Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/164544
Marchese Piero Antinori and his daughters - Albiera, Allegra and Alessia. Chianti Classico Riserva Comes to the Villa Antinori Portfolio M archesi Antinori of Tuscany has released the first vintage (2010) of Villa Antinori Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva to join its well-regarded Villa Antinori Toscana IGT Rosso and Bianco portfolio of wines. As a leading producer in Tuscany and Chianti Classico, Marchesi Antinori has been working on a Riserva for many years for the U.S. market, but only wanted to release a wine that met the family's very high standards. The new Marchesi Antinori Chianti Classico Cellar in Bargino, Italy, is where this wine is made and where it ages. As the Antinori family likes to say, the new winery is "the home" of the Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva. The Antinori family owns four estates within the boundaries of the Chianti Classico DOCG. The historic estates of Tignanello, Badia a Passignano and Pèppoli have recently been joined by Antinori's new state-of-the-art Cantina del Chianti Classico. These estates produce four Chianti Classico wines adhering to the strict rules governing the production of DOCG wines. The world's first officially defined wine-producing region was created in 1716 when Cosimo III de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, established the Chianti zone. The region grew in 1932 to include a larger area of Tuscany. In 1984 the current Chianti Classico DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) zone was created, with boundaries roughly the same as the original or "classico" Chianti edict of 1716. Today's Chianti Classico zone covers approximately 100 square miles between Florence and Siena. Although it is small in size, the region has a wide variety of microclimates created by varying altitudes, soil types, and climate. Tuscany's summers tend to be hot and dry, while winters can be bitterly cold, sending vine roots deep into the soil. The Sangiovese grape, which forms the foundation of all Chianti Classico wines, is strongly influenced by terroir. After 26 generations, the Antinoris have mastered the nuances of the grape and the region. Crafted from 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot, the 2010 Villa Antinori Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva is intense ruby red in color with fruit and spice aromas. Light touches from the oak aging underscore the cherry and red berry notes that are typical of the Sangiovese grape. The wine's flavors are harmonious on the palate with tannins that are balanced and ripe. The lingering finish is vibrant with a pleasing minerality, which is typical of Chianti Classico. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 40 / the tasting panel / september 2013 TP0913_034-62.indd 40 8/22/13 9:21 PM