Marchesi Antinori Solaia 2020 Red

2009 saw another cold winter which, fortunately, passed without negative effect on the flowering and bud set. Abundant rainfall at the beginning of the summer swelled the grapes and stimulated the growth of vegetation, requiring intensive canopy management to control the growth of the crop. High heat characterized the later part of the summer and brought the grapes to proper ripeness levels for the harvest. The wines themselves, though ample and sustained, are characterized more by elegance, finesse, and fragrance than by the power of the 2007 and 2008 vintages. The tannins are very polished and velvety, and the continuity on the palate promises an interesting future as the wines age. The Cabernet varietal notes are quite prominent, and are supported by notes of coffee, mint, chocolate, and liquorice.