Blackberry jam, cassis, grilled herbs and melted road tar meld together in the 2011 Solaia. Another super-exotic, racy 2011 from Antinori, Solaia is supremely beautiful. Mocha, espresso and sage are some of the many notes that add complexity. Hints of white truffle, lavender, smoke and licorice are laced into the exotic, racy finish. In 2011, Solaia has a dollop more of Cabernet Franc in the blend, added to give the wine a touch of freshness. Ripe and flashy to the core, the 2011 needs time to lose some of its youthful exuberance. At times, the 2011 could be easily mistaken for a wine from Napa Valley, such is its intensity.

A big, rich wine but there's lots of brightness and beauty at the same time. Shows licorice and asphalt. Full body with chewy tannins and a long finish. Terracotta, Tuscan dust and spice, plus balsamic too. This needs three to five years to soften. Intense finish.

Very youthful with ripe cassis, smoke, coffee and anise, the 2011 Solaia is laden with sweet dense fruit that just stops short of being top heavy. Admirably polished and silky tannins give this wine the balance it needs, although some warming alcohol does poke through on the finish. Winemaker Renzo Cotarella explained that due to the different nature of Cabernet Sauvignon's skin, it tends to be more resistant than Sangiovese in hot vintages.

I’m not fully convinced by the 2011 Solaia. It is a hedonistic and heady expression for sure, but it doesn’t come near the 97 points I awarded the 2010 vintage. In fact, the bouquet here is very ripe with thick tones of strawberry and blackberry folded within tobacco, leather and sweet spice. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc offer flavors of rum cake and candied fruit. There’s a good amount of tannic firmness surrounded by thick extract and fleshiness.

Quality 975 | Brand 980 | Economics 619 |

buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 18 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group for the 2011 vintage, which averages 11 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 30 of the world's top wine lists, including CÉ LA VI Economics: Above its peer group average price of £61 for the 2011 vintage Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Aged 14 months in new French oak. Wonderful bramble fruit. Very modern and easily mistaken for great New World Cabernet. Gorgeous fruit quality on the nose. Fine smoky perfume on the finish. Quite heady and opulent, but perfectly balanced, and set up for a very promising future. (RH)