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While red wines may have been top of mind when Antinori planted the vineyards on Atlas Peak, it turned out that a block of vines planted at an elevation of 450 meters produced stellar Chardonnay. Back in 1985, the Antinori family’s primary ambition was to plant Tuscan and Bordeaux varieties and produce wines that might rival their mighty Tignanello. However, they discovered that the high mountain blocks, subject to both sunshine and cooling winds, yielded whites with tension and vibrancy but also generous flavors. To celebrate this revelation, the wine was christened "A26." The "A" pays tribute to the three Antinori daughters running the daily operations—Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia—while the "26" honors the family's uninterrupted 26 generations of historic winemaking dating back to 1385 in Italy. Today, this reserve bottling represents a meticulous selection of less than 10% of the estate’s finest mountain Chardonnay blocks, grown in volcanic, gravelly loam soils. This wine would be wonderful with roasted mushrooms, rich fatty fish (like baked sea bass), pan-seared pork chops, or game birds.
The Antinori family’s winemaking legacy traces back to 1385, when Giovanni di Piero Antinori joined the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild in Tuscany. With over six centuries and 26 generations of continuous family ownership, Marchesi Antinori stands as one of the oldest wine producers in history.
Marchese Piero Antinori first visited Napa Valley in 1966, recognizing the potential of high-elevation mountain sites. That vision materialized in 1985 with the acquisition of a 1,200-acre property in the Vaca Mountain Range. Located in the Atlas Peak appellation, the estate features 550 acres of vineyards planted at elevations reaching up to 1,800 feet. Sitting high above the fog line, the vines benefit from direct sunlight, well-draining volcanic soils, and cooling air currents sweeping off San Francisco Bay—conditions that foster a long, gradual ripening period.
Today, the company is led by the 27th generation: Piero’s three daughters—Albiera, Allegra, and Alessia Antinori. Under their stewardship, the estate transitioned from its former brand identity, Antica, to Antinori Napa Valley, signalling a deliberate shift toward micro-lot, site-specific winemaking.
Following extensive replanting with tighter vine spacing and updated clonal selections, winemaker Marla Carroll utilizes a custom cave facility built in 2018. Equipped with small four-ton fermentation tanks, the cellar allows individual hillside parcels to be picked and vinified separately. This precision approach yields small-production, block-designated wines—such as the single-vineyard Townsend Cabernet Sauvignon and Proficio—that apply centuries of Tuscan expertise to produce high-altitude Napa wines defined by structure, balance, and quiet refinement.
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Napa Valley |
| Sub-Ava | Atlas Peak |
| Winery | Antinori Napa Valley |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Color | White |
| Varietal(s) | Chardonnay |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.7 x 30.0 |
| Case Size | 31.0 x 30.5 x 19.5 |
| Alcohol | 13.5% |
| Product Code | AN23NCH |
| UPC | 850049394130 |
| MLF | 50% |
94 points – Jeb Dunnuck; 93 points – Vinous.
Aromas of candied lemon, white stone fruits, and wet slate are lifted by savory nuances of mint and white pepper. The palate is focused, balancing unctuous orchard fruit and chalky, saline minerality. The finish goes deep, allowing a subtle touch of creamy oak and mouthwatering acidity to keep the flavors going.
Fermented and aged for six months in French oak barrels (83% new) with 50% undergoing malolactic fermentation.