Guado al Tasso
The Wine
First produced in 1990, Guado al Tasso is the wine through which Marchesi Antinori has deepened its understanding and interpretation of Bolgheri, contributing to turning the potential of this terroir into an identity recognized around the world. Its name evokes Bolgheri as it once was: a landscape shaped by natural fords and untamed nature. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, sourced from vineyards at the foot of the Bolgheri amphitheater, are blended in proportions that vary with each vintage, expressing both the character of the territory and the distinctive qualities of the year. Guado al Tasso is a mosaic of terroir, defined by intensity and balance, with tannic finesse as its stylistic signature.
Historical Data
First produced in 1990, Guado al Tasso is the wine through which Marchesi Antinori has deepened its understanding and interpretation of Bolgheri, contributing to turning the potential of this terroir into an identity recognized around the world. Its name evokes Bolgheri as it once was: a landscape shaped by natural fords and untamed nature. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, sourced from vineyards at the foot of the Bolgheri amphitheater, are blended in proportions that vary with each vintage, expressing both the character of the territory and the distinctive qualities of the year. Guado al Tasso is a mosaic of terroir, defined by intensity and balance, with tannic finesse as its stylistic signature.
The Wine
First produced in 1990, Guado al Tasso is the wine through which Marchesi Antinori has deepened its understanding and interpretation of Bolgheri, contributing to turning the potential of this terroir into an identity recognized around the world. Its name evokes Bolgheri as it once was: a landscape shaped by natural fords and untamed nature. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, sourced from vineyards at the foot of the Bolgheri amphitheater, are blended in proportions that vary with each vintage, expressing both the character of the territory and the distinctive qualities of the year. Guado al Tasso is a mosaic of terroir, defined by intensity and balance, with tannic finesse as its stylistic signature.
The Bolgheri Amphitheater
The Guado al Tasso estate’s most characteristic geographic feature is the Bolgheri Amphitheater, a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides that faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. The shape of the territory creates a unique microclimate with beneficial temperature fluctuations. The estate’s vineyards are located at the foot of the amphitheater, an optimal position as cold nocturnal breezes cool down the vines. These particular climatic conditions give the grapes pronounced aromas and guarantee a perfect ripening of the berries.
Te Duce Proficio
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules.
A Tribute to the Della Gherardesca Family
Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
Climate
The 2016 vintage was characterized by a mild winter with sporadic but abundant rainfall which assisted in creating important reserves of ground water in the sub-soil. The vines began their cycle of growth and development a bit earlier than in a normal season and then proceeded in a regular fashion, accompanied by a sunny spring with temperatures and rainfall which respected normal seasonal averages. The summer was, on the whole, a warm one but without significant temperature peaks. The ripening of the grapes proceeded with sunny days, low rainfall, and cool evenings and nights which favored the development of aromatic components in the crop, maintaining an excellent freshness as well, an indispensable factor for elegant and long-lived grapes. The harvest began with the Merlot on September 5th, continued with the Cabernet Franc towards the middle of the month, and concluded with the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 5th.
Vinification
The grapes, upon their delivery to the cellars, were selected in two different phases: first upon their arrival and then during the destemming in order to guarantee that only the finest part of the crop went into the fermentation tanks. As in every vintage, the individual vineyard plots were sub-divided into a series of single parcels to be picked on the basis of the climate of the vintage and the characteristics of the grapes, fermenting them then separately. The grapes were then fermented for a period of 15-20 days in stainless steel tanks. After being run off its skins, the wine went directly into small oak barrels where, by the end of the year, the malolactic fermentation was completed. In the month of February the wine of the finest parcels was selected and blended together. Guado al Tasso then went back into new French oak barrels where it aged until bottling in July of 2018.
Historical Data
First produced in 1990, Guado al Tasso is the wine through which Marchesi Antinori has deepened its understanding and interpretation of Bolgheri, contributing to turning the potential of this terroir into an identity recognized around the world. Its name evokes Bolgheri as it once was: a landscape shaped by natural fords and untamed nature. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, sourced from vineyards at the foot of the Bolgheri amphitheater, are blended in proportions that vary with each vintage, expressing both the character of the territory and the distinctive qualities of the year. Guado al Tasso is a mosaic of terroir, defined by intensity and balance, with tannic finesse as its stylistic signature.
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Guado al Tasso shows an intense ruby red color. The nose expresses pleasurable notes of fruit and sweet spices: plums, blueberry jam, leather, liquorices root, and such balsamic sensations as mint, which add freshness and complexity. The palate is long and dynamic, accompanied by supple and elegant tannins and, once again, balsamic notes. A vintage, the 2016, of exceptional elegance.
Awards
Wine Advocate 98/100 USA James Suckling 98/100 USA
Datasheet
Tenuta Guado Al Tasso
The Guado al Tasso estate 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 1995 and since then it has become an internationally recognized reference point for the Italian and international winemaking arena. The estate covers an area of 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 vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Vermentino Nero and Bianco. There is also a small presence of Grenache, Petit Verdot, Viognier and Sémillon. 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.
Soil
Alluvial in origin, soils vary from sandy-clay to silty-clay and in some areas good presence of very fine gravel called scheletro (also known as agglomerate from Bolgheri).
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
