Guado al Tasso 2018

An elegant and aromatic red wine from Tuscany

The estate

Although the story of Tenuta Guado Al Tasso originated at the end of the 1600s, it was during the 1930s that the estate experienced significant development under the estate’s heiress, Carlotta Della Gherardesca Antinori, the mother of Piero Antinori and sister to the wife of Mario Incisa Della Rocchetta, who owned Tenuta San Guido.

Located within the prestigious DOC Bolgheri, Tenuta Guado al Tasso is an iconic reference for great Italian wines thanks to the quality and elegance of its cuvées.

The vineyard

Tenuta Guado al Tasso overlooks a vineyard covering around 320 hectares of vines. This terroir enjoys proximity to the sea, where a mild climate, sunshine and consistent breezes regulate both the summertime heat and the cold winters. The vineyards are planted on alluvial soils typical to the region, from clay-sand to clay-silt and rich in fine gravel. This typicality gives the wines a unique character and aromatic richness.

The wine

Guado al Tasso has been produced since 1990.

The vintage

The numerous rainy spells throughout winter and spring made it possible for water reserves to be replenished as they were exhausted after a particularly dry 2017 season. While these conditions delayed the crop cycle by around a week compared to the seasonal average, the hot and dry conditions during summer encouraged a slow, regular ripening process for the grapes. September was marked by low rainfall as well as contrasts between high temperatures during the day and cooler ones at night.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes are harvested on a plot-based manner. They are subject to a rigorous sort both before and after destemming so as to only conserve high-quality grapes when producing the wine. Fermentation is carried out in thermoregulated stainless steel vats, as well as maceration, which lasts for 15-20 days. Following racking, the wine is placed into barrels for malolactic fermentation. Throughout Febrauary, a selection of each of the plot-based wines is carried out in order to proceed to the final blend. Following this blend, the Guado al Tasso is transferred to new French oak barrels for ageing until its bottling in April 2020.

Blend

Guado al Tasso 2018 is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautiful and intense ruby colour.

Nose

The nose reveals flavourful fragrances of sweet spices, ripe black berries, liquorice root, leather and tobacco.

Palate

The palate seduces with its silky tannins, its balance, its sophistication and elegance.