Antinori Tignanello 2021 (750ML)

98 WA / 98 VM / 97 WS / 96 JS

#3 Wine Spectator Top 100 2024
#8 Vinous Top 100 2024 
#1 GVWM Staff Favorite 2024 - Ron V.

First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Tignanello (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume.—Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

The 2021 Tignanello is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished, with exceptional finesse, the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello and Italian wine more broadly. Bright dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all soar out of the gals, framed by a discreet touch of French oak that adds raciness. In some vintages, the elements are discernible. In 2021, it is the total harmony of the wine that makes the strongest and deepest impression. The 2021 spent 17 months in wood, three months in neutral oak during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months (50% new) for the rest of its aging. Superb. -- Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Laced with pure cherry, strawberry, graphite and tobacco aromas and flavors, this red is beautifully supported by a backbone of vibrant acidity and taut, refined tannins. Everything is framed by vanilla and toasty oak in the best sense, revealing harmony, with a long, orange-tinged finish and, yes, even drinkability at this stage. Best to give this a few more years in the bottle. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2045. From Italy.— Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator 

The 2021 vintage marks the 50th anniversary of this iconic super Tuscan, the brainchild of Piero Antinori with the help of the late Giacomo Tachis and Bordeaux enologist Émile Peynaud. A game changer for Tuscany and Italy, Tignanello remains one of Italy’s greatest reds, revealing added finesse and purity from this superb harvest. Antinori CEO and head winemaker Renzo Cotarella considers 2021 his best vintage in a storied career. He and the Antinori team continue to refine the oak treatment, and earlier blending of the grape varieties used (Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) has improved both the precision and expression of the Tignanello vineyard. - Wine Spectator 

The currants and spices are very pretty, with some hazelnut undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very structured for a Tignanello, with medium chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very polished and curated with a deft winemaking hand coming through. Needs three or four years to soften, but it’s all there.-James Suckling

If ever there was a more perfect example of Antinori’s Tignanello, the 2021 iteration, marking the 50^th anniversary for this iconic Super-Tuscan, is simply superb. I personally don’t often think of wines in point scores, only because they are constantly evolving, but this wine has the quality of fruit and balance that will carry it for decades. It has the same appeal for me as a 2015 Canon, or Figeac in its depth and concentration. Great Stuff!—Ron van Vlaardingen,  Grand Vin Wine Merchants