RENZO COTARELLA OF MARCHESI ANTINORI - 2018 VINTAGE

INTERVIEW AND TASTINGOn March 5 James interviewed Renzo Cotarella, general manager and head winemaker at Marchesi Antinori, the iconic Tuscan winery. They tasted a selection of 2018 wines, including the Marchesi Antinori Toscana Solaia 2018. It was the smallest production of Solaia ever, and James was especially impressed with the liveliness and length of this great wine. "In 2018, we probably produced some of our best wine ever," Renzo said. They also tasted the Marchesi Antinori Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2018 and the Marchesi Antinori Toscana Tignanello 2018, both of which were also excellent, with James describing the former as "layered with beautiful fruit and density", and the latter as medium-bodied and "aromatic with flowers, such as cherry blossoms and roses."Check out the full podcast to listen to the tastings, and to hear James and Renzo also discuss how the 2018 vintage was for Toscana. "The 2018s have a finesse, with personality and intensity, but not too rich," Renzo said. He also revealed that the vintage was not as good in Brunello di Montalcino and explained why.