Solaia 2018 – Toscana IGT 750ml Antinori

Solaia 2018 – Toscana IGT 750ml

• Grape Varieties: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 7% Cabernet Franc.
• Training System: Spurred cordon.
• Soil: Stony soils composed of "alberese" (hard limestone) and "galestro" (flaky calcareous clay) rock.
• Altitude: 350–400 meters above sea level.
• Vine Age: Approximately 20–40 years.
• Harvest: Manual selection of grapes. The harvest began in late September with Cabernet Franc, continued with Sangiovese, and concluded on October 10th with Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Vinification: Grapes were destemmed, meticulously selected on sorting tables, delicately crushed, and transferred by gravity flow into 60-hectoliter truncated cone-shaped fermentation tanks. Fermentation and maceration on the skins aimed to balance fruity compounds and tannin quality to best express the sweetness, fragrance, identity, and character of Solaia. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barriques, enhancing complexity and pleasantness.
• Maturation: The wine aged for approximately 18 months in new French oak barrels. The various lots were aged separately, then blended and reintroduced into barrels to complete the aging process.
• Tasting Notes: Solaia 2018 is an intense ruby red color. Its nose offers intense notes of dark, ripe fruit, particularly blueberries and black currants, that merge seamlessly with pleasant sensations of dried flowers and lavender, accompanied by delicate spicy notes of white pepper and balsamic notes of mint and eucalyptus. Sweet, well-integrated aromas of white chocolate, cotton candy, and dried fruit complete its rich bouquet. On the palate, Solaia 2018 is mouth-filling and creamy: soft, silky tannins impart an extremely elegant, lengthy, and lingering finish, with a pleasing aftertaste reminiscent of licorice. Floral and spicy notes originally perceived on the nose accent the finish.
• Alcohol Content: Approximately 14% ABV.
• Serving Temperature: 16–18°C.
• Food Pairing: Ideal with rich meat dishes, including roasts and braised meats, as well as game.