2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello
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Tasting notes
Here is the ultimate wild card in the thick stack of aces that make up the Marchesi Antinori portfolio. It is the proverbial "jolly" (the name for the joker card in Italian) or the jack of all trades. The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello can been seen as a huge provocation and that's the way I've decided to interpret it. When the Gran Selezione category was created in the Chianti Classico appellation, many important leaders hoped that the Antinori family would convert their landmark super Tuscan Tignanello into a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wine. The Antinori clan indicated that they had no intention of removing Tignanello from its IGT Toscana status. Instead, they dedicated some fruit from the same vineyard site to this wine. The Riserva category is often seen as a stepping stone to Grand Selezione and I wonder if that is the direction this wine is headed? Will there one day be two wines from this historic vineyard: The IGT Tignanello and a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Tenuta Tignanello? There's some food for thought. The wine is very balanced and nuanced with pretty mineral notes, followed by red cherry flavors and mild spice.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori is distinguished in this lineup for its freshness and aromatic intensity, both signatures of the Tignanello estate. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and cinnamon are some of the notes that meld together. Lithe, medium in body and gracious, the 2012 is wonderfully refined from start to finish. Today, my sense is that the 2012 still has room for improvement.
About the producer
Marchesi Antinori is a leading Italian producer, historically based in Tuscany, who rose to fame after creating Tignanello – one of the first Super Tuscans . Combining tradition and innovation to craft fine wine, the family-owned firm has been a force in the Italian wine industry for over 600 years.