Marchese Antinori Tignanello

Tignanello: The Tuscan Wine That Changed the Rules

Tignanello marked a turning point in Italian winemaking. It was the first Sangiovese to be matured in barriques, one of the earliest modern Chianti Classico wines made without white grapes, and a pioneer in blending Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. These decisions challenged Tuscan tradition at the time, but helped establish an entirely new standard for fine Italian red wine.

Produced only in suitable vintages, Tignanello remains one of Tuscany’s most highly regarded wines. Sangiovese gives the wine its bright red fruit, savoury character and freshness, while Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc bring depth, structure and darker fruit.

Marchese Antinori Tignanello, Producer

The Antinori family has been making wine in Tuscany for more than six centuries. The family acquired the Tignanello estate in 1900 and went on to create wines that would reshape the international reputation of Italian wine. Today, Antinori remains one of Italy’s most respected producers, with estates across Tuscany and several other important Italian wine regions.

Tignanello Vineyard and Winemaking

Tenuta Tignanello lies in the heart of Chianti Classico, between the Greve and Pesa valleys. Of the estate’s 147 hectares of vineyards, 47 are dedicated to Tignanello, planted on marl and limestone-rich soils.

The grapes are destemmed and carefully sorted berry by berry before fermentation. The individual parcels are vinified separately, allowing the winemaking team to manage extraction precisely and develop colour, flavour and structure without making the tannins feel aggressive.

Following malolactic fermentation in small oak barrels, the wine matures in predominantly French oak, with a small proportion of Hungarian oak. Each barrel is assessed individually before the final blend is assembled, after which the wine receives further bottle ageing before release.

Tignanello’s Famous Label

Tignanello’s distinctive label was created by Italian designer Silvio Coppola in 1974 for the release of the 1971 vintage. Coppola was known for his clean, minimalist work across furniture, lighting and book design. His bold but refined label became a fitting visual identity for a wine that was itself breaking with convention.

Marchese Antinori Tignanello 2022

The 2022 vintage is a blend of 78% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc. A warm, dry spring and summer produced excellent concentration, while rain during August brought cooler conditions and helped restore freshness before harvest.

The wine was matured for just over 13 months in French oak and a very small proportion of Hungarian oak, with the majority of barrels new. The separate lots were then blended and returned to barrel before spending a further 12 months ageing in bottle.

In the glass, Tignanello 2022 is an intense ruby red with youthful purple reflections. Aromas of cherry, ripe black cherry and pomegranate are joined by violet, rose, mint and fresh balsamic herbs. With air, deeper notes of blackcurrant, bramble fruit, liquorice and graphite emerge alongside cinnamon, vanilla and subtle oak spice.

The palate is generous and velvety, with ripe fruit and impressive depth balanced by vivid Sangiovese acidity. Dense, beautifully polished tannins become almost silky through the middle of the palate before leading into a long, savoury and mineral finish. It is already remarkably expressive, but its concentration and structure promise excellent development in the cellar.

Tignanello Food Pairing Suggestion:

Serve Tignanello with Tuscan beef tagliata, rosemary potatoes, cavolo nero and a rich red wine jus. Its freshness and polished tannins cut through the beef beautifully, while its savoury fruit and herbal notes complement the rosemary and greens.

About Tignanello:

• The 2022 blend contains 78% Sangiovese, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Cabernet Franc.
• Tignanello was the first Sangiovese matured in barriques.
• It was among the earliest modern Chianti Classico wines produced without white grapes.
• The wine comes from a dedicated 47-hectare vineyard within the Tenuta Tignanello estate.
• Wine Advocate suggests the 2022 can be enjoyed through to 2045.

Marchese Antinori Tignanello 2022 Awards:

• Wine Advocate – 97/100 points
• James Suckling – 96/100 points
• Vinous – 95/100 points