Awards, Ratings & Reviews
98/100 — Falstaff · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Oct 2025
“Powerfully bright and dense ruby colour, light purple shimmer. Opens with intense notes of cedar wood and graphite, then lots of crisp fruit, cassis and blackberry, a little smoke in the background. Displays lush fruit on the palate, lots of blueberry and cassis, opens with almost perfectly integrated tannins, fine texture, lingers for a long time.”
98/100 — Decanter · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Jul 2025 · Drink: 2025 to 2047
96/100 — Orazio Campoli · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Sep 2025
“Solaia is a wine born from a specific place, a testament to the idea that the greatest wines are an expression of their unique terroir. Its story begins on the sunniest part of the Tignanello hillside, in the heart of Chianti Classico, a vineyard considered to be the estate's very best. From this privileged position, Marchesi Antinori cultivates the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese grapes that become the soul of Solaia. The Tenuta Tignanello estate lies between the Greve and Pesa river valleys, on soils that originated from marine marlstone in the Pliocene period. This ancient ground, rich in limestone, schist, and marine fossils, imparts a distinct mineral complexity to the wine. Throughout the growing season, the vines bask in hot daytime temperatures, allowing for perfect ripeness, while cooler evenings preserve the grapes' vibrant acidity and aromatic nuance. This harmony of soil and climate is palpable in the 2022 Solaia. The wine is a profound and compelling expression of its origin. The nose is a deep and captivating display of dark fruit—blackcurrant, ripe plum, and blackberry—seamlessly integrated with notes of graphite, cedar, and sweet tobacco that speak directly to its noble terroir. The palate is rich, velvety, and expansive, with a core of concentrated fruit framed by polished, noble tannins. Defined by the international press as “among the most influential wines in the history of Italian viticulture,” Solaia is more than a wine; it is one of the true super wine of the world.”
96/100 — Robert Parker The Wine Advocate · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Oct 2025 · Drink: 2026 to 2045
96/100 — Luca Maroni · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Jul 2025
95/100 — Wine Spectator · 2022 Vintage · Tested: Oct 2025
About This Wine
The sunniest part of the Tignanello's hillside is home to the Solaia vineyard. The very best grapes from the very best vineyard. All the rest is passion, the utmost care and research.
These are the secrets of Solaia together with the finest Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese grapes from its namesake vineyard. Soils originating in the Pliocene period, rich in marine fossils with veins of clay. Rich presence of calcareous rocks and marl.
Solaia is a 50 acre (20 hectare) vineyard with a southwestern exposure located at an altitude between 1150 and 1325 feet (350-400 meters) above sea level and with a stony soil of “alberese” (hard limestone) and “galestro” (flaky calcareous clay) rock. The vineyard is located at the Tignanello estate.
The Antinori family produced this wine for the first time in the year 1978, and the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Cabernet Franc. In the following years, 20% of Sangiovese was introduced and certain adjustments were also made in the rapport between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc until the current blend was settled upon. Solaia is produced only in exceptional vintage, and was not produced in 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, and 1992.
2022 in Chianti Classico experienced hot and dry climatic conditions up until mid-August, especially during the months of June and July. Mid-August brought rain showers and a drop in temperatures that encouraged optimal temperature swings between day and night and prompted an ideal ripening phase. Excellent weather during the autumn months guaranteed fruit of outstanding quality.
The grape harvest took place on September 23rd for Cabernet Franc, continued on the 26th and 27th for Sangiovese and was completed on October 5th with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Grapes were destemmed, meticulously selected on sorting tables, delicately crushed then transferred by gravity flow into vats. Only the finest berries reached the 60 Hl truncated cone shaped fermentation tanks. Immediately after racking, malolactic fermentation began in barriques. Aging took place in new French oak barrels for approximately 15 months. The various lots were aged separately then blended and reintroduced into barrels to complete the aging process.
Specifications
- Vintage: 2022
- Grape Variety: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese
- Region: Toscana IGT / Tuscany / Italy
- Classification: Toscana IGT
- Fermentation: 60 Hl truncated cone shaped fermentation tanks; malolactic fermentation in barriques
- Maturation: New French oak barrels for approximately 15 months
- Vineyard / Geo info: Solaia vineyard, 50 acre (20 hectare), southwestern exposure, 1150-1325 feet (350-400 meters) above sea level, alberese and galestro soils
- Alcohol: 13.5%
- Sweetness: Dry
- Ownership: Antinori Family
- Closure: Cork
- Drinking Window: 2025-2047
