Antinori Solaia 2004 0.75l

Following a very rainy autumn and a cold winter with abundant heavy rain, budbreak took place about 10-15 days later than average. There were frequent rains and cool temperatures during flowering and the foliage developed well although the initial delay also applied to the veraison and ripening phases. The harvest also took place a couple of weeks later than previous years, and was accompanied by frequent and quite heavy rain. Unlike 2003, with its high temperatures and dry weather, 2004 will be remembered for low temperatures and plenty of rain.

Vinification

Given the weather trend, the harvest was postponed by two weeks. Compared to the very hot and dry 2003, extraction of the phenolic and aromatic components was problematic. Longer maceration with frequent délestage was necessary to obtain fruity, profound wines, with completion of alcoholic fermentation on the skins in full vats. The three grape varieties therefore required different maceration times, approximately as follows: three weeks for the Cabernet sauvignon, two weeks for the Cabernet franc and over four weeks for the Sangiovese. The fermentation temperature was increased by a couple of degrees per day, starting at 22°C and reaching 30°C. The wines were devatted and placed in new French oak barriques where malolactic fermentation was completed by the end of the year. After malolactic fermentation the wines were blended and remained in the barriques for a further 12 months, and racked in contact with the air three times. At the end of the ageing period the wine was tasted barrique by barrique and bottled after due selection. After another year’s ageing in the bottles the wine was rele Alcohol : ohol: 13.5%

History

Solaia, which means the 'sunny one' in Italian, is a 10 hectares (25 acres) southwest-facing vineyard planted 351-396 metres (1,150-1,300 feet) above sea-level on stony calcareous soil of marl and friable albarese rock. It is located at Tignanello estate, contiguous to the homonymous vineyard, which is on the same property, in the Mercatale Val di Pesa zone of Chianti Classico. Antinori first produced a single-vineyard wine from these vines with the 1978 vintage (which was a limited release only in Italy); the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, which was repeated in 1979. During following vintages, 20% Sangiovese was introduced and small adjustments were made (according to vintage) to the proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc used, to arrive at today's blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 20% Sangiovese. Solaia was not produced in the 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1992 vintages.