January 28, 2025
Tignanello Vintage Overview (2021–2000)
Tignanello 2021
Hailed as one of Tignanello’s finest vintages, 2021 showcases a balance of power and finesse. Despite a challenging start with spring frost, a long growing season allowed for exceptional aromatic depth and flavour complexity. With 98 points from both Wine Advocate and Vinous, the wine is lauded for its vibrant fruit, silky tannins, and impeccable balance. This vintage is expected to age gracefully for decades, representing a new benchmark in Italian winemaking.
Tignanello 2020
A warm vintage produced a ripe and generous Tignanello with plush black fruit and refined tannins. Despite the heat, balanced conditions during ripening allowed for freshness and vibrancy. The wine is approachable in its youth but has enough structure to develop beautifully over the next two decades. Notes of black cherry, tobacco, and a touch of spice shine through, making this vintage both charming and age-worthy.
Tignanello 2019
A standout year that delivered intensity and depth, Tignanello 2019 reflects the estate’s signature balance of richness and elegance. Warm but moderated conditions resulted in vibrant acidity and perfectly ripe tannins. Expect concentrated black fruits, savoury herbs, and cedar with a refined, polished finish. Critics have praised this vintage for its harmony and aging potential, positioning it as a modern classic.
Tignanello 2018
The 2018 vintage balances finesse and vibrancy, offering a harmonious and elegant expression. Cooler conditions resulted in bright acidity and fine-grained tannins, making the wine approachable yet layered. Notes of red berries, violets, and a touch of minerality dominate the palate, with excellent potential for cellaring. This vintage captures a fresh, refined side of Tignanello’s terroir.
Tignanello 2017
A warm and challenging vintage, 2017 produced a bold and generous Tignanello. Ripe red and black fruit dominate, supported by soft tannins and a plush texture. While slightly less structured than cooler vintages, this wine is approachable in its youth, showcasing concentrated flavours and warmth. Perfect for earlier enjoyment while still offering complexity.
Tignanello 2016
Considered one of the greatest Tignanello vintages of all time, 2016 delivered a wine of exceptional balance, depth, and complexity. Near-perfect conditions allowed for full ripening of tannins and vibrant acidity. The wine features black cherry, spice, tobacco, and silky tannins, with remarkable precision and elegance. Critics have hailed this vintage as a timeless masterpiece with extraordinary aging potential.
Tignanello 2015
A warm and generous year, 2015 produced a powerful Tignanello with rich concentration and lush texture. Black fruit, baking spices, and polished tannins dominate the palate, while vibrant acidity provides balance. This vintage combines immediate appeal with long-term aging potential, making it one of the most highly sought-after years in recent memory.
Tignanello 2014
A challenging and wet vintage resulted in a lighter, more delicate Tignanello. The 2014 offers elegance and approachability, with notes of red berries, earthy tones, and soft tannins. While it may lack the depth of standout years, it’s an enjoyable wine for earlier drinking, showcasing finesse and purity.
Tignanello 2013
A cooler and later vintage, 2013 produced a structured and classic Tignanello. Vibrant acidity and well-defined tannins highlight notes of cherry, floral nuances, and a touch of spice. This vintage is fresh and precise, with excellent aging potential, appealing to those who appreciate traditional, elegant expressions of Sangiovese.
Tignanello 2012
A challenging year with a smaller crop, 2012 produced a Tignanello with concentration and charm. Warm, dry conditions during the growing season resulted in ripe, rich black fruit, leather, and spice notes, balanced by vibrant acidity. While accessible early, this vintage also has the structure to age gracefully over the next decade, offering a classic yet approachable expression of Tignanello.
Tignanello 2011
A warm and early-ripening vintage, 2011 resulted in a Tignanello with plush textures and ripe fruit character. Blackberries, cherries, and sweet spices dominate the palate, complemented by soft, rounded tannins. This vintage is more forward and opulent than usual, making it ideal for earlier enjoyment, though it retains enough complexity to reward mid-term cellaring.
Tignanello 2010
Widely regarded as one of Tignanello’s greatest vintages, 2010 is a masterpiece of balance and structure. Near-perfect growing conditions allowed for a wine with intense concentration, fine tannins, and remarkable aging potential. Layers of dark fruit, tobacco, cedar, and earth create a complex and elegant profile. This vintage will continue to evolve beautifully for decades, standing as a modern benchmark for Tignanello.
Tignanello 2009
A hot vintage resulted in a rich and generous Tignanello with opulent black fruit and velvety tannins. The wine is ripe and full-bodied, offering notes of dark berries, chocolate, and spice. While slightly less structured than cooler years, the 2009 is accessible and satisfying, with enough balance to age well over the medium term.
Tignanello 2008
A cooler year, 2008 produced a more restrained and elegant Tignanello. Red cherry, floral notes, and a touch of earthiness dominate the palate, supported by fresh acidity and fine tannins. This vintage is approachable yet sophisticated, offering a more traditional style of Tignanello with good aging potential.
Tignanello 2007
A warm vintage that produced an earlier-drinking Tignanello, 2007 offers ripe red and black fruit, soft tannins, and a smooth, velvety texture. While less structured than standout years, it’s a charming and enjoyable vintage that is perfect for those looking for a more accessible expression of Tignanello.
Tignanello 2006
An exceptional vintage, 2006 delivered a powerful and structured Tignanello with outstanding aging potential. Concentrated black fruit, tobacco, and spice dominate, with firm tannins and bright acidity providing balance. This is a vintage that showcases the depth and complexity of Tignanello, rewarding those who cellar it for the long term.
Tignanello 2005
A cooler vintage that produced a refined and elegant Tignanello. The wine features bright red fruit, earthy notes, and fine tannins, with a fresher, lighter profile than warmer years. While less concentrated, it’s a vintage of charm and finesse, suitable for those who appreciate a more delicate style of Tignanello.
Tignanello 2004
A classic vintage that produced a beautifully balanced Tignanello. Rich dark fruit, floral hints, and spice dominate, supported by fine tannins and vibrant acidity. The 2004 has aged gracefully, offering a harmonious profile that showcases the estate’s commitment to quality. It remains an excellent choice for both current drinking and further aging.
Tignanello 2003
A hot and challenging year, 2003 produced a ripe and bold Tignanello with opulent fruit and soft tannins. While it lacks the finesse of cooler vintages, the wine offers immediate appeal with notes of dark berries, chocolate, and spice. Best enjoyed in its youth, as it is less suited for long-term cellaring.
Tignanello 2002
A difficult vintage due to heavy rains, 2002 is a lighter and more delicate expression of Tignanello. While it lacks the concentration of top years, it offers fresh red fruit, soft tannins, and a pleasant, approachable character. This vintage is ideal for earlier consumption and provides a glimpse into Tignanello’s elegance in challenging conditions.
Tignanello 2001
A strong vintage, 2001 produced a Tignanello with excellent structure and aging potential. Dark fruit, leather, tobacco, and spice notes are supported by firm tannins and vibrant acidity. This is a vintage that combines power and finesse, showcasing the depth and complexity that Tignanello can achieve in excellent years.
Tignanello 2000
The start of the millennium delivered a warm and generous vintage for Tignanello. Ripe black fruit, sweet spice, and a velvety texture make this wine approachable and satisfying. While slightly less structured than other standout years, the 2000 vintage remains a charming and enjoyable wine, offering immediate appeal and moderate aging potential.
This overview highlights Tignanello’s remarkable consistency across vintages, with each year offering its own unique expression of Antinori’s terroir and winemaking expertise. Whether you prefer power, elegance, or approachability, there is a Tignanello vintage for every palate and occasion.