Blackcurrant, blackberry and plum give this Tuscan red a deep, mature profile, layered with leather, cedar, tobacco, vanilla and dark chocolate. The palate is round and balanced, with softened tannins and enough freshness to keep the fruit lively. Gravelly minerality, licorice and smoky spice linger on the long finish.

The 2018 Solaia continues to develop beautifully. Resonant and ample on the palate, with tons of vibrancy, the 2018 offers terrific vibrancy as well as character. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, blackberry jam, licorice and spice build as the Solaia gains momentum over time. The 2018 is dense and beautifully layered, yet retains the mid-weight structure of this super elegant vintage. Drinking window: 2026-2043. Score - 98. (Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, July 19, 2022)

I fussed over scoring this wine more than I'd like to admit-tasting through three samples under different conditions at various intervals and testing my impressions blind against wines in its peer group. Most importantly, I tasted this 2016 vintage against the 2015 vintage over and over again. I confess to a few nights of restless sleep as a result. Ultimately, my decision to award 100 points to the 2016 Solaia came on impulse and with the most natural sense of purpose. I had also given the 2015 vintage a perfect score, and intellectually, it seemed impossible not to pick a favorite among these two stunning expressions. I will also state, outright, that the wines are very different, principally because the 2015 vintage shows more overall opulence and sweetness that extends to the pronounced textural richness of the mouthfeel. The 2016 vintage, on the other hand, is more chiseled and sharp with mineral shadings of campfire ash and graphite at the rim of its dark fruit. The mouthfeel is more streamlined and tight at its core, suggesting that the wine will unfold and soften beautifully with time. I feel like 2015 is the Dolce & Gabbana of the situation and the 2016 is the Armani Privé. The personalities of the two wines are distinct, yet my admiration for each is identical. Drink date: 2022-2050. Score - 100. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, Sept. 19, 2019)

A new red from Antinori. Intense aromas of crushed berries with hints dried herbs and fresh mint. Full body, with wonderfully silky tannins and a long intense finish. Beautiful polished fruit. This is 100% Cabernet Franc. Better in 2014 [through 2024+]. Score - 94. (jamessuckling.com, Aug. 8, 2011)

Super-restrained cassis fruit with an almost blueberry maturity in front of violet, clove and blond tobacco spiciness. Retasting the wine the next day, it shines with graphite minerality, pure leather, and a touch of lemon thyme. Creamy and full on the palate, it has refined and meaty tannins, with lively acidity and great balance overall. You would not think this wine was aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months because of the great fruit concentration on display, but the top quality of the oak used is evident. The potential of Solaia is to be seen over the years, to discover its character as it matures. It's never cutesy, always elegant. Drinking window: 2021-2040. Score - 97. (Aldo Fiordelli, decanter.com, Sept. 25, 2020)

Aromas of cedar, plums and hints of roses. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with fantastic richness and freshness for such a hot growing season. Muscular. Drink or hold. Score - 96. (jamessuckling.com, May 5, 2017)