The wait is over as today Tignanello 2015 is released in Italy!

The wine which started the Supertuscan revolution in 1971, disobeying the rules of the Chianti appellation and proving the potential of Tuscany on the world wine scene, is as popular as ever: from the tables of London fine restaurants to the cellars of investors and collectors the demand remains strong (and the availability limited).

Expectations are very high as the 2015 vintage is widely considered the “perfect” one: cold and relatively dry winter, rain in March and April, dry weather in May and June with peak temperatures in July, but also with highly positive temperature swings from daytime warmth to evening and nighttime coolness which assured a constant growth of the grape bunches free of stress. The month of August, warm as well, was characterised by occasional rainfall which favoured a fine onset to the ripening of the crop. The picking took place between mid-September and early October in a climate of dry and breezy weather. A vineyard manager couldn’t ask for better conditions: grapes were completely ripe and healthy.

In the winery the level of attention remained high when the crop arrived: after the fermentation in conical tanks and subsequent maceration of the must the wine went into oak barrels for a malolactic fermentation. The ageing process then began, 14 to 16 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels, some new and others already used once previously. The various lots, fermented and aged variety by variety and kept separately until this moment, were then blended together a few months before being bottled, with a final 12 months in bottle before the commercial release.

2015 blend: 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc

The release for the on trade in UK is expected to be in June / July.

Scores: 98 / 100 (James Suckling – January 2018) – more will follow

Royal Connection: “The name ‘The Tig’ comes from a wine called Tignanello, and the first time I had a sip of this wine, it was such an ‘aha’ moment. I finally understood what people were talking about when they spoke about the body, the legs or structure of wine.” (Meghan Markle, the fiancee of Prince Harry, from her lifestyle blog)