Marchesi Antinori, Solaia, 2023
Marchesi Antinori, Solaia, 2023
- 75cl
- 14.5%
- Red Still
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese
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Drinking window: 2030 - 2050
Est. delivery in 2027
Solaia is Antinori's flagship single-vineyard Cabernet, made from the sun-drenched hillside parcel above Tignanello in the Chianti Classico hills. It's a Tuscan wine with a Napa-length ambition and a Roman sense of occasion: roughly 75% Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and a touch of Sangiovese to keep it honest.
The 2023 vintage brought warm, dry conditions that gave the fruit extraordinary ripeness while retaining the structural grip that defines great Solaia.
What the critics say:
"Solaia sings in 2023. It's supremely vertical with already-integrated sandy tannins, its tall frame adorned with crunchy, sapid forest berries, chocolate, menthol, iodine and floral top notes. Generous and finessed, it's drinking surprisingly well at this early stage and will continue to prosper for the next two decades at least."
"A big Solaia with lots of fruit and spices as well as mint and spearmint. Aromatic. Full-bodied with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Muscular and juicy for a modern Solaia. Needs three to four years of age to come together. Best after 2028."
The Solaia vineyard sits at around 350–400 metres above sea level on the same hillside as Tignanello, facing south-southwest to capture maximum sun exposure. Soils are predominantly galestro — the crumbly, friable schist typical of the Chianti Classico hills — mixed with alberese clay, which provides good water retention during dry summers. The altitude moderates the warmth of the Tuscan sun, preserving acidity and giving the wine its characteristic freshness and definition despite its richness. The combination of thin, well-drained soils and high elevation is what separates Solaia from warmer, fleshier Super Tuscans made at lower altitudes.
Solaia is classified as an IGT Toscana, a designation that was historically chosen by producers like Antinori specifically because they wanted the freedom to use Cabernet Sauvignon as a lead variety — which the Chianti Classico DOC rules did not permit at the time. IGT Toscana is effectively the home of the Super Tuscans: a catch-all classification that imposes few restrictions on grape varieties or blending, allowing producers to pursue quality without bureaucratic constraint. The irony is that many of Italy's most expensive and celebrated wines carry this apparently modest classification, Solaia very much among them.
The 2023 vintage in Tuscany delivered precisely what nobody expected after a challenging start. Spring brought excessive rainfall that had growers fretting about disease pressure, whilst a scorching July tested even the most experienced vignerons. Yet August's return to more moderate temperatures, combined with crucial diurnal temperature swings, allowed the vines to regain their composure just when it mattered most. The harvest stretched longer than usual, with producers able to pick at optimal ripeness rather than racing against the clock.
What emerged from the cellars shows Tuscany's remarkable ability to transform adversity into opportunity. The Sangiovese displays a freshness we haven't seen in recent warm years, with that characteristic cherry brightness sitting beautifully alongside more structured tannins. Super Tuscans from the coast fared particularly well, where maritime influences helped moderate the summer extremes. These aren't blockbuster wines built for decades of cellaring, but rather Tuscan reds with an approachable charm that makes them dangerously drinkable now whilst still having the backbone to reward five to eight years of patience.
