Classification:
Toscana IGT
Blend:
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Franc

Climate:
The season was characterized by a mild and pleasant autumn, with average temperatures and little rainfall. The winter was cold and with adequate rainfall for the time of year. Spring began with rather dry and cool weather, so much so that the important stages of bud break and, especially, flowering occurred slightly later than average in previous years. April and May, on the other hand, provided good rainfall, which was essential for overcoming the long summer drought that, from June until the end of August, affected plant development, both in terms of canopy development and the size and weight of the bunches. The long-awaited rains of the last few days of August were crucial for rebalancing the plants, allowing all varieties to continue their ripening processes regularly. The mild and rainy months of September and October allowed the grapes to mature in terms of sugar content, aroma, and phenolic properties. Harvesting took place between September 25th and October 10th, requiring careful and precise manual selection of the bunches during harvest in the vineyard and of the berries along the sorting tables before pressing.

Winery:
The 2012 climate conditions required significant and meticulous selection, both during the growing season and during harvest. The grapes at Solaia are harvested exclusively by hand and separately by variety, taking into account the many different variables associated with the terroir, including soil conditions, differences in altitude between the plots, and the different expressions associated with ripening. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes are delicately destemmed, and the berries are carefully selected on the sorting table before being pressed. Here, attention to detail is paramount; it is essential that only perfect grapes enter the 60-hl truncated cone-shaped fermentation tank. During fermentation and maceration, the musts slowly transform into wine. In a vintage like this, extreme care is required to maintain freshness and aromas, while also focusing on color extraction and tannin management aimed at sweetness and elegance. All this requires great sensitivity, knowledge of the grapes, and constant care of the product, which is racked only after careful daily tastings. Once the skins and wine are separated, malolactic fermentation begins, which, in barriques, enhances the wine's finesse and pleasantness. The aging process then begins, lasting approximately 18 months in new French oak barrels. During this period, the different lots, vinified separately based on the varietal and viticultural variables, mature in wood and are then assembled a few months before bottling, which takes place on the estate.

Historical data:
Solaia is a vineyard of approximately 20 hectares with a southwest exposure, located at 350 to 400 meters above sea level on rocky limestone soils of alberese and galestro rock, located at Tenuta Tignanello. Marchesi Antinori produced this wine for the first time in the 1978 vintage; the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, a formula repeated in 1979. In subsequent vintages, 20% Sangiovese was introduced, and some adjustments were made to the Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc ratio, resulting in the current blend. Solaia is produced only in exceptional vintages and was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1992.

Tasting Notes:
Intense ruby ??red in color with purple highlights, the nose is dominated by varietal notes, with excellent freshness and fine intensity. Solaia 2012 has a classic style and is characterized by a pleasant harmony on the palate, featuring the right acidity-tannic balance and an excellent fruitiness throughout the tasting. Its great personality and long aftertaste make the finish extremely complex and persistent.