From Sparrow’s red wine by the bottle list, the Tignanello 2019 is a true icon, the Antinori wine often credited with starting the entire Super Tuscan movement in Tuscany, Italy ($405 by the bottle). It is one of the great names in Italian wine, and a favorite request from Eastside guests who know it.
About Tignanello
Tignanello comes from Marchesi Antinori, a Tuscan wine family with more than six centuries of history. The wine is named for the single hillside vineyard in the heart of Chianti Classico where it is grown. Its story is one of the most important in modern Italian wine. In 1970 Antinori and the legendary winemaker Giacomo Tachis produced a single-vineyard Chianti, and in 1971 they made the bold decision to leave the Chianti rules behind, dropping the white grapes that the regulations then required and aging the wine in small French oak barrels. They also blended in Cabernet, an international variety that the old rules did not allow. Because it broke those rules, the wine could only be labeled as a humble table wine rather than a prestigious Chianti, yet it was an immediate sensation when the 1971 vintage was released in 1974. Tignanello is widely regarded as the first Super Tuscan, the wine that proved Tuscany could make world-class reds on its own terms. Today it is a Sangiovese-based blend rounded out with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and it remains the benchmark for the category it helped create.
Tasting Notes
As a Sangiovese-led Super Tuscan, Tignanello shows the hallmarks of that style, bright red and dark cherry fruit, a savory herbal lift, and fine, firm tannins that come from aging in French oak. The Cabernet in the blend adds structure and a darker core, while the Sangiovese keeps it elegant and food-friendly. It drinks beautifully now with a decant and has the structure to age for years.
What to Pair It With
This is a classic match for grilled and roasted meats. From the Sparrow dinner menu, pour it with the American Wagyu steaks, the Italian Sausage Fresh Rigatoni, or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack. Its savory side loves a tomato-rich dish too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tignanello?
Tignanello is a Super Tuscan red from the Antinori family in Tuscany, Italy. It is a Sangiovese-based blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, and it is widely regarded as the first Super Tuscan.
How much is Tignanello at Sparrow?
Tignanello is $405 by the bottle at Sparrow in Kirkland. You will find it among the special bottles on our red wine by the bottle list.
Why is Tignanello important?
First released from the 1971 vintage, Tignanello broke the traditional Chianti rules by dropping white grapes, adding Cabernet, and aging in small French oak, helping launch the Super Tuscan movement.
Find it on the Sparrow beverages menu near its sibling Solaia and the Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva. We are in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside, so reserve a table and come try it.