ANTINORI GUADO AL TASSO 2020

Tenuta Guado al Tasso is located in the small but prestigious Bolgheri DOC, on the coast of upper Maremma, about one hundred kilometers southwest from Florence. This appellation has a relatively recent history, DOC Bolgheri was approved in 1994 and since then it has become an internationally recognized reference point for the Italian and international winemaking arena. The estate covers an area of about 320 hectares (790 acres) planted with vines, set in a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides known as the Bolgheri Amphitheatre due to its particular shape. The noble Della Gherardesca family began practicing viticulture in the late 1600’s on their land in Bolgheri, but things really began to change under the guidance of Guido Alberto Della Gherardesca (1780-1854). He was a passionate about viticulture. He was appointed majordomo of Grand Duke Leopold II and then dedicated himself to enology in his family’s land in Maremma. In the 1930’s, the property was inherited by Carlotta Della Gherardesca Antinori (Piero Antinori’s mother) and her sister who was married to Mario Incisa Della Rocchetta (who received the nearby Tenuta San Guido). The vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Vermentino grapes; this last cultivated with both with white and red varieties. The nearby sea provides a mild climate with constant breezes that mitigate summer heat and alleviate harsh winter weather, maintaining a clear sky and a high level of sunlight exposure. The area s alluvial soils, which vary from sandy-clay to silty-clay rich in agglomerate from Bolgheri (a very fine gravel), influence the character and personality of the varietals grown and give them a distinctive territorial identity. Guado al Tasso 2020 is an exquisite blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Petit Verdot that showcases the complex and elegant terroir of Bolgheri. The 2020 growing season began with mild winter weather and occasional rain showers, followed by an unexpected cold snap in March. Despite a slight drop in yields due to the frost event, the quality of the fruit remained uncompromised. The spring season progressed normally, ensuring good flowering and fruit set. Summer was generally hot and dry, without extreme heat events, while the fourth week of September brought cool temperatures and light rain showers that lasted until October, providing optimal temperature swings between day and night. The grape harvest commenced on September 4th with Merlot and continued with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from mid-September to the beginning of October. Upon arrival at the cellar, the grapes underwent meticulous sorting to ensure that only perfectly ripe berries reached the fermentation vats. Each vineyard parcel was vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 15-20 days. The wine then underwent malolactic fermentation in barriques before the final blend was selected in February and aged in new French oak until bottling in June 2022. Guado al Tasso 2020 is intensely ruby red in color, with a nose that offers enticing notes of small dark fruit, sweet spices, toasted oak, and forest floor. On the palate, the tannins are exceptionally well-balanced, refined, and persistent. This vintage can be enjoyed immediately, perhaps even more so than the previous year, but also possesses extraordinary aging potential. An extended period of bottle aging allows the wine to evolve and improve over time, further showcasing the alluvial soils of Bolgheri, which range from clay-sand to clay-loam with rocky deposits known as scheletro.