Villa Antinori, Chianti Classico Reserva, 2018 (Violet)

Villa Antinori's 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG embodies nearly a century of winemaking tradition, showcasing the exceptional 2018 vintage through meticulous vinification and aging to create an elegant expression of Tuscan terroir.

INTRODUCTION
First produced in 1928, Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva represents the perfect balance between innovation and tradition, crafted at the Antinori Chianti Classico cellars to reinterpret this classic denomination with both delicacy and decisiveness.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS 2018
- Normal winter temperatures and precipitation
- Early budbreak (one week ahead of average)
- Cool, wet spring, especially May
- Hot, dry June and July without extreme events
- Beneficial August rainfall
- Dry, breezy September
- Optimal ripening conditions
- Mid-September harvest

VINIFICATION
- Gentle destemming and crushing
- Temperature-controlled fermentation (max 30°C/86°F)
- 12-15 day maceration with automated extraction
- Split malolactic fermentation:
  * Sangiovese in stainless steel
  * Other varieties in 2nd/3rd fill barriques
- Aging in predominantly large format barrels with some barriques
- Bottled July 2020

TASTING PROFILE
APPEARANCE
Ruby red

AROMATICS
- Plums and black cherries
- Balsamic notes
- Minty accents
- Complex spice
- Cocoa
- Tobacco

PALATE
- Smooth entry
- Mouth-filling texture
- Sweet, structured tannins
- Savory, persistent finish

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Created in 1928, Villa Antinori represents both experimentation and tradition in Tuscan winemaking, with this Riserva offering marking the inauguration of the new Antinori Chianti Classico cellars.