2021 Antinori Solaia Toscana 750 ml

In 1978, Piero Antinori planted 12 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a dash of magical Tuscan Sangiovese on a southeastern facing parcel in the Tuscan Maremma. 

Since then, Antinori’s Solaia has stood tall next to Sassicaia and Ornellaia in the hierarchy of Italy’s greatest reds—and the 2021 is one of the greatest ever. 

“Antinori's 2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago,” wrote Vinous’s Antonio Galloni back in December, confirming his perfect 100-point score. It’s a wine of astounding concentration and elegance, and one that will thrive in the cellar for decades.  

Combining the Solaia vineyard’s calcaire soils—what many believe to be the secret ingredient found in all of the great wines of the world—the cooling breezes in the high ground, and a viticultural attention to detail rarely seen in late 1970s Italy, the Antinoris birthed a Super Tuscan capable of going head-to-head with Bordeaux’s First Growths. 

At the time, little Cabernet Sauvignon was growing in the region. Winegrowers lacked the resources required to trim back yields and manicure leaf canopies by hand, giving them a shot at nursing Cabernet to full maturity on the cool soils of Tuscany. But the Antinoris were rich in resources and resolve. As much of the region rolled their eyes and shrugged their shoulders, the family rolled the dice on a daring blend, some of which would be native Sangiovese. A touch would be richly vibrant Cabernet Franc. But the vast majority of Solaia would consist of highwire Cabernet Sauvignon.

Solaia is only produced in exceptional vintages, and this is an exceptional bottle.