May
24, 2007
600+ Years of Antinori; Solaia 1982-2003, Secentenario, Guado al Tasso & More
In This Issue
A Note from Sergio
It was just a few months ago that I offered the
emblematic wines of Sassicaia
and Ornellaia, but there are three
Super-Tuscan
pioneers—making the Trifecta
incomplete without Solaia. While Sassicaia
opened
the door for Italian wine,
Marchese Piero Antinori, with the guidance of
Giacomo Tachis, kicked it down
with the introduction of Tignanello (1971),
followed by
Solaia (1978), the
rare Secentenario (bottled in 1985), and
Guado al
Tasso (1990).
I am pleased to offer not only the upcoming
releases
from Antinori’s
Super-Tuscan portfolio, but a historic
offering of
Solaia as well. The collection
I’ve put together dates back to
1982—the year this Antinori signature
officially became the wine we know
today—a
blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, and Sangiovese. I’ve
also
included the 1990 Guado al
Tasso, the debut release of his Bolgheri blend.
It doesn’t stop there,
though. You’ll also find a special
commemorative release wine named Secentenario
NV—perhaps the rarest bottle to hold
space in
my cellar since the Prince’s
whites of Fiorano arrived. The wine—a
multivintage blend of standout
vintages from the Tignanello
Vineyard—represents a celebration of 600
years of wine from the Antinori family.
Alongside
these wines I pay homage
to Giacomo Tachis—Italy’s most
important enologist—by presenting
his other prodigious efforts outside Antinori,
including the 1985 Sassicaia
and the 1990 Sammarco.
But there’s more than just blue-chip
stock for
the cellar—I’ve
included a perfectly timed Mediterranean
Sampler,
paired with the recent release
of Mediterranean Summer: A Season on
France's
Côte d’Azur and
Italy's Costa Bella (327 pages). I was
happy to
contribute wine recommendations
to this unique memoir, written by Chef David
Shalleck, which pays tribute to
the wines and foods of the region.
Enjoy the stories and recipes while you sip
wines in
the shade.
My best,
Sergio Esposito
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Solaia (2003–1982)
This represents a truly historic offering: The
connoisseur will be cognizant of the fact
that some of
the wines contained herein represent the
first to bare
the name Solaia. The inclusion of the '82
vintage is of particular significance, as it
represents
Sangiovese's first appearance in the
blend—an
addition that became an established
component. The
enthusiast will appreciate the opportunity to
obtain the
latest release of one of Italy's most
important and
highly regarded wines. Both will appreciate the
brilliance of the two men responsible for this
legendary wine.
Esteemed enologist Giacomo Tachis’s
résumé is perfection
in its natural state, without need of any
embellishment. It is replete with
many celebrated names (Sassicaia and
Sammarco, among others), and represents many
collaborations with members of the Antinori
family.
Solaia represents Tachis’s creative
engagement with Piero Antinori.
While its fellow portfolio
member—Tignanello—may have
introduced
the eponymous estate, Solaia has never been
in the
shadows of its predecessor,
having emerged as its friendly estate rival
virtually
upon its international
debut (1979). While its initial appearance
(1978)
enjoyed only limited release
in its native land, the original
composition—80% Cabernet Sauvignon and
20% Cabernet Franc—was replicated in
the
’79. In subsequent vintages,
however, Franc’s contribution was
reduced,
and ’82’s introduction
of Sangiovese (20%) essentially rendered
Solaia the
inverse of Tignanello.
After a series of slight alterations
reflecting the
nuances of individual vintages,
Solaia’s identity emerged as
today’s
current blend—75% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet
Franc.
Like the Tig, Solaia is derived exclusively
from its
namesake vineyard, Solaia—meaning
sunny
one—a 10-hectare,
southwest-facing site
that is comprised principally
of marl soils and albarese rock. It is
produced
exclusively in vintages of high
caliber.
Antinori 2003 Solaia
One cannot discuss virtually any performance
in the
’03 vintage without
reference to the unusually hot weather. Solaia,
however, adapted brilliantly,
as its vinification methods were adjusted to
minister
to the grapes’ response
to extreme temperatures. It emerged in its
standard
arrangement—75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20%
Sangiovese, and 5% Cabernet
Franc—displaying
impeccable balance between the wine’s
fruit
and tannic structure.
Antinori 2003 Solaia $159.95*
Antinori 2003 Solaia $749.00 (3.0L)*
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Antinori 2002 Solaia
While Solaia’s character is the
provenance of
the aforementioned varietal
breakdown (refer to above), its production
still honors
a vintage’s individual
needs, which proved particularly demanding in
’02. While things began
well, rainy weather compromised the
grapes’
health in summer, and returned
to make for a difficult harvest. The sun
did not go
down on Solaia, however,
as Tachis took the bottling back to the
start—before Sangiovese got involved.
Thus, the ’02 offers a rare
opportunity to
experience Solaia’s
original rising on the scene (well, quite
nearly—Cabernet Sauvignon came
in at 90% in ’02, as opposed to 80%),
proudly
reflected on the wine’s
special labeling—Annata Diversa.
Antinori 2002 Solaia $149.00*
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Additional Solaia Vintages Available:
Antinori 2000 Solaia
$189.95*
Antinori 2000 Solaia $399.95 (1.5L)*
Antinori 1999 Solaia $199.95*
Antinori 1999 Solaia $449.99 (1.5L)*
Antinori 1998 Solaia $389.95 (1.5L)*
Antinori 1998 Solaia $895.00 (3.0L)*
Antinori 1995 Solaia $449.95 (1.5L)*
Antinori 1994 Solaia $195.00
Antinori 1993 Solaia $199.95*
Antinori 1990 Solaia $499.95*
Antinori 1985 Solaia $499.95*
Antinori 1982 Solaia $459.95*
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Secentenario: 600 Years
It is not wholly accurate to describe this as
one of
Italy's rarest offerings, given that the wine
is, for the
most part, simply unavailable, eluding the most
connected and accomplished of collectors.
While IWM
does specialize in rare bottlings, we are
quite likely
the only merchant in the States to carry this
"best of"
production—that celebrates six hundred
years
of winemaking from one of the most important
names
in wine. This is perhaps the rarest offering
since
Sergio released the Prince's Forgotten Wines.
While the Antinori family holds an eminent
position in
the modern history
of wine—particularly with relation to
the Super-
Tuscan category—its
career in wine actually commenced in 1385,
when
Giovanni di Piero joined the
Wine Sellers Guild as an apprentice. This
modest
and unassuming beginning authored
centuries of dynamic and visionary production,
realized in the acquisition
and development of estates concentrated in
Toscana’s finest and most
progressive viticultural
areas—Montalcino
(Pian delle Vigne), Chianti
Classico (Tignanello, Badia a Passignano,
Pèppoli), and Montepulciano
(La Braccesca). The family also pursued
substantive
expansion outside this
region, establishing estates in Umbria
(Castello
della Sala), Piemonte (Prunotto),
Puglia (Tormaresca), Hungary (Bataapati),
Chile
(Albis and Albaclara), Washington
(Col Solare), and California (Atlas Peak),
among
many others.
While it may be difficult to fully capture
and articulate
the significance
of such an extensive catalogue, Piero Antinori
honored the founding estate’s
600th anniversary in 1985 with the release
of a
limited-selection bottling
named Secentenario, a blend
comprising the highest quality lots
from the best vintages in
Tignanello’s career
(some, in fact, regard
it as a Super-Tignanello, as it reflects
the normale
bottling’s
varietal breakdown).
This multivintage composition enables it to
effectually
reflect the philosophy
of a house Champagne—a style that is
intended to deliver the hallmark
signature of an individual producer. Unlike
this
standard release, however,
the Secentenario was a one-time-only
bottling. What
little remains of this historic
and singular effort—presented
exclusively in
magnum form—renders this offer as
singular as the Secentenario
itself. For information on this special
offering, please
contact Augusto Cardona at 212.473.2323, ext.
114.
Antinori NV Secentenario $499.95 (1.5L)*^
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
^Limited Quantity Available
Antinori Guado al Tasso (2003–1990)
This represents yet another highly exclusive IWM
offering, covering the career of
Guado al Tasso—the flagship of Antinori's
Bolgheri
estate—from the debut vintage of 1990
to the
current
release.
Some nurture particularly close family ties,
and a
business
serves as a traditional medium for honoring
one’s heritage. With respect to the
Antinori and della Rocchetta families,
however,
viticultural
genius truly seems to run in the family,
rendering
their Bolgheri triptych—Tenuta
San Guido (Sassicaia: Mario Incisa della
Rocchetta);
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
(Ornellaia & Masseto: Lodovico
Antinori); and
Guado al Tasso (Guado al
Tasso: Piero Antinori) a powerful evocation
of a wine
dynasty. While
Piero was technically the last of the
family to enter
Bolgheri’s Maremma,
Guado al Tasso formally established his
claim to the
Maremma, as it was founded
upon land inherited by his mother, Carlotta
della
Gherardesca Antinori, whose
family had a long-standing presence in the
region. It
is also significant to
note that Sassicaia, the premiere
Super-Tuscan,
effectually served as the philosophical
foundation of Antinori’s Tignanello, as
brothers Piero and Lodovico (prior
to their split [in 1985]), sent Giacomo
Tachis to direct
the vinification of
Sassicaia. Their experience directly informed
Tignanello’s conception,
validating the application of the Bordeaux
model to
Italian wine.
The portfolio of Guado al Tasso—meaning
Badger’s Ford—includes
Scalabrone, a Sangiovese-Merlot-Syrah blend; a
pure-varietal Vermentino; and
the eponymous flagship, Guado al Tasso, a
Cabernet-Merlot-Syrah blend.
Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2003 Guado al
Tasso
As in the case of Solaia, the ’03
vinification of
Guado al Tasso (70%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 15% Syrah)
reflected an incisive accommodation
of the vintage’s character, enabling
the wine
to provide a genuine articulation
of the region and its varietal
constituents. The palate
delivers substantive
cherry fruit, enriched and given dimension by
secondary notes of coffee and
dark chocolate. The structure is attuned to
the
wine’s flavor profile,
ensuring a balanced and complex expression.
Antinori
2003 Guado al Tasso $89.95*
Antinori 1990 Guado al Tasso $239.00*
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco (1997–1982)
While many of the Super-Tuscans featured herein
involve Cabernet, Castello
dei Rampolla’s founder, Alceo di Napoli
Rampolla, was a foremost advocate
of Cabernet, prominently celebrated in
Sammarco,
his debut production. Our
Sammarco offering affords both the
Super-Tuscan
collector and enthusiast the
opportunity to experience this Italian
classic’s
renowned style in the
acclaimed vintage years of ’82,
’85,
’90, and ’00.
Castello dei Rampolla’s cellars,
situated near
Panzano in the heart
of the Chianti Classico zone, date back to
the 13th
century. Since 1739, the
di Napoli family has owned and managed this
legendary wine estate, which comprises
128 hectares positioned 300 meters above
sea level.
The vineyards are particularly
conducive to the growth of Sangiovese, as
their
properties endow the grapes
with the capacity for long-term aging.
Alceo endured
fierce criticism for advocating
the synergy between the Panzano area of
Chianti and
the varietal of Cabernet
Sauvignon, a position that received initial
validation in
the 1980 debut of
d’Alceo’s first Super-Tuscan,
Sammarco, a predominantly
Cabernet-based blend (95% Cabernet Sauvignon
& 5% Sangiovese) that he conceived
in cooperation with Giacomo Tachis.
(Incidentally,
Tachis’ work with
Castello dei Rampolla represents one of many
consulting efforts he undertook
with relatives of Antinori.)
In 1996, Alceo’s son, Luca di Napoli,
formally
honored his father with
the debut of Vigna d’Alceo (85%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit
Verdot), the grapes for which are grown
exclusively in
the Alceo Vineyard.
Today, Luca and his sister, Maurizia,
continue to
produce their father’s
esteemed handcrafted wines in cooperation with
Tachis.
Special Note on the 1990
The 1990 has evolved gracefully and presently
exhibits complex aromas of mixed
berry fruit and dried cranberry, with
mineral
undertones. The fruit is gradually
becoming leaner with time, evidencing
secondary
characteristics of tobacco
leaf, dried pine needles, and orange
peel. Though
more austere than its younger
self, it still possesses remarkable body and
extract.
Castello
dei Rampolla 1990 Sammarco $199.00*
Castello dei Rampolla 1988 Sammarco
$165.00
Castello dei Rampolla 1982 Sammarco $479.00 (1.5L)
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Note: All wines are available on a limited
basis
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia (2004–1982)
Before the 1960s, no one had considered
crafting a
Bordeaux-style wine from
vines grown in Italy, much less from
fruit grown
along the Mediterranean
coastline of Toscana’s Maremma
zone. This
area was widely considered
unfit for quality wine production;
moreover, the
viticultural regulations
set forth by the DOC and DOCG limited
creativity
and the qualitative potential
of the terroir. However, Mario Incisa della
Rocchetta’s foresight and
determination redefined wine production,
making
enological history. In 1944,
with the help of traveling consultant
Tancredi Biondi-
Santi, he planted cuttings
of Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux’s
Château Lafite and began
crafting the wine he later christened
Sassicaia, or “stony ground.”
In 1968, after a quarter century of
experimentation,
notably marked by the
enological assistance of the ubiquitous
Giacomo
Tachis (who, as aforementioned,
received his Sassicaia commission from the
Antinori
brothers), San Guido released
the first vintage of Sassicaia. It was met
by the fervent
praise of critics
and consumers, and today, Sassicaia—a
legendary wine single-handedly
responsible for launching the Super-Tuscan
movement—may be the most coveted
Cabernet Sauvignon–Cabernet Franc blend
ever produced. The regard for
this wine is such that it was accorded its
own DOC
status by the classification
system that shunned its initial
efforts—a first
for Italian wine.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a masterful cuvée of
the best
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet
Franc grapes from the vineyards of
Castiglioncello,
Doccino, Quercione, San
Martino, Mandrioli, Sassicaia, and Aianova,
all of
which are situated on hilly
slopes in a subzone of Bolgheri.
When discussing the ’03 Sassicaia, which
emerged impeccably balanced
and structured despite the heat of the
vintage, Sergio
reflected on what is,
perhaps, Sassicaia’s most distinguished
quality—consistency. Both
Sergio and winemaker Sebastiano Rosa find the
recently released ’04
to be a classic and structured rendering.
Tenuta San Guido 2004
Sassicaia $79.98 (.375L)*
Tenuta San Guido 2004 Sassicaia $159.97*
Tenuta San Guido 2003 Sassicaia $127.45*
Tenuta San Guido 2003 Sassicaia $273.00
(1.5L)
Tenuta San Guido 2002 Sassicaia $69.95 (.375L)
*
Tenuta San Guido 2002 Sassicaia $137.00*
Tenuta San Guido 2002 Sassicaia $295.26 (1.5L)
*
Tenuta San Guido 2001 Sassicaia $199.95*
Tenuta San Guido 2000 Sassicaia $227.28
Tenuta San Guido 1999 Sassicaia $179.00*
Tenuta San Guido 1998 Sassicaia $214.25*
Tenuta San Guido 1995 Sassicaia $229.98*
Tenuta San Guido 1990 Sassicaia $559.99*
Tenuta San Guido 1990 Sassicaia $1,195.95 (1.5L)
*
Tenuta San Guido 1989 Sassicaia $295.00*
Tenuta San Guido 1985 Sassicaia $1,295.00
Tenuta San Guido 1982 Sassicaia $549.00*
*Indicates Pre-Arrival
Note: The vintage wines of Sassicaia are
available on
a limited basis. We recommend speaking with a
Portfolio Manager personally if you are
interested in
learning more about these historic offerings.
Please
contact August Cardona at 212.473.2323 x114
should
you have any questions.
Grattamacco (2000–1985)
This special offering presents a rare
opportunity to
assess a Super-Tuscan
that drinks outside its category’s
foremost
spotlight—an inside
collector’s delight. We include
herein bottles
ranging from the historic
1985 vintage to the ripe 2000, providing
a showcase
of Grattamacco’s
consistency through the years.
While it does not enjoy the same name
recognition
possessed by its neighbors,
Grattamacco Rosso is, nevertheless, a defining
figure in the launch of the
Super-Tuscan movement. Though international
varieties constitute the core constituents
of the Super-Tuscan party, from its inception,
Grattamacco evidenced loyalty
to its zone’s main
varietal—Sangiovese—retaining its use
as a means of cultivating authentic Italian
character.
Piermario Meletti Cavallari established
Grattamacco
in 1977, debuting the Rosso
bottling with the 1982 vintage. Cavallari
was assisted
in the development of
this historic production by enologist
Maurizio Castelli,
whose areas of specialization,
Sangiovese and international varietals,
complemented the composition of
Grattamacco—Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sangiovese. As its
fellow
Super-Tuscans from the house
of Ornellaia, Grattamacco is known for
delivering
remarkable constancy—an
example of a premier producer whose efforts
are not
compromised by aberrant
vintages.
Grattamacco Offering
Please note that all are available in very
limited
quantities. For information
on specific vintages, please contact Augusto
Cardona
at 212.473.2323, ext.
114.
Grattamacco 2000
Rosso $75.62
Grattamacco 1996 Rosso $64.17
Grattamacco 1991 Rosso $68.33
Grattamacco 1989 Rosso $75.83
Grattamacco 1985 Rosso $80.83
Mediterranean Six Pack Sampler & Guide
A Mediterranean Six-Pack Perfect for
Summer
(Sip & swirl while you read about the
treasures
of Italy's beloved sea).
IWM is pleased to announce
the highly anticipated release of Mediterranean
Summer: A Season on France's Côte
d'Azur and
Italy's Costa Bella, authored by
David Shalleck with Erol Munuz, and
featuring a
foreword by Mario Batali and
wine recommendations by Sergio Esposito.
Embark on a culinary voyage with Chef
Shalleck as he
recounts his tenure onboard Serenity,
an exclusive yacht chartered by one of
Italy’s
most prominent couples
and graced by their bevy of
glitterati. During
this sea adventure, Shalleck
is charged with the challenge of preparing
all of the
group’s summer
menus—with no repeat appearances
allowed—crafting the meals exclusively
with local ingredients that reflect and
simulate the
flavors of each port of
call.
As Serenity traverses the
Mediterranean coast,
the reader is drawn
in by the scenic allure of the Riviera, as
Shalleck
chronicles a coming-of-age
experience—a transformational period
that
enabled him to realize the
chef he desired to become.
This riveting blend of travelogue and
culinary memoir
provides regional recipes and wine
recommendations
that
reflect each destination’s
distinct cultural milieu. Our Mediterranean
Summer
Sampler presents six
of Sergio’s recommended wines for
pairing
with Chef Shalleck’s
featured recipes, a hardcover edition of
Mediterranean Summer: A Season
on France's Côte d'Azur and
Italy's Costa Bella and
a simplified approach to recreating the
elegance of
La Dolce Vita
at Sea.
Mediterranean Summer Wine Sampler...$227.39*
(includes Mediterranean Summer, Hardcover - 327
pgs)
*Free Delivery in Manhattan
Studio Regionale Series
IWM's Saturday Tastings Series Returns
Saturday tastings at IWM's Studio del Gusto
will
continue through the summer
months in two distinct presentation
formats:
“A Taste of” program is for
those
seeking a casual tasting experience,
providing a general regional/topical
overview in a
walk-around, relaxed context.
“A Study of” program takes on a
more formal and sophisticated
approach, addressing the history and
philosophy of
the wines considered, and
caters to those looking to refine their
wine knowledge
and tasting ability.
This “sit-down” offering
presents the
wine in the framework of
a regional overview, followed by a Q&A
session.
Participants Receive:
Tasting Booklet that includes IWM’s
proprietary notes
Sampling of regional foods prepared by IWM chefs
paired with each wine tasted
Upcoming Event:
A Taste of the IWM Wine Club
June 9, 1:00–3:00 pm $50.00
There are many wine clubs out there, but
how many
are confident enough in
their benefits to formally introduce
themselves?
Learn about the philosophy
and structure of a club that truly
exercises the mind
and taste of its members.
The IWM tasting regimen offers a comprehensive
program with three membership
options, catering to a diverse population
of wine
enthusiasts. Discover the
membership of palates in the know…
featured
wines will include Barolo,
Brunello, Super Tuscans and more.
To learn more about IWM's Studio Regionale
Saturday
Tasting Series, or to
make a reservation over the phone, contact
Michann
Thompson at 212.473.2323,
x106.
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