Argiano dates back to the 16th century. The nearly 120 acres of vineyards are planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Syrah. The wines, both Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans, have routinely received outstanding scores. In 1992 Argiano was acquired by the Countess Noemi Marone Cinzano.
Solengo, which is Tuscan for “lone wild boar”, is the product of the combination between Tuscan soil and French grape-varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
This bottle was decanted for an hour prior to serving and paired brilliantly with spaghetti.
Dark crimson in color. 14% ABV. Spellbinding nose of red and black fruits, leather, cigar box and mint. Medium to full bodied with exceptional acidity. Plush and rich with chewy fruits in spades. Black currants, creme de cassis, plums and tobacco on the palate. The finish is tremendous with warm, silky tannins. Impressive wine that is aging beautifully. I have a couple more bottles and at least one of those will make it to twenty years from vintage. Best over the next 2-4 years.
My rating: 94 points.
I brought several bottles of the ’99 vintage back from Italy after visiting the Cinque Terra in 2001 and the label will always have a special place in my cellar. Current vintages can be found for around $80 and are well worth the hunt.