Villa Antinori Riserva 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Villa Antinori Riserva 2022

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays an intense and deep ruby-red color.

Nose

The nose reveals aromas of small red berries, notably redcurrants and raspberries, accompanied by notes of cherries. Slightly woody nuances mingle with spicy hints of cinnamon and candied fruit. With aeration, the bouquet evolves toward impressions of blackberry, raspberry jam, and quince, interwoven with elegant notes of tobacco, fresh licorice, citron, and cocoa powder, extending into delicate touches of rose petals and black tea.

Palate

On the palate, the wine offers a broad and enveloping attack, supported by silky, supple, and flavorful tannins. The light, lively acidity characteristic of sangiovese brings vibrancy and freshness to the whole. The texture reveals a balance between fullness and verticality, leading to a long and refined finish with delicate notes of rose petals and black tea. Fruity and lightly woody flavors linger pleasantly on the finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Villa Antinori Riserva 2022 pairs ideally with grilled or roasted red meats, especially beef and lamb. It matches perfectly with game dishes such as wild boar, venison, or pheasant. This wine also pairs very well with pasta served with meat-based sauces, slow-simmered stews, and aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve until around 2039. It is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C.

A Chianti Classico Riserva from terroirs in the heart of Tuscany

The estate

Antinori - Villa Antinori represents one of the oldest wine dynasties in Italy, whose history began in 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine winemakers’ guild. For twenty-six generations, the Antinori family has cultivated its vineyards in Tuscany and embodies the excellence of Italian wines around the world. Today, the estate is led by Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia Antinori, representing the first female presidency of this prestigious House, alongside Renzo Cotarella as CEO and chief winemaker. The family estate extends across several emblematic properties in Tuscany and Umbria, and in 2012 inaugurated the Antinori nel Chianti Classico winery, recognized in 2022 as the best wine tourism destination in the world. The family’s philosophy is based on the union of respect for ancestral traditions and constant innovation, illustrated by sustainable viticultural practices and a continuous pursuit of qualitative excellence.

The vineyard

This Villa Antinori Riserva 2022 comes from vineyards located in the historic zone of Chianti Classico, in the heart of Tuscany. The plots benefit from an exceptional terroir that allows sangiovese, the region’s emblematic grape variety, to express itself fully. Vineyard management prioritizes environmentally respectful practices, integrating precision viticulture technologies such as multispectral drones and weather stations, while preserving the human expertise and intuition of the winegrowers. Experimental plots are dedicated to research on new clones and viticultural techniques, reflecting the family’s constant commitment to qualitative improvement.

The vintage

The 2022 vintage was characterized by below-average rainfall until August, accompanied by spring and summer temperatures above seasonal norms. Despite these initially hot and dry conditions, budbreak and flowering occurred on schedule, allowing the vegetative cycle to progress normally. Véraison revealed balanced vegetative growth and an optimal fruit load. The decisive turning point came in mid-August with the arrival of rain and a drop in temperatures, ensuring ideal temperature variations between day and night that favored perfect ripening. The excellent weather conditions of September and October made it possible to harvest grapes of exceptional quality. The sangiovese harvest began during the second half of September and was completed in early October with the complementary grape varieties.

Vinification and aging

After harvest, the grapes for Villa Antinori Riserva 2022 were destemmed and gently crushed before being transferred into stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation took place at a controlled temperature maintained between 28 and 30°C. Maceration on the skins lasted approximately 10 to 14 days, with controlled automated techniques enabling a gentle and progressive extraction of aromatic compounds, color, and tannins. Sangiovese underwent malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, while several batches of the complementary grape varieties carried out this step in second- and third-use barrels. After blending, this Italian wine continued its aging in oak casks until the end of spring 2024, mainly in large vats with a smaller proportion in barrels. Bottling took place in July 2024.

Grape varieties

Sangiovese (90 %)
Cabernet sauvignon and other complementary grape varieties (10 %)