Antinori Tenuta Tignanello 2012 is a milestone wine for the winery, produced with a selection of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Tignanello was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. The 2012 vintage is potent and complex on the nose, with elegant mouth-filling flavours. The wine has been aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels, partly new and partly used, for 12-14 months, and is only bottled in great vintage years.
The label was designed by Silvio Coppola in 1974 for the release of Tignanello 1971. The idea to commission this artist was discussed at an event at Castello della Sala in 1973.
After a mild and dry autumn, the winter of 2012 in Chianti Classico was characterized by cold temperatures and normal rainfall, above all in the months of January and February. The months of April and May were marked by ample precipitation, a fundamental factor in enabling the vines to confront the lengthy rainless period which began in June and lasted all the way to the end of August, conditioning the development of vines both in terms of the growth of the canopy and the size and weight of the berries. The harvesting of the grapes was concentrated in the period between September 20th and October 10th, beginning with the Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese and terminating with the Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2012 vintage is potent and complex on the nose with spicy notes that mingle with aromas of red fruit, smoke and additional hints of cherries, plums and rosemary. The mouthfeel is elegant with much volume and an excellent balance in the texture. The oak is integrated perfectly with the spicy notes and fruity finish.
