1997 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana

SKU #231432 94 points Wine Spectator

Dark ruby-garnet, with aromas of meat, berry and freshly picked roses. Full-bodied, with very soft tannins and beautiful currant and blackberry character. Long, silky and caressing. Sangiovese and Cabernet.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. (Web-2007)

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Very full ruby-garnet, dark and deep. Ample in aroma, with sweet cassis fruit, light accents of sage and rosemary, chocolate and roasted coffee from the oak, and some alcoholic warmth. Dense, round and velvety on the palate, with expanding flavors. Finishes with important tannic strength and impressive weight and force. The fusion of the sangiovese and cabernet components of this wine is more accomplished than in past vintages. (8/ 2000)

93 points Wine Enthusiast

Reticent at first, the elements show their complexity and depth with time. Full and very dark, this offers plenty of black cherry and cedar aromas and flavors offset by impressive licorice and Mouton-like pencil-lead notes. Smooth on the palate, showing great balance and integration, the ripe fruit here sings through the long finish with its soft tannins, good grip and tobacco-nut-mineral-dust accents. Cellar Selection. (9/ 2001)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 1997 Tignanello is at a fascinating adolescent stage, it is neither primary nor fully resolved but somewhere in the middle. The wine’s candied, super-ripe fruit is made more complex by subtle notes of smoke and sweet licorice. The aromas appear to be somewhat muted, a characteristic that is perhaps highlighted by the presence of slight barnyardy notes that suggest brett may have been an issue in this vintage. Readers who can tolerate the wine’s imperfections will find much to enjoy over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2017. (1/ 2009)