Tasting Notes
Antonio Galloni 96
The 2020 Tignanello is so primary, so intensely fruit-driven, that it almost tastes like a barrel sample. A burst of red Sangiovese fruit opens first, followed by hints of blood orange, cinnamon, spice, dried flowers and mocha develop later. Time in the glass brings out striking dimensions. In 2020, Tignanello is wonderfully sleek and racy, with fine tannins that lie below a core of bright, sculpted fruit. The balance here is just sublime. I can’t wait to revisit the 2020 with age. “We are gradually increasing the Cabernet Franc in Tignanello to balance the greater richness that today’s warmer seasons are giving to our Sangioveses,” Antinori CEO Renzo Cotarella told me.
Anticipated maturity: 2028-2045
Wine Advocate 95
Newly on the market now, the 2020 Tignanello shows a gorgeous bouquet with an upfront and accessible personality. Right off the bat, you get dark cherry, dried raspberry, spice, toasted almond and citrusy blood orange. The blend is normally 75% to 80% Sangiovese with 7% Cabernet Franc. The grape in between, making up 13% to 18%, is Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is very pretty and won’t require a long wait. The tannins are sweet and silky. “Tignanello proves itself as a great vineyard site in both the challenging and the classic years,” says Managing Director Renzo Cotarella. Annual production falls between 300,000-350,000 bottles.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
James Suckling 97
Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese with the rest in cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. Drinkable but better in three or four years.
Jeb Dunnuck 91
Saturated magenta with a hint of purple, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a flashy wine, offering luxurious aromas of polished leather, toasted vanilla bean, black cherry liqueur, sage, and cedar. Full-bodied, it carries its bourbon-noted spice through the palate, with notes of butterscotch, ripe tannins, and toasted oak spice. It will need some time to settle, but I wouldn’t expect its wood notes to ever fully tone down. An ample style with a New World sensibility, it should have a good deal of longevity. Drink 2026-2036.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2036
