Winery of the Year - AntinoriIn 1385, Giovanni di Pietro Antinori enrolled in the Vintner’s Guild of Florence, and

so began the history of one of Italy’s greatest wine producers. 1895 marked the beginning of the current incarnation of the family firm, founded by brothers Ludovico and Piero, and began extending into foreign markets under the leadership of Piero’s

son Niccolo. It was not until the ascension of Marchese Piero Antinori (Niccolo’s son), however, that the house fulfilled its potential as a global presence. A hallmark of Antinori wines is the consistently excellent quality across the entire spectrum of price levels, the wines themselves deriving not only from their ancestral estate in

Tuscany, but also from those thoughtfully acquired over the course of the 20th century. These range from holdings in neighboring regions such as Umbria and

Piemonte to joint ventures in California and Washington state, indicating a global awareness that explains much as to why the house has gone from strength to

strength, and evolved into a modern estate in the very best sense. To know Italian wine in most any form connotes a certain familiarity with the Antinori name, plain and

simple. Yet, for all the diversity and excellence that their portfolio demonstrates, it was the family’s iconoclastic decision to break from centuries of tradition to create

the first Supertuscan wines – Tignanello & Solaia – that is perhaps its greatest merit, and brought about its greatest fame.

The wines presented below are a testament to the vision of Piero Antinori and the firm’s legendary oenologist Giacomo Tachis, and give credence to the family’s

reputation as Italy’s finest.

TORMARESCA Neprica 2013Green’s Cash Sale Price:

The Tormaresca estate represents Antinori’s foray into the Puglian vineyard, and features twovarieties – Negroamaro & Primitivo (the latter has been shown to be identical to Zinfandel,

although the variety has certainly evolved in different ways in its adopted CA strongholds) – thatare native to the region and make up the majority of the blend.

Tasting Notes:A blend of 40% Negroamaro, 30% Primitivo & 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Brilliantly ruby red in

color the wine has aromas of fresh red fruit, like plums and cherries as well as floral notes of roseand violet. The 2013 vintage has excellent structure and is supple on the palate with an elegant

return to the red fruit notes on the long finish.

SANTA CRISTINA Toscana Rosso 2014Green’s Cash Sale Price:

An estate nestled in the Tuscan hills of the town of Cortona, the first vintage of Santa Cristinadates back to 1946, being produced by Niccolo Antinori (Piero’s father). The blend here is

primarily Sangiovese, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. An especiallyversatile wine, pairing well with the many styles of dishes that invariably grace the table at a

traditional family gathering.

Tasting Notes:Ruby red in color with purple highlights, the wine shows an intense and complex nose of ripe red

fruit as well as balsamic and eucalyptus and mint. Full and supple on the palate, it is a wine with a complex and fruity finish and lingering aftertaste.

SANTA CRISTINA Cipresseto Rose 2015Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Crafted primarily from Sangiovese, the grapes were delicately pressed after harvest andseparated from its skins after a short period; the must was then cooled and given 48 hours fornatural settling to occur. Cool fermentation proceeded in stainless steel. The result is a rose of

delicacy and fragrance, and like many of the other wines featured one of great versatility when itcomes to food pairing. Antinori suggests pumpkin ravioli or beef braciole; good options in terms of

Tuscan fare. A bucket of fried chicken and a chilled bottle doesn’t sound too bad either.

Tasting Notes:A tenuous pink in color, the wine shows intense aromas of fruit and flowers which suggest

raspberries, orange flowers, and roses. The palate is supple and balanced with a finish andaftertaste which recall the notes on the nose.

VILLA ANTINORI Bianco 2015Green’s Cash Sale Price:

A blend composed primarily of local strains of Trebbiano and Malvasia, with small additions ofPinot Bianco and Grigio, as well as Riesling. The 2015 vintage in Tuscany was characterized byscarce rainfall and high heat, so the freshness and vibrancy of this wine is indicative of expertisein the vineyard. The first vintage of this wine dates back to 1931, with the label remaining virtually

unaltered since then.

Tasting Notes:Straw yellow in color with greenish highlights, the wine is elegant and delicate in its aromas, which

recall fresh fruit, like lemon, oranges, and grapefruit. The flavors are balanced, with good lengthand a savory finish and aftertaste.

PRUNOTTO Barbera d’Asti 2013Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Antinori’s Piemonte outpost. From a challenging vintage characterized by a cold first half of thesummer and a delayed harvest, the success of this wine – as with a few of the others it is

displayed with – attest to the utmost care that was put into the vineyard. 100% Barbera, thegrapes being sourced from the Costamiole vineyard. The Antinori family began its partnershipwith the Prunotto family in 1989, and took a direct role in production beginning with the 1994

vintage.

Tasting Notes:Vivid ruby red in color with intense fruity aromas of cherry and plums. The wine is well-balanced

and fresh on the palate. It is complete, harmonious and easy to appreciate, even in its youth. Thiswine pairs well with simple dishes such as hors d'oeuvres, soups, risotto, and pasta.

LA BRACCESCA “Sabazio” Rosso di Montepulciano 2013Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Composed of 85% Prugnolo Gentile (the local name for Montepulciano’s heralded clonal variationof Sangiovese), the remaining 15% consisting of Merlot and other red grape varieties. The littlesister to the estate’s flagship Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, the vineyards here lie in the Tuscan

foothills surrounding Cortona. The name “Sabazio” derives from a prominent monk of the abbey ofMontepulciano, who in the early middle ages introduced winemaking to his brethren.

Tasting Notes:A bright ruby red in color, the 2013 Sabazio is an elegant wine with supple tannins and

immediately perceptible notes of fresh red fruit on the nose. On the palate it is soft and tasty withfresh notes of red fruit and flowers which meld perfectly with the savory mineral sensations of the

wine.

BRAMITO DEL CERVO Chardonnay 2014Green’s Cash Sale Price:

From Antinori’s Umbrian outpost, the Castello della Sala estate (purchased by the family in 1940). Located close to the city of Orvieto, Umbria’s best known wine region, the estate’s vineyards are ideal for the production of white wine grapes (of which Chardonnay is prominent) and Pinot Noir. Fermented partly in oak (which is also the percentage of the wine that went through malolactic

fermentation) and partly in stainless steel, the richness of this wine is completely balanced by its bracing acidity. A style of Chardonnay not seen often enough.

Tasting Notes:There's density to this minerally white, with flavors of kumquat, white cherry, graphite, chamomile and ground anise framed by rapier-like acidity that creates a sleek, almost lean impression on the

zesty finish. Smart Buy. 91 points.-Wine Spectator

PEPPOLI Chianti Classico 2013Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Located close to Antinori’s iconic Tignanello estate, the property was originally a monastery untilthe 14th century, after which it was used as a villa by successive Florentine noble families beforeultimately passing on to Antinori. Composed of 90% Sangiovese, the rest being Merlot & Syrah.

With the oceans of Chianti currently seen on shelves, the far more demanding requirements of theDOC(G)s within the larger Chianti zone – Chianti Classico and Chianti Rufina being two

prominent examples – are a useful rule of thumb when trying to discern quality through the label.

Tasting Notes:An intense ruby red in color, the nose of the wine is characterized by aromas of cherries, with thesupplementary notes of violets, characteristic of Sangiovese along with spice and vanilla. On the

palate, the wine is savory and balanced with the crisp acidity of this variety and sweet flavors. Thetannins are rather supple and the finish and aftertaste show the fruit and spice which develop

during the aging period. On the whole, the wine is long and pleasurable.

Some dried fruit with strawberry and lemon rind on the nose and palate. Medium to full body.Tangy tannins. Pèppoli is always excellent. 92 points.

-James Suckling

IL BRUCIATO Bogheri 2014Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Located close to Bolgheri in the upper Maremma (Tuscan coast), the Gaudo al Tasso estate fromwhich the Il Bruciato was produced is located in what was once considered one of Italy’s more

dynamic wine regions, although the relative glut of uneven bottlings from numerous estates havedampened this assessment somewhat. Composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot &15% Syrah (each of which was fermented separately and at different ideal temperatures), this is

the part of Italy where the former variety is undisputedly regarded as the primary focus(Sangiovese, in fact, cannot make up more than 50% of any blend). A fantastic value given the

quality of the wine.

Tasting Notes:The Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The wine offers red

earth nuances with pressed violet, terra-cotta, leather and tobacco. Il Bruciato makes a smoothand silky entry to the palate and imparts more luscious fruit flavors along the way. This wine was

first produced in 2002. 91 points.-Wine Advocate

BADIA A PASIGNANO Chianti Classico 2009Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Located in the heart of Chianti Classico (the region lies between Florence to the north and Sienato the south). Composition is 100% Sangiovese. The vineyards here lie around what used to be

the abbey of Passignano, which had a history of wine production dating back to the turn of the first millennia. As such, the grapes that go into this bottling are considered some of the finest in

Chianti Classico, and the care exacted in the cellar – punctuated by 14 months’ maturation in French & Hungarian oak barrels – speaks to the pedigree of the raw materials.

Tasting Notes:A wine with minerals, light herbs, spices and blueberries. Hints of walnuts. Full body, fine tannins

and a long, long finish. Really excellent. Drink now. 93 points.-James Suckling

The estate's 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Badia a Passignano bursts from the glass with expressive dark cherries, plums, flowers and cloves. The Badia a Passignano is a bit brighter and

more focused than the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, largely because it is 100%Sangiovese. Hints of tobacco, leather and cedar add further nuances on the soft, resonant finish. Over the last few years, the Badia a Passignano has been one of the most improved wines in the

Antinori range. 92 points.-Vinous

ANTICA Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012Green’s Cash Sale Price:

Antinori’s northern California outpost (ANTInori + CAlifornia = ANTICA). Piero Antinori had wantedto produce a Napa Valley Cabernet as early as 1966 after a visit to the region, but it would not be

until the mid-1980s when its Atlas Peak location became available and opportunity presenteditself. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown on volcanic soils, and given 16 months’ oak aging in

primarily French barrels.

Tasting Notes:The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses enormous charm and appeal. Its deep purple color isfollowed by inviting aromas of blackberries, red currants, cassis and chocolate. On the palate the

wine is rich, savory and full bodied finishing with firm, silky tannins and a long persistence.The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is dominated by earthy, loamy minerality, red and blackcurrants,and hints of baking spices and cedarwood. Tightly-knit, medium to full-bodied, and built for thelong-term, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and should last for 15 or more years. 90+

points.-Wine Advocate

COL SOLARE 2012Green’s Cash Sale Price:

A joint venture between Antinori and Washington state’s Chateau St. Michelle, the seeds for thispartnership were planted during Piero’s initial visit to the Columbia Valley in 1992. The first vintage

of Col Solare (Italian for “shining hill”) was 1995, although the winery – located in the tiny RedMountain appellation – was completed in 2007. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7%

Cabernet France, and 4% each of Merlot & Syrah.

Tasting Notes:Up there with the best vintages of this cuvee to date, Col Solare's 2012 Proprietary Red (aCabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend that spent 22 months in 100% new French oak) has

textbook Red Mountain structure and depth, as well as lots of crème de cassis, black raspberries, chocolate, melted licorice and spice. Big, voluptuous, layered and ripe, with a dense, chewy

texture and a big finish, it’s certainly fun to drink now, but will be better with short-term cellaring and have two decades of overall longevity. 94 points.

-Wine Advocate

TIGNANELLO 2012Green’s Cash Sale Price:

One of the most iconic wines in history, which – in tandem with Solaia (another Antinori creation)and Sassicaia (which Antinori initially helped market) – ushered in the Supertuscan movement.The impetus was the rigidity of the Italian denomination system at the time (the 1970s, although

the same indictment could probably still be levied today), which prevented the use of non-traditional varieties – in Tignanello’s case being proportion of both Cabernets along with the

allowed Sangiovese – for wines striving to use the Chianti Classico et. al. denominations. Thewines were thus released as lowly “vini da tavola” (table wine), although the world very soon

caught on to the quality within; from there, the phenomena of Italy’s most acclaimed (andexpensive) wines being produced outside the country purported quality system took its place in

history.

Tasting Notes:Aromas of blackcurrants and blueberries with hints of lavender and violets. Full body, chewy andpolished tannins and a long, flavorful finish. A beautifully linear and polished red. Give it time to

show it all but this is already a beauty. The depth and class to this are indeed impressive. Better in2017. 96 points.-James Suckling

The 2012 Tignanello is a very handsome wine with dark fruit nuances that extend far beyond thenormal spectrum for Sangiovese (and the smaller percentages of French grapes that completethis wine). This vintage, that started off with a very hot summer and ended with a cool harvest

season, show a little more spice and Mediterranean herb on the finish. Grapes were harvested atthe end of September and delivered slightly less alcohol than previous vintages. There is a pointof freshness but the tannins are mature and yielding. In fact, the tannic management is spot-on

and is complimented by the velvety and rich nature of the mouthfeel. Pretty mineral accents add alasting touch of complexity. The 2012 Tignanello has the qualities for a successful evolution. 93

points.-Wine Advocate

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