2011 Chianti Classico
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori has really come together beautifully over the least year. Creamy and expressive on the palate, but without being as exotic as some of Antinori's other 2011s, the Marchese hits all the right notes, with fabulous depth, dark tonalities of Sangiovese and exceptional balance. Hints of leather, cedar, smoke and tobacco meld into the racy, succulent finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
With fruit sourced from the same site as one of Italy's most celebrated red wines, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello is a wine that bridges two wine philosophies. It is a denomination wine (a Chianti Classico Riserva) with a super Tuscan tinge. The bouquet shows medium intensity with a distinctly floral personality with red rose and pressed blue flowers at the top. Bright acidity keeps the palate revived, sip after sip.
Rose petals, mint, spices and sweet red berries meld together from the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori. This is the first vintage in which the Marchese Antinori comes exclusively from the Antinori family's Tignanello estate. All of the signatures of these high altitude vineyards are in place, but softened a bit by the warm, precocious vintage. Hints of tobacco and cedar linger on the floral, silky finish. What a pretty wine this is. The Riserva Marchese Antinori is often marketed as a mini-Tignanello. This is the first vintage where that is actually true on many levels.
Healthy mid ruby. Brooding and a little reluctant but the ripe fruit is evident. Hint of vanilla. Richly tannic but backed up by ripe fruit. Tannins are a little dominant on the finish, but the whole is quite elegant. (WS)
About the producer
Marchesi Antinori is a leading Italian producer, historically based in Tuscany, who rose to fame after creating Tignanello – one of the first Super Tuscans . Combining tradition and innovation to craft fine wine, the family-owned firm has been a force in the Italian wine industry for over 600 years.