2019 Marchesi Antinori Solaia

The weather conditions meant a doubling of the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend in 2019, and a decrease in the percentage of Sangiovese. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc. Very polished, with dark fruit and fragrant red flowers. There is a real fragrance and note of graphite that may be a reflection of the increased Cabernet Franc. The wood is fairly prominent on the palate, slightly masking the fruit at this early stage and adding a granular structure on top of already powerful Cabernet tannins. Sweet fruit does reveal itself more on the finish, suggesting this is just in an awkward phase at the moment. (TP)

The 2019 Solaia is fabulous. Deep and exquisitely layered, the 2019 is so expressive right out of the gate. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, incense, pipe tobacco, chocolate and grilled herbs all take shape. Here, too, the aromatics are alluring. Cabernet Franc is bumped up a bit in the blend, and that works so well here. Solaia is often a bombastic, intense wine. The 2019 is incredibly refined and buttoned up. Readers will have to be patient. The 2019 Solaia is the sort of wine I would like to spend a whole evening with. Aging was 18 months in 100% new French oak.

Love the depth and restrained power on display here. Made for leisurely drinking over a few hours. Cocoa powder, liqourice, blueberry, smoked herbs and raspberry fruits. Tannins have texture and grip, highlighting a lemongrass and slate roughness to the finish, all given definition by a fennel, almost hoppy bitterness on the finish. The Antinori family, with director Stefano Carpaneto are making the most of a superb vintage with this wine, highly recommended, especially with an extra few years in bottle before opening.