1989 Marchesi Antinori Solaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany [V-93pts]

Ratings & Tasting Notes: 93 points Vinous Much the same is true of the 1989 Solaia, another wine endowed with terrific balance, if a bit less showiness than most of the other wines in this complete vertical. It is a highly integrated, graceful library release that trades upfront power for seamless harmony. The tertiary aromatics have opened up beautifully, displaying a fine-grained, classic Italian silhouette that continues to show incredibly well for its advanced age. Antonio Galloni, October 2015 91 points Wine Spectator Lean, trim, and firmly structured, this is an old-school Super Tuscan that shows an earthy, traditional soul. The bouquet offers complex notes of cedar, leather, dry spice, and a core of dried black cherry fruit. It sits firmly on the palate, carrying resolved but slightly drying tannins that trail into a long, beautifully complex, tobacco-infused finish. James Suckling, October 1992 Cult Wines International Notes: Solaia stands as one of the ultimate, globally revered crown jewels of the legendary Marchesi Antinori winemaking dynasty, originally created in 1978 as an avant-garde, ultra-premium single-vineyard cuvée. Meaning “the sunny one,” Solaia is named after a perfectly exposed, 20-hectare hillside plot situated 1,300 feet above sea level at the Tignanello estate in the heart of Chianti Classico. While its famous sibling Tignanello relies primarily on local Sangiovese, Solaia flips the script, operating as a majestic, Cabernet-dominant powerhouse designed to rival the finest Bordeaux First Growths. The 1989 release showcases a historic, classic late-80s blend, weaving 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 10% Cabernet Franc sourced entirely from the vineyard’s highly unique limestone, marl, and alberese soils. The 1989 growing season in Tuscany was a dramatic, high-stakes climatic narrative that demanded immense patience and fanatical vineyard selection. Following a variable spring, the summer months offered superb, consistent heat that allowed the fruit to build an incredible level of early sugar concentration and thick, tannin-rich skins. However, the region’s bid for a textbook harvest was suddenly interrupted in September by a series of persistent rain showers. While these late-season rains presented severe rot and dilution risks across central Italy, Solaia’s high-altitude hillside placement and well-draining soils dramatically mitigated the moisture. Through meticulous manual cluster-sorting, Antinori brought in a low-yielding, deeply concentrated crop of immaculate fruit. The juice was traditionally fermented with extended skin contact before undergoing a luxurious, 14-month maturation program in 100% new French oak barriques. At over three and a half decades of age, the 1989 Solaia has transitioned into a highly sophisticated, fully mature library masterpiece. The intense, primary dark fruit flavors of its youth have gracefully evolved to reveal complex, tertiary layers of saddle leather, sweet tobacco leaf, cedarwood, espresso grounds, and crushed Mediterranean herbs. Supported by fully integrated, powdery tannins and a vibrant undercurrent of classic Tuscan acidity, this rare vintage offers an exceptionally harmonious, savory tasting experience for serious collectors of historic Italian royalty. Bottle Size: 750 mL Storage History: Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar. Condition: Outstanding condition. Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images. https://cultwinesintl.com/wp-content/uploads/2099/03/CWI-LISTING-VID.mp4