The beginning of spring saw a good amount of rain and slightly higher temperatures than the seasonal average, which favoured a slight anticipation of the budding phase. In the following period, average temperatures and rainfall led to excellent flowering and vegetative cycle. Rains at the beginning of summer maintained a good plant growth equilibrium which lasted throughout the month of August. Notwithstanding the high day temperatures,
nights were cool and assured the full ripening of all grape varieties. As a result, the ripening of the grapes proceeded optimally, guaranteeing the presumption of an excellent harvest.
A very careful selection of the grapes from the three estates in Chianti Classico, Santa Cristina, Badia a Passignano, Pèppoli, was made at harvest time, which began at the second mid September. The grapes were destemmed and gently crushed; maceration took place partly in 50 hectoliter wooden open fermentors (with periodic cap submersion for better extraction of color, complexity, and tannins), and partly in stainless steel tanks, for a period of 15 days (temperatures were kept below 30°C), during which time the wine also completed its alcoholic fermentation. The wine was then transferred into new, one-years-old and two-year old 225 liter French oak barrels (Alliers & Troncais), where it completed its malolactic fermentation by the end of the year. The wines were then racked, and after careful blending of the different estate lots (master blend) and the different grape varieties, the blended wine was returned to the barriques, where it aged another 14 months, was bottled, and remained for a further 12 months in the bottle prior to release. Alcohol : 13,5% Vol.
Marchese Antinori is produced, exclusively from the finest, most highly selected grapes grown on the Antinori Santa Cristina, Pèppoli and Badia a Passignano estates in the Mercatale Val di Pesa zone in Chianti Classico.
Deep ruby red with light garnet hues, it has pronounced cherry and violet fruit with tobacco nuances on the nose. It is a full-bodied and rounded red wine of remarkable depth, structure and lenght
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