A Tasting Through the Antinori Estates Wines

It is not every day that you get invited to a portfolio tasting of wines from Italy’s Antinori Estates. Many of you have probably heard of their most famous wine, Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT, a Super Tuscan, that helped lead the way to blend in International grape varieties, e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Italy’s Sangiovese grape in Tuscany. I did not get a chance to taste Tignanello on this day but enjoyed many delicious wines.

I have tasted many of these wines in the past, but they were mixed in with other Italian wineries. This is the first time that I had the chance to concentrate on the wines from Antinori Estates only in a tasting. On their website, they have a simple, descriptive map showing the locations of their different estates in Italy. I think it is quite useful to view to give you an idea of the region and terroir for these estates. Here is a screen capture of that map.

Antinori Estates wineries in Italy map (click to enlarge)

What the map does not show is their winery, Tomaresca in Puglia (southern Italy), Antica in California, and Haras de Pirque in Chile.

Some of these wines qualify for the splurge category pricing, but there are some wines at lower prices and some that are currently on sale at BC Liquor stores as I’ve shown below. Cin cin.

My Wine Tasting Notes

Antinori Estates Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma DOC Bianco, Tuscany (BC $24.99 on sale till Nov 26) – Nice toast and stonefruit nose with more on the palate. Some stoniness. Medium acidity. Lean mouthfeel. A touch peppery. –

Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Vermentino Bolgheri DOC 2020, Tuscany ($33.99) – Light lemon colour. Green fruit and vegetal aromas. Similar to a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Dry, medium-plus body and acidity. Green fruit and green pepper flavours. Tart flavours. Some minerality as well. Excellent.

Antinori Estates Antinori Antica Chardonnay 2018, Napa Valley, California ($55.99) – Light lemon green colour. Light aromas of apple, sweet spices and toast. Dry and smooth. Low acidity. Toast, pineapple, and buttery flavour. –

Antinori Estates Le Mortelle Vivia Maremma DOC Bianco, Guado Al Tasso Vermentino Bolgheri DOC 2020, and Antica Chardonnay 2018 wines

Antinori Estates Castello della Sala Conte della Vipera Sauvignon IGT, Umbria ($64.99) – A medium lemon green colour. Light toast and lemon aromas. Dry, medium-body, and medium acidity. Lemon, roasted apples and light toastiness. A light peppery finish.

Antinori Estates Castello della Sala Bramito Chardonnay IGT, Umbria ($34.99) – Medium lemon colour. Light aromas of tropical fruit and stone fruit. Medium-plus lean ad smooth. Sweet spices, tropical fruit and apples on the palate. Medium length.

Antinori Estates Marchese Antinori Cuvee Royale Franciacorta DOCG, Lombardia ($42.99) – sparkling wine. Medium intensity bright lemon colour. Light toast and stone fruit aromas. Medium-plus body, dry with small creamy bubbles. Apple and light toasty flavours. Higher acidity. –

Antinori Estates Castello della Sala Conte della Vipera Sauvignon IGT, Castello della Sala Bramito Chardonnay IGT, and Marchese Antinori Cuvee Royale Franciacorta DOCG wines

Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Scalabrone Rosato Bolgheri DOC, Tuscany ($32.99) – Light orange rose petal colour. A light intensity red fruit nose. Medium plus body and acidity. The acidity leaves a light prickle in your mouth. Fresh red fruit and a touch of leafiness. Light tannins. Medium-plus length. –

Antinori Estates Aldobandesca “A” Toscana Rosato IGT 2020, Tuscany ($57.99) – Light orangy pink colour. Nice light aromas of sweet red fruits. Dry, medium-body with a light mouthfeel. Tart red fruit and a touch of tropical fruit. More acidity than tannins. Peppery on the finish. –

Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Scalabrone Rosato Bolgheri DOC and Antinori Estates Aldobandesca A Toscana Rosato IGT 2020 wines

Antinori Estates Prunotto Mompertone Monferrato DOC 2015, Piedmont ($26.99) – Medium garnet colour. Lighter aromas of red fruit and some meatiness. Medium body, smooth with very soft tannins and medium acidity. Cherries plus dark chocolate on the palate. –

Antinori Estates Prunotto Barolo DOCG 2017, Piedmont ($64.99) – A pale garnet colour. Light red fruit and dustiness on the nose. Dry and smooth with a medium body. Floral, red fruit and oak flavours. Medium tannins. –

Antinori Estates Prunotto Barbaresco DOCG 2015, Piedmont ($48.99) – A pale garnet mixed with red cherry colour. A light red cherry nose. Dry, medium acidity and soft tannins. Light red fruit flavours plus floral. Dry medium-intensity tannins on the finish. An elegant wine.

Antinori Estates Prunotto Mompertone Monferrato DOC 2015, Prunotto Barolo DOCG 2017, and Prunotto Barbaresco DOCG 2015 wines

Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Cont’Ugo Bolgheri DOC 2020, Tuscany ($70.99) – made with Merlot grapes. This wine has a deep garnet colour. Medium-intensity nose showing ripe dark fruit, cedar and a touch of vanilla. Dry, soft, medium-body with a lightly round mouthfeel. Juicy red fruit, sweet spices, cedar and a bit peppery to the finish. A quality wine.

Antinori Estates Marchese Antinori Tenuta Tignanello Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2019, Tuscany ($57.99) – A medium-intensity dull garnet colour. Light black berry and black fruit nose. Medium-plus body with a smooth mouthfeel, light tannins and medium acidity. Dark fruit, juicy berries and nutmeg on the palate. Medium length. Delicious.

Antinori Estates Badia A Passignano Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018, Tuscany ($67.99) – Clear medium-intensity garnet colour. Ripe juicy and candied red fruit aromas. Medium-plus body, smooth and round, with a thicker mouthfeel. Ripe black berries and sweet spices flavours. Medium acidity and tannins. –

Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Cont'Ugo Bolgheri DOC 2020, Marchese Antinori Tenuta Tignanello Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2019, and Badia A Passignano Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018 wines — Antinori Estates Guado Al Tasso Cont’Ugo Bolgheri DOC 2020, Marchese Antinori Tenuta Tignanello Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2019, and Badia A Passignano Chianti Classico DOCG Gran Selezione 2018 wines

Antinori Estates Pian Delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016, Tuscany ($75.99 on sale till Nov 26) – a medium intensity red cherry colour. Nice aromas of red cherries, sweet spices and a touch of oak. Medium body with a lean mouthfeel. Juicy red fruit and some tartness. Medium tannins and medium-plus acidity. Can age another 3-4 years.

Antinori Estates Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018, Tuscany ($30.99 on sale till Nov 26) – A deeper, dull garnet colour. Medium-intensity aromas of cut red apple, red fruit and touches of oak and sweet spices. Dry and lean mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Bright flavours of juicy berries and some candied cherries.

Antinori Estates Villa Antinori Rosso Toscana IGT 2019, Tuscany ($31.99) – A deeper garnet colour. Raspberries and red fruit aromas, light intensity. Dry, medium-plus body with juicy berries and red cherry flavours. Medium acidity and lighter tannins. Drying tannins on the finish.