2003 Antinori Vin Santo 500ml
Made from primarily Trebbiano with some Malvasia, the grapes for this magic elixir come exclusively from the three Antinori estates in Chianti Classico and are carefully selected and picked at various times during the harvest. Those picked during the earlier part of the harvest have higher acidity, while those picked later have a higher sugar content, ensuring a correct balance between sugar and acidity at the end of vinification. Once picked, the grapes are spread by hand on special straw mats in the appassitoio, a large, airy loft situated on the estate of Tignanello, and left to dry until the end of December, when they are pressed. The must is then transferred into traditional small, 50-200 liter oak casks known as caratelli, where a long, slow alcoholic fermentation takes place, which is interrupted when the wine reaches at 15/16 %vol. The wine then ages in the caratelli for about 3 years, undergoes a very light filtration, and is bottled. The 2003 is generous with complex aromas and hints of honey and dried fruit. A well-structured, pleasantly sweet and lingering flavor make it just the wine to drink after a rich Italian-inspired feast!