A Super Auction for a Super Tuscan: Tignanello Attracts Big Bids at Christie’s
Bottles of Marchesi Antinori’s super Tuscan Tignanello raised nearly $190,000 at a London auction organized by Christie’s, on Nov. 26 and 27. The bottles came straight from the Antinori cellars, giving collectors a rare chance to secure one of Italy’s most beloved wines with unbeatable provenance.
The auction celebrated the 50th anniversary of the release of Tignanello 1971, the wine’s first vintage. Forty lots of Tignanello—a total of 170 bottles, plus a full barrel (the equivalent of 300 standard bottles)—were sold during the auction, which also featured other lots from a European collection.
The wines ranged from standard bottles to a rare balthazar—that’s 12 liters—and many magnums, double magnums and imperials were scattered among the lots, which included vintages from across the wine’s half-century of existence.
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Tignanello changed the face of Italian wine with its release 50 years ago. The wine began as almost pure Sangiovese and has evolved to include portions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The Tignanello vineyard in Chianti Classico was named one of the top 10 vineyards of the world in Wine Spectator’s Oct. 15, 2024, issue, and last month the 2021 vintage of Tignanello was named our No. 3 Wine of 2024.
Renzo Cotarella, CEO and head winemaker, told Wine Spectator that “Tignanello for Antinori was a real milestone” that encouraged the house to move toward high quality wines of “identity and authenticity.” He added that beyond the impressive sales, he’s happy to see the enthusiasm customers and collectors showed for the wine. “This wine means a lot to us, as it was able not only to change our future but also to show the potential of Italian wine to the entire world.”
A Rare Barrel of 2024 Tignanello
The top lot, which sold for just over $60,000, was a 225-liter barrique of the 2024 vintage that will mature at the estate. When the wine is ready, the buyer will receive one 15-liter bottle, plus the remainder in their bottle format of choice.
The next highest selling lot, at around $27,000, featured 10 bottles of the excellent 2021 vintage in mixed formats. The buyer will also enjoy a VIP tasting experience for four at Tenuta Tignanello. Other notable lots included two single bottles of 1971, the wine’s first vintage, which sold for around $950 and $1,000.