Antinori - Guado al Tasso : Cont'Ugo 2023

Tasting characteristics and serving suggestions for Cont'Ugo 2023 Antinori - Guado al Tasso

Tasting

Appearance
The color displays a remarkably intense ruby-red hue.

Nose
The bouquet reveals a predominance of ripe red berries, enriched with scents of Mediterranean herbs and elevated by subtle nuances of peat moss and licorice root.

Palate
The palate shows a full-bodied character, supported by silky, refined tannins that deliver impressive aromatic and flavor persistence.

Serving and cellaring
Cont'Ugo 2023 is best enjoyed at cellar temperature, between 61 and 64°F (16–18°C). This wine can be cellared until around 2030.

A Tuscan Merlot true to the Bolgheri terroir

The estate
While the history of La Tenuta Guado al Tasso dates back to the late 1600s, it was in the 1930s that the Italian estate saw major development under the stewardship of the property's heiress, Carlotta Della Gherardesca Antinori, mother of Piero Antinori and sister of the wife of Mario Incisa Della Rocchetta, owner of Tenuta San Guido.

Located within the prestigious Bolgheri DOC, La Tenuta Antinori-Guado al Tasso is an emblematic benchmark for great Bolgheri Superiore wines thanks to the quality and elegance of its cuvées.

The vineyard

La Tenuta Antinori-Guado al Tasso oversees approximately 320 hectares of vines. This terroir benefits from its proximity to the sea, where the mild climate, sunshine and constant breezes temper both summer heat and winter cold. The vineyards are planted on alluvial soils typical of the region, ranging from clay-sandy to clay-loam and rich in fine gravel. This typicity gives the wines a distinctive character and aromatic richness.

The wine

Cont'Ugo d’Antinori - Guado al Tasso is a Bolgheri wine crafted exclusively from vineyards rooted in silt- and clay-based soils.

The vintage
The year 2023 began with a mild, dry winter, followed by early budbreak on March 20. Spring brought moderate rainfall that required careful canopy management. July was marked by dry heat, ideal for veraison. From August 20 to 25, exceptionally hot, dry northerly winds caused slight dehydration in exposed plots. In late August, Atlantic fronts restored balance with showers and cooler temperatures. September provided sunny, dry conditions that allowed for even ripening and exceptional fruit quality.

Winemaking and aging
The Merlot destined for Cont'Ugo 2023 was hand-harvested from September 6 to 18, yielding healthy, perfectly ripe grapes after double sorting. Fermentation and maceration took place for around 20 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation temperatures were adjusted to 77°F (25°C) to preserve the aromas, then raised to 86°F (30°C) to optimize phenolic and structural extraction. Each lot was vinified separately before malolactic fermentation in barrels, completed at the end of 2023. After selecting and blending the best cuvées, the wine was aged for a further 12 months in second-fill barrels.

Grape variety
100% Merlot