully selected on sorting tables. The grapes are handled with the express purpose of preserving all their aromas and components; highly important both for the Sangiovese and for the Cabernet as well. Once in the stainless steel fermenting tanks, the fermentation itself lasts approximately a week and is followed by a nine or ten day period of skin contact. After being run off its skins, the wine goes immediately into small oak barrels, principally of French oak. Still separated on the basis of its vineyard source, the wine is aged for approximately a year in French and Hungarian oak barrels. At the end of the aging period the wine is bottled and given an additional twelve month aging in bottle in preparation for release. 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this 2014 scored 91 points from the Wine Spectator who said "This is spry and taut, with cherry, strawberry, wild herb, spice and tobacco notes. Stays fresh and focused, firming up on the dense, long finish. Very Tuscan. Drink now through 2025." and 91 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine who said "Aromas of tilled soil, plum cake, exotic spice and a whiff of toasted oak come to the forefront of the nose. Elegantly structured, the taut, linear palate doles out wild cherry, cranberry, licorice, crushed herb and clove set against vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins. Drink from 2019–2024."