SOLAIA

2016 Marchesi Antinori

EN PRIMEUR

After the exceptional 2015, expectations are high for this more 'aerial' and 'linear' vintage. The 2016 does not disappoint. It is dark fruited, cool, focused, pure and effortlessly smooth. Few Super Tuscans manage to combine this level of concentration and poise. It's still a pup of course, the 2015 was arguably showing more development and complexity at this very early stage but that will come. All the ingredients are here for this to be a truly profound Solaia. It deserves at least five years, possibly more, in the cellar to show its best. A real beauty in the making. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045L&S (Sept 2019)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

The 2016 Solaia (magnum) brings the evening to a rousing finish. It is a rich, explosive Solaia endowed with tremendous depth and energy. A rush of black cherry, espresso, licorice, mocha and French oak builds effortlessly. The 2016 is a grand, sweeping Solaia that will take years to be at its finest. It’s the sort of wine that really makes you think about the future. I can’t think of a better way to wrap things up. Drinking range: 2026 - 2051 Rating: 99 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Sept 2020)

Purplish crimson. Lifted, fragrant, very obviously Cabernet nose. Much more bordelais in fact than the Caiarossa. Sinewy and refreshing. Rather sophisticated and finishes bone dry. Food and time needed again. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Sept 2019)

Speechless here. I thought the 2015 was already perfect but this is perfect, too. But in a different way. It is so structured and multidimensional. Full-bodied, powerful and intense with incredible tannin backbone and depth. The dark-berry, wet-earth, oyster-shell and mushroom flavors are phenomenal. 20% less production than 2015. Give it four or five years to come together. Try after 2025. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jun 2019)

The Antinori family has been making wine for over six hundred years, since Giovanni di Piero Antinori became part of the Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri in 1385. Throughout their long history, spanning 26 generations, the family has always personally managed the business making innovative, sometimes courageous choices, always with unwavering respect for tradition and the land. They are also considered producers of 'Super Tuscan' wines. Today Marchese Piero Antinori is director of the company, assisted by his three daughters, Albiera, Allegra and Alessia. Tenuta Tignanello, with its famous Tignanello and Solaia vineyards, is situated between the Greve and Pesa valleys in the heart of Chianti Classico exactly between the little villages of Monteridolfi and Santa Maria a Macerata, 30km south of Florence.

Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.

Ordering

Prices are per case as listed 'in bond' (excluding duty paid and VAT).

Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price sits within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.

Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.

You can register your interest via the online wishlist form, by emailing privateclients@leaandsandeman.co.uk, or by calling 020 7221 1982. All wishlist requests are subject to availability and final confirmation. Inevitably, some wines will have to be allocated but please do not let that deter you from asking. We will do our best to satisfy all requests.

Confirmation

All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date.

Invoices are raised at in bond prices. Duty and VAT invoices will be raised on request when the wines land in the UK.

Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We reserve the right to levy a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.

Delivery

  • Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
  • Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant Storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
  • Other in bond deliveries are free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1,000. Orders below this total will be charged at £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchase from this offer, not a per-case charge. Please inform us of in bond delivery addresses and account details at the time of ordering.
  • If the wines are required duty paid we will issue invoices at prevailing rate of duty and VAT when the wines arrive in the UK.
  • The wines will become available by the end of the year and should be shipped very early next year.