FACTFILE - Antinori Tignanello 2006Name: Antinori Tignanello 2006 IGT
Grapes: 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 5% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 13.5%
Region: In the heart of Chianti Classico.
Style: Marl, shale and chalk soils in the centre of the Chianti Classico region produce Tignanello, the jewel in the CC crown. A year in barrel and a year in bottle; the IGT label allows Antinori flexibility over the grape percentage, barrel and bottle ageing etc, even so, Tignanello is consistent in style year on year.
Vintage: 2006 was a capricious growing season with fretful glances to the sky throughout. A cold autumn and winter led to late budding with both spring and summer bringing frequent rains, however a dry and hot harvest month led to perfect ripening and the vintage was not only saved, but excellent.
Food Pairing: Lamb/Veal Chops, Heavy Pasta/Mushroom Sauce & Beef.
I'm a year behind on Tignanello! The Tignanello posts for '04 and '05 are the most frequently searched on Wine90 proving that Tignanello is a wine of huge interest both at home and abroad, as a fine wine, it is perhaps the most famous Italian wine of all. The love affair for this "Super Tuscan" continues unabated even with the growing movement for well produced varietal examples of traditional Italian grapes. The Far East are now taking an interest in the "Supers" and with the price doubling just in the few years I've been writing this blog it will be interesting to track the movement of the Tig market in the next few years.
The Antinori Tignanello 2006 currently retails in the UK for between £65 and £75 per bottle and is totally overpriced. Just three years ago I was selling this wine for £38 a bottle and this for the brilliant '04. Back in 2008 Tignanello was still a bargain, in 2011 this wine would need to score huge in order to make this a fair QPR wine. As it stands, this will be the first Tignanello I've ever PASS'ed. Still a powerful and dense wine but no longer a fair price and with many other wines from Tuscany, Umbria and a few even from Lazio offering a very similar experience for half the price, Tignanello 2006 is a label only and not one I'll aspire to. The coming vintages will either have to be much more impressive or stabilize on price, or, as will likely be the case, be enjoyed in wine markets other than the UK.
Antinori Tignanello 2006 - PASS - £70
The wine sits intense, deep ruby red in the glass. Cherry, Spice, Herb and hints of oak on the nose combine for an initially stunted but eventual punchy and rich aroma. Great density of flavour and richness on the palate, firm tannic structure and solid acidity; this wine is in balance. Vibrant and fruit forward through the palate with a clean and satisfying finish. Very good wine, but not extra special or "super". 92 Points
Where can I buy this Wine?
Brits - The Wine Library - £70
Americans - NC Wine Market - $76
Europeans - La Loggia - €50
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Anyone in the UK willing to pay £70+ for Tignanello?
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