The Internal Ranking: Why the 2007 is So Special in Tignanello’s History

There exists for Tignanello a quiet, unofficial hierarchy of vintages — a list maintained by critics and collectors alike that separates the great from the truly exceptional. At the very top stand the vintages that prove not merely excellent but epochal: 1985, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018. The 2007 stands in this company not despite its history, but because of it.

A Hot Summer, a Cool August — The Recipe for Perfection

The weather record of 2007 on the Tenuta Tignanello reads like the script of a winemaker inventing their ideal vintage. The spring was early and mild — the flowering proceeded uniformly and completely. The first part of the summer was warm and dry, the grapes developing concentration and phenolic ripeness. Then, in August, the weather cooled — exactly when the Sangiovese needs it most. The day-night temperature differentials preserved aromatic freshness and natural acidity. September was perfect for a slow, selective harvest.

Antinori themselves wrote of the 2007: “The Sangiovese expressed its characteristic varietal aromatic notes and elegance, along with beautiful colour, all of which made it possible to foresee a truly great vintage.”

The Last Vintage of the Old Winery

There is a historical detail about the 2007 Tignanello that distinguishes it from every other vintage: it was the last produced before the comprehensive renovation of the Tignanello winery. A winery that since the first vintage of 1971 had been the cradle of a winemaking revolution — the place where Giacomo Tachis and Piero Antinori had broken the rules and invented the Super Tuscans.

Monica Larner, chief critic for Italy at Wine Advocate, found this context significant: the 2007 was not merely a great wine, but the end of a chapter. What came after — the new winery, the new facilities, the new vintages — was a continuation of the story, but a new page. The 2007 is the last line of the first great paragraph.

Today: A Wine in its Third Dimension

Burgundy lovers speak of the “Plénitudes” — the maturation phases of a great wine. Tignanello lovers need no such terminology, but the concept applies equally. After 18 years, the 2007 has reached its third dimension: the phase where primary fruit fuses with tertiary aromas of tobacco, leather, spice and earth — a complexity that can neither be bought nor accelerated. One can only wait.

And then drink. Now.

Marchese Antinori – Six Centuries of Tuscan Nobility in a Bottle

The Antinori family has been synonymous with Italian wine excellence for over 26 generations, with roots tracing back to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. Today, the Marchesi Antinori estate remains one of the oldest and most prestigious family-owned wineries in the world, celebrated for its pioneering spirit and deep connection to Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region.

At the heart of the Antinori legacy is a profound respect for tradition, balanced with a drive for innovation. The family was among the first to experiment with non-native grape varieties and modern winemaking techniques in Tuscany—ultimately helping to define the Super Tuscan movement. Yet, it is their devotion to Chianti Classico that continues to shine as a timeless symbol of quality and elegance.

Marchese Antinori – Chianti Classico Riserva

Crafted from grapes grown on the Tignanello estate, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is a sophisticated and refined expression of Tuscan terroir. This wine represents the Antinori family’s commitment to preserving the identity of Sangiovese, the region’s noble grape, while elevating it with meticulous vineyard selection and aging techniques.

The blend is typically composed of 90% Sangiovese, with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, depending on the vintage. It undergoes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in French and Hungarian oak barrels for about a year, and additional bottle refinement before release.

The result is a wine that offers aromatic complexity, with notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, spices, leather, and subtle tobacco. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and silky, with well-integrated tannins and a long, elegant finish—a perfect balance between structure and finesse, tradition and modernity.

A Pillar of Chianti Classico

• Produced on the historic Tignanello estate in the Chianti Classico heartland

• Estate-grown Sangiovese enhanced by international varietals

• Aged in oak for richness and aging potential

• A benchmark Riserva for those seeking authenticity, elegance, and depth

Whether enjoyed young for its vibrant fruit or cellared for further evolution, Marchese Antinori’s Chianti Classico Riserva captures the essence of Tuscan winemaking at its finest.

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia: The Super Tuscan Dream

In the early 1980s, the coastal region of Bolgheri in Tuscany was largely a swampy, forgotten landscape, famous only for peaches and strawberries. But Marchese Lodovico Antinori saw something else. Inspired by the success of his cousin’s Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia) and his own travels to California and Bordeaux, he founded Tenuta dell’Ornellaia in 1981. His vision was bold: to plant classic Bordeaux grape varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—on the Tuscan coast and create wines that could rival the absolute best in the world.

A Unique Coastal Terroir The magic of Ornellaia lies in its unique geography. Situated close to the Mediterranean Sea, the vineyards benefit from constant cooling sea breezes that moderate the intense summer heat. The soils are a complex, ancient mosaic of marine, alluvial, and volcanic elements. This diversity allows each grape variety to be planted exactly where it will thrive. The result is a perfect balance between the ripe, opulent fruit character of the Tuscan sun and the structured, elegant backbone of the Bordeaux varieties.

The Pursuit of Excellence From the very beginning, Ornellaia operated on a philosophy of uncompromising quality. This means severe pruning, manicured vineyards, and harvesting block by block only when the grapes reach perfect phenolic maturity. Today, the estate is owned by the Frescobaldi family, another legendary Tuscan wine dynasty, who have fiercely protected Lodovico’s original vision. Ornellaia is not just a winery; it is a testament to human intuition and the absolute pinnacle of the Super Tuscan movement.

Marchese Antinori – Six Centuries of Tuscan Nobility in a Bottle

The Antinori family has been synonymous with Italian wine excellence for over 26 generations, with roots tracing back to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. Today, the Marchesi Antinori estate remains one of the oldest and most prestigious family-owned wineries in the world, celebrated for its pioneering spirit and deep connection to Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region.

At the heart of the Antinori legacy is a profound respect for tradition, balanced with a drive for innovation. The family was among the first to experiment with non-native grape varieties and modern winemaking techniques in Tuscany—ultimately helping to define the Super Tuscan movement. Yet, it is their devotion to Chianti Classico that continues to shine as a timeless symbol of quality and elegance.

Marchese Antinori – Chianti Classico Riserva

Crafted from grapes grown on the Tignanello estate, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is a sophisticated and refined expression of Tuscan terroir. This wine represents the Antinori family’s commitment to preserving the identity of Sangiovese, the region’s noble grape, while elevating it with meticulous vineyard selection and aging techniques.

The blend is typically composed of 90% Sangiovese, with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, depending on the vintage. It undergoes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in French and Hungarian oak barrels for about a year, and additional bottle refinement before release.

The result is a wine that offers aromatic complexity, with notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, spices, leather, and subtle tobacco. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and silky, with well-integrated tannins and a long, elegant finish—a perfect balance between structure and finesse, tradition and modernity.

A Pillar of Chianti Classico

• Produced on the historic Tignanello estate in the Chianti Classico heartland

• Estate-grown Sangiovese enhanced by international varietals

• Aged in oak for richness and aging potential

• A benchmark Riserva for those seeking authenticity, elegance, and depth

Whether enjoyed young for its vibrant fruit or cellared for further evolution, Marchese Antinori’s Chianti Classico Riserva captures the essence of Tuscan winemaking at its finest.

If you drive south through Tuscany, past the manicured hills of Chianti and Montalcino, you eventually reach a place that feels like the end of the world. This is the Val d’Orcia—a wild, lunar landscape of blue clay and crumbling limestone. For centuries, this was sheep country, devoid of vineyards. That is, until Andrea Franchetti arrived.

Franchetti, who passed away in 2021, was one of the wine world’s true eccentrics and visionaries. Related to the Rothschild family and the artist Cy Twombly, he lived a bohemian life before deciding, in the 1990s, to plant a vineyard in this remote “no man’s land.” Everyone thought he was crazy. The climate was extreme, the isolation total.

But Franchetti saw something no one else did. He saw similarities to the great soils of Saint-Émilion. He planted Bordeaux varieties—Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot—at incredibly high densities, forcing the vines to fight for survival. His philosophy was simple but brutal: very low yields and extreme ripeness. He would often harvest weeks later than his neighbors, waiting for the grapes to shrivel slightly, concentrating their sugars and flavors.

The result was an overnight sensation. Tenuta di Trinoro became an instant cult classic, proving that this wild corner of Tuscany could produce wines of shocking power, exotic perfume, and longevity. Today, the estate stands as a lonely, magnificent monument to one man’s daring vision to create a Grand Cru where there was once only wilderness.

In the fiercely competitive world of Bordeaux, it is almost impossible to create a new “legend” overnight. Yet, that is exactly what Christian Moueix—the man behind Château Pétrus—did with Château Hosanna.

The story begins in 1999. The Moueix family purchased the historic Château Certan-Giraud, a property located on the prestigious Pomerol plateau. Christian Moueix, with his incredible eye for terroir, realized that the estate was actually two distinct vineyards masked as one. He sold off the lesser parcels and kept only the “heart”: a small, jewel-like plot of old vines situated directly between Château Pétrus, Château Lafleur, and Vieux Château Certan.

He renamed this prime plot Château Hosanna.

The terroir here is arguably the best in the world for Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It features the same blue clay found at Pétrus (which gives power and depth) mixed with the red gravel found at Lafleur (which gives elegance and aromatics). But the secret weapon of Hosanna is its magnificent old-vine Cabernet Franc. These vines, some of which date back to the 1950s, give the wine a distinct floral complexity and finesse that often draws comparisons to the legendary Château Cheval Blanc.

Today, Hosanna is often called the “feminine” counterpart to the “masculine” Château Trotanoy (another Moueix property). It is a wine of grace, silky texture, and profound depth, proving that while the name may be young, the soul of the vineyard is ancient and noble.

Tignanello 1981, Marchese Antinori

Marchese Antinori – Six Centuries of Tuscan Nobility in a Bottle

The Antinori family has been synonymous with Italian wine excellence for over 26 generations, with roots tracing back to 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. Today, the Marchesi Antinori estate remains one of the oldest and most prestigious family-owned wineries in the world, celebrated for its pioneering spirit and deep connection to Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region.

At the heart of the Antinori legacy is a profound respect for tradition, balanced with a drive for innovation. The family was among the first to experiment with non-native grape varieties and modern winemaking techniques in Tuscany—ultimately helping to define the Super Tuscan movement. Yet, it is their devotion to Chianti Classico that continues to shine as a timeless symbol of quality and elegance.

Marchese Antinori – Chianti Classico Riserva

Crafted from grapes grown on the Tignanello estate, in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva is a sophisticated and refined expression of Tuscan terroir. This wine represents the Antinori family’s commitment to preserving the identity of Sangiovese, the region’s noble grape, while elevating it with meticulous vineyard selection and aging techniques.

The blend is typically composed of 90% Sangiovese, with small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, depending on the vintage. It undergoes fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, followed by aging in French and Hungarian oak barrels for about a year, and additional bottle refinement before release.

The result is a wine that offers aromatic complexity, with notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, spices, leather, and subtle tobacco. On the palate, it’s full-bodied and silky, with well-integrated tannins and a long, elegant finish—a perfect balance between structure and finesse, tradition and modernity.

A Pillar of Chianti Classico

• Produced on the historic Tignanello estate in the Chianti Classico heartland

• Estate-grown Sangiovese enhanced by international varietals

• Aged in oak for richness and aging potential

• A benchmark Riserva for those seeking authenticity, elegance, and depth

Whether enjoyed young for its vibrant fruit or cellared for further evolution, Marchese Antinori’s Chianti Classico Riserva captures the essence of Tuscan winemaking at its finest.

Nestled in the heart of the Loire Valley, Château de la Grille stands as one of the most prestigious and picturesque estates in Chinon, a region celebrated for its exceptional Cabernet Franc wines. With a rich history dating back centuries, this château seamlessly blends tradition with modern winemaking, offering wines of depth, elegance, and remarkable aging potential.

A Historic Estate with Timeless Charm

Château de la Grille is more than just a winery; it is an emblem of Chinon’s winemaking heritage. The estate’s iconic 16th-century château, surrounded by lush vineyards, is a landmark in the region. While the property has changed hands over the years, it has always maintained its commitment to crafting high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Loire Valley.

Today, Château de la Grille is owned and managed by the Baudry-Dutour family, who have elevated the estate’s reputation through meticulous vineyard management, sustainable farming, and a dedication to producing world-class Cabernet Franc wines.

Terroir – The Essence of Château de la Grille’s Wines

The vineyards of Château de la Grille are situated on some of the finest terroirs in Chinon, benefiting from a unique combination of limestone and clay soils. This distinctive soil composition provides ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc, enhancing the wines with minerality, structure, and aromatic intensity.

• Limestone soils contribute elegance, freshness, and fine tannins, allowing for graceful aging.
• Clay soils add depth, power, and richness to the wines, providing a strong backbone for long-term development.
• The region’s mild climate, influenced by the Vienne River, allows for slow, even ripening, ensuring balanced fruit and acidity.

The result is a collection of refined, structured, and expressive wines, capturing the full potential of Cabernet Franc in its purest form.

Winemaking – Precision and Passion

At Château de la Grille, winemaking is a combination of traditional techniques and modern precision. The estate embraces sustainable viticulture, avoiding chemical treatments whenever possible and employing meticulous vineyard practices to maintain the health of the vines.

Vinification & Aging

• The grapes are harvested at optimal ripeness, carefully sorted, and vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve the purity of fruit.
• The wines undergo gentle extraction, ensuring soft tannins and a balanced structure.
• Aging takes place in French oak barrels, adding subtle complexity while allowing the wines to develop gracefully.

This approach results in wines that are both approachable in their youth and capable of aging for decades, revealing layers of black fruit, floral notes, spice, and earthiness over time.

Signature Wines – The Essence of Chinon

Château de la Grille is best known for producing age-worthy, elegant, and structured Cabernet Franc wines, with a deep sense of terroir. The estate’s wines are celebrated for their silky tannins, vibrant acidity, and complex aromatics, making them some of the most sought-after expressions of Chinon.

One of the flagship offerings from Château de la Grille is its Chinon Rouge, a wine that perfectly captures the estate’s signature style:

• Deep ruby color with violet reflections
• Aromas of blackberries, cassis, violets, and graphite, complemented by delicate spice and earthy undertones
• A silky yet structured palate with fine tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, mineral-driven finish

These wines are perfect for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, making them a favorite among connoisseurs and collectors alike.

Critical Acclaim and International Recognition

Château de la Grille’s wines consistently receive high praise from wine critics and publications:

• Wine Enthusiast: 94/100 – “A stunning expression of Cabernet Franc, combining structure, elegance, and finesse.”
• Decanter: 93/100 – “One of the finest examples of Chinon, showcasing impeccable balance and aging potential.”
• James Suckling: 92/100 – “A wine with depth, complexity, and a wonderfully refined finish.”

Château de la Grille – A Must-Have for Cabernet Franc Lovers

For lovers of Cabernet Franc and Loire Valley wines, Château de la Grille represents the pinnacle of Chinon winemaking. With its dedication to tradition, exceptional terroir, and commitment to excellence, this estate continues to produce some of the most expressive, elegant, and age-worthy wines in France. Whether enjoyed young for its bright fruit and freshness or aged to reveal its full complexity, Château de la Grille remains a benchmark for Chinon and an essential addition to any wine collection.

Clos Rougeard – The Iconic Loire Valley Estate

Clos Rougeard is one of the most legendary and sought-after domaines in the Loire Valley, producing some of the most refined and age-worthy Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc wines in the world. Nestled in the heart of Saumur-Champigny, this historic estate has been revered for centuries, with its reputation reaching cult status under the meticulous stewardship of the Foucault brothers, Charly and Nady. Their commitment to biodynamic farming, low-intervention winemaking, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence elevated Clos Rougeard to an elite level, making their wines some of the most coveted in France and beyond.

A Legacy of Excellence

Clos Rougeard has been family-owned since the 17th century, but it was in the mid-20th century that the Foucault brothers turned it into a benchmark estate. Their philosophy was rooted in organic farming long before it became a trend, believing that great wines are made in the vineyard, not the cellar. They adopted low yields, old vines, and extended aging in carefully selected oak barrels, ensuring a remarkable purity of fruit, structure, and depth in every bottle.

Following Charly Foucault’s passing in 2015, the domaine was acquired in 2017 by the Bouygues family, owners of Château Montrose in Bordeaux. While this marked a new chapter, Clos Rougeard’s winemaking ethos remains unchanged, maintaining the same meticulous approach that made it legendary.

The Vineyards & Terroir

Clos Rougeard is famed for its exceptional limestone-rich terroir in Saumur and Saumur-Champigny. The domaine cultivates Cabernet Franc with unparalleled precision, producing wines of extraordinary elegance, structure, and longevity. They also craft a small amount of Chenin Blanc, which results in some of the most refined and age-worthy expressions of Saumur Blanc.

Clos Rougeard’s vineyards are divided into several distinct parcels, each producing wines of unique character:

• Le Bourg – The crown jewel, sourced from old vines on deep limestone soils, producing the most powerful and age-worthy Saumur-Champigny.

• Les Poyeux – A more elegant and perfumed expression, marked by finesse and minerality.

• Clos – A classic Saumur-Champigny, showcasing the domaine’s signature style of purity and precision.

• Brézé – A stunning Chenin Blanc from one of the Loire’s most prestigious terroirs, combining richness, acidity, and remarkable aging potential.

Winemaking Philosophy

Clos Rougeard’s wines are crafted with a minimalist and patient approach. The estate relies on natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts, long macerations, and extended aging in carefully chosen barrels, often sourced from top Bordeaux châteaux. The result is a wine with incredible depth, fine-grained tannins, and the ability to age for decades.

Unlike many modern producers, Clos Rougeard never rushes its releases. The wines are aged until they reach optimal balance, ensuring that each bottle delivers the unmistakable signature of the estate: elegance, complexity, and terroir-driven purity.

The Cult Status & Rarity

Clos Rougeard’s wines are among the most highly allocated and difficult to obtain in the world, with demand far exceeding supply. Collectors and sommeliers revere these wines for their incredible longevity, evolving beautifully over decades. The estate’s limited production and near-mythical reputation make each bottle a true treasure.

Clos Rougeard is more than just a winery—it is a symbol of uncompromising quality, tradition, and Loire Valley excellence. Whether it’s the legendary Le Bourg, the elegant Les Poyeux, or the mineral-driven Brézé, every wine from this domaine offers a profound and unforgettable experience. For lovers of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, Clos Rougeard represents the pinnacle of what these varietals can achieve.