91 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

There are 30,000 cases of this well-known Tuscan proprietary red made from a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. The 1998 offers a classic bouquet of berry fruit, new saddle leather, underbrush, earth, and toast from its new barrique aging. “Medium to full-bodied, good delineation, and a firm, classic style,” it continues to age gracefully. Robert Parker, October 2001

89 points Wine Spectator

A velvety and caressing red, with tobacco, berry and cherry character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and “a long, delicious aftertaste.” James Suckling, October 2001

Cult Wines International Notes:

Marchesi Antinori stands as an unrivaled titan of Italian winemaking, boasting over six centuries and twenty-six generations of uninterrupted heritage. Situated in the heart of Chianti Classico on sun-drenched, high-altitude slopes rich in limestone, marl, and alberese rock, the historic Tignanello estate is famous for birthing a wine that fundamentally redefined modern Italian viticulture. First released in the early 1970s by Marchese Piero Antinori and legendary enologist Giacomo Tachis, Tignanello broke centuries of strict regional dogma by removing white grapes, introducing small French oak barrique aging, and blending international Cabernet into Sangiovese. For the 1998 vintage, the estate assembled its classic, highly prized blend composed of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc.

The 1998 growing season across central Tuscany was a long, sun-drenched campaign characterized by classic late-summer heat and exceptionally dry conditions. Following a mild, even spring that encouraged uniform flowering, a hot and dry summer set in, pushing the high-altitude hillside plots of Tignanello toward excellent sugar levels. The elevated position of the estate played a crucial role, allowing cool night breezes to sweep down the hillside and prevent drought stress while preserving vital natural acidity in the Sangiovese berries. The hand-harvested grapes were vinified with extreme precision, undergoing separate, temperature-controlled fermentations before aging for roughly 12 to 14 months in French and Hungarian oak barriques followed by extended bottle maturation.

At nearly three decades of age, the 1998 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello has entered a beautifully poised, tertiary phase of maturity. The bright primary cherry and plum notes have settled into a sophisticated tapestry of cured leather, dried black cherries, forest floor, cedar box, and subtle pipe tobacco. On the palate, the tannins have fully integrated into a seamless, velvety frame, backed by an undercurrent of dried Mediterranean herbs and a persistent, savory mineral edge. This mature, highly classic bottling offers a deeply satisfying, food-friendly experience for collectors seeking an authentic taste of late-90s Super Tuscan history.