Antinori Solaia 2018 is a superb Tuscan red wine with a complex and refined character that reflects the excellence of the Antinori family’s winemaking tradition. This vintage is an intense ruby red color, with a rich and enticing bouquet that opens with ripe and dark fruit notes of blueberries and black currants, complemented by delicate floral aromas of dried flowers and lavender. The nose is further enhanced by subtle spicy notes of white pepper and balsamic notes of mint and eucalyptus, adding depth and complexity to the wine.
The palate is rich and velvety, with soft and silky tannins that impart a smooth and elegant mouthfeel. The wine’s sweet and well-integrated flavors of white chocolate, cotton candy, and dried fruit create a harmonious balance with the fruity and spicy notes. The finish is long and lingering, with a pleasant aftertaste of licorice that lingers on the palate.
Critic Ratings
James Suckling Review – Rated 97:
Very aromatic and lively on the nose with currants, fresh herbs, white pepper and cherry blossoms. Full-bodied with a vertical, multilayered structure and ultra fine tannins. Velvety texture. Extremely long and focused. Complex and succulent. This is the smallest production of Solaia ever. Great length. This is a beautifully complex red that’s open now, but needs another three to four years to show even more of its excellence.
Robert Parker Wine Advocate Review – Rated 97:
The Marchesi Antinori 2018 Solaia reveals a silky and elegant personality, and the wine steps away from some of the more robust fruit weight and dark concentration that we’ve seen in the past. This elegant vintage prizes fruit purity and focus with black plum, cassis, blue flower, pencil shaving and lots of sweet spice from the oak that recalls clove and toasted almond. The blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The fruit is harvested at the Antinori family’s Tenuta Tignanello at the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation. The percentage of Cabernet Franc used in the blend is the ultimate Solaia wild card. In this vintage, the Franc has been increased to 7%, and that number is expected to be even higher in 2019 as the vines get older and the fruit more complex. Production of Solaia is 65,000 bottles in this vintage. This is a beautiful wine, but if pressed I must admit a preference for the 2018 Tignanello (the other celebrated wine crafted at this property). The 2018 Solaia is delicious on all fronts as expected, but the 2018 Tignanello struck at my heart strings. Either way, these are stunning results.
