Tignanello – Marchesi Antinori, Tuscany 1997

Tignanello – Marchesi Antinori Toscana 1997: A milestone in Italian winemaking

The 1997 Tignanello from Marchesi Antinori is far more than just a great wine – it is a piece of Italian wine-growing history. It hails from the legendary Tenuta Tignanello in the heart of Chianti Classico and embodies the vision of Marchese Piero Antinori, who revolutionised the wine world with this wine in the 1970s. The 1997 vintage is regarded as one of the finest of the 20th century and lends this wine a depth and complexity that make it one of the most sought-after Super Tuscans of all time.

The birth of a legend

The history of Tignanello is inextricably linked to the courage and foresight of Marchese Piero Antinori. In 1971, he presented for the first time a wine that broke with all the conventions of Chianti: he dispensed with the traditionally added white grape varieties, using Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc instead , and aged the Sangiovese in small barriques for the first time . What is taken for granted today was a revolution back then – Tignanello is regarded as the birth of the ‘Super Tuscans’ . Under its original designation, ‘Chianti Classico Riserva vigneto Tignanello’, it was first produced from a single vineyard with the 1970 vintage; with the 1971 vintage, it became a ‘Vino da Tavola Toscana’ and was henceforth known as Tignanello . Since 1982, the blend has remained unchanged: 80 per cent Sangiovese, 15 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 per cent Cabernet Franc . Tignanello is produced only in the best vintages – it was not produced in years such as 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1984, 1992 and 2002 .

Tenuta Tignanello and its terroir

Tignanello is produced exclusively from grapes grown in the vineyard of the same name, which is situated at Tenuta Tignanello and comprises 77 hectares of south-west-facing vineyards at altitudes between 350 and 400 metres. The soils are calcareous with tuff elements – a terroir that lends the Sangiovese a remarkable structure and minerality . The estate lies at the heart of the Chianti Classico appellation, between the municipalities of San Casciano and Greve in Chianti.

The 1997 vintage: A historic year

The 1997 vintage is described by Decanter as “one of the best vintages of the past 50 years”. The growing season was characterised by early ripening, and hot, sunny conditions persisted right through to harvest . Catawiki’s wine experts describe 1997 as ‘one of the great Italian vintages of the 1990s’, with wines of ‘remarkable structure, elegance and ageing potential ’. The winemaking process followed the estate’s traditions: alcoholic fermentation took place at temperatures that never exceeded 30 °C, followed by malolactic fermentation in barriques. The wine was aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (225 litres, Tronçais and Alliers, partly new, partly one-year-old) and was bottled unfiltered . Before being released onto the market , it was cellared for a further twelve months in the bottle .

Tasting notes: A wine of rare perfection

The tasting notes for the 1997 Tignanello paint a picture of a wine at the peak of its maturity. Monica Larner (Wine Advocate) awarded it 94 points and described it as “by far the most enjoyable” of the four decades of Tignanello tasted: “I found absolutely no imperfections in this wine. Instead, the bouquet is generous and opulent, with dark berries, spices, liquorice and leather. The finish is silky and long-lingering .” Robert Parker awarded 93 points and noted: “The 1997 Tignanello is a blend of 80 per cent Sangiovese, 15 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 5 per cent Cabernet Franc, aged for 12 months in small French oak barrels and bottled unfiltered. It has a dense, ruby-red/purple colour and an expansive nose of blackcurrants, cherry compote, vanilla and earth. Sweet, jammy and opulent in texture – an expansive, concentrated, low-acidity wine that is flashy and beautifully proportioned.” Wine Spectator awarded 96 points and described it as a “fabulous Tuscan red, young and racy. Deep, dark ruby red in colour, with focused aromas of blackberries, wood and very ripe fruit. Full-bodied, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, long finish" . Wine Enthusiast awarded 93 points and highlighted “black cherry and cedarwood aromas” as well as “liquorice and Mouton-like pencil shavings”, with “soft tannins, good grip and tobacco-nut-mineral-dust accents ”. Decanter also awarded 93 points and noted: “Initially, the 1997 Tignanello has elements of a mature Left Bank Bordeaux, with dark fruit and leafy cedar notes. With time in the glass, sweeter herbs, dried red berries and leather emerge. There is still plenty to chew on, although the tannins have softened.” Jancis Robinson MW awarded 17.5/20 points and described a ‘well-mannered blend on the nose. Attractive, well-mannered – it would be a good introduction to Sangiovese. A slight bitterness on the finish. Not particularly long or intense, but very well made ”. Vinous awarded 91 points and noted “candied, super-ripe fruit, made more complex by subtle notes of smoke and sweet liquorice ”. The CellarTracker community has given an average rating of 92 points . Gambero Rosso awarded 2 Bicchieri and described the vintage as “a memorable vintage that displays a distinction we haven’t encountered since ’93, perhaps even since ’88 ”. Falstaff awarded 88 points and described it as “a medium carmine-red garnet colour with a broad brick-red rim; smoky on the nose with typical Sangiovese notes and delicate hints of almond; clean and of medium body on the palate, cherries and dried fruit – a very decent red wine with typical Chianti character ”.

A window into a bygone era

The 1997 Tignanello is now a sought-after rarity. The existence of this vintage is documented by numerous auction lots at renowned auction houses. A 1.5-litre magnum bottle in its original wooden case was offered on WineBid. A lot of twelve bottles was auctioned at Heritage Auctions. Two magnum bottles were offered at Bonhams. Production amounted to around 27,000 cases . The optimal drinking window is stated as 2015 to 2030, with the wine, according to Monica Larner, being “at a perfect moment in its drinking window ”. For lovers of great Italian wines, the 1997 Tignanello is an extraordinary experience – a liquid monument to a bygone era of Italian winemaking, bearing the hallmark of one of the 20th century’s most significant winemakers, and which, after more than two decades of ageing in the bottle, has retained remarkable depth, elegance and vitality.