Guado al Tasso 2012
Climate
The 2012 vintage was, on the whole, warmer than the previous one. The early months of the year were marked by a February snowstorm, a very unusual event for the Tuscan coast. Bud-burst took place quite regularly despite the scarce rainfall during the spring and summer. Early September rainfall, fortunately, pushed the ripening of the grapes forward, assisting the achievement of a high quality crop. The 2012 vintage demonstrated, once again, that the Bolgheri production zone can produce excellent wines even in very hot years: the morphology of the territory and the nearby presence of the sea mitigate high summer temperatures and help prevent vine stress that could compromise ripening and proper balance in the grapes.
Vinification
The harvest at the Guado al Tasso estate is carried out exclusively by hand, with the grapes picked into small, fifteen kilogram packing cases. The grapes are inspected on two different occasions: first, on the sorting table, only entirely healthy and undamaged grape bunches are selected and then, after destemming, the berries are chosen, one by one, to insure that only perfectly ripe grapes finish in the fermenting tanks. As in every vintage, the crop is fermented vineyard block by vineyard block and parcel by parcel on the basis of the specific characteristics of each single plot. Fermentation and skin contact lasted for 15-20 days and were carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. After the wine was run off its skins, the finest lots went directly into new, 60 gallon French oak barrels where they also were put through a complete malolactic fermentation. Subsequently, after a year of aging, the finest lots were blended together and aged for a further six months in oak before bottling.
Tasting Notes
A wine of ample aromatic impact with notes of mint, mocha, plums, and spice which follow and fuse with one another in a movement of constant energy and development. On the palate, the tannic texture is exceptionally full and silky. A wine of true profundity, length and elegance.
Awards
James Suckling 96/100 USA Wine Advocate 95/100 USA Wine Spectator 95/100 USA Antonio Galloni 95/100 USA Falstaff 94/100 Austria Wine Enthusiast 92/100 USA I Vini di Veronelli Super Tre stelle Italy I Vini dell'Espresso 16,5/20 Italy
The Wine
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and occasionally a small amount of Petit Verdot to best represent the complexity and elegance of the Bolgheri terroir. This wine has been produced since 1990 from vineyards on alluvial soils whose composition ranges from clay-sand to clay-loam with rocky deposits know as “scheletro”.
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 2022 growing season in Bolgheri was impacted by drought conditions that started at the end of winter and lasted throughout most of summer. These climatic conditions prompted early budbreak as well as all other phenological phases of flowering, fruit set and veraison. Mid-August brought rain showers that proved to be beneficial for the vines’ most critical ripening period. These weather trends guaranteed perfectly healthy fruit but, on the other hand, slowed down vegetative growth and reduced berry size. At harvest time, the grapes registered a good balance between sugar levels, acidity and ripeness, thanks to the rain showers in August. The grape harvest began with Merlot at the beginning of September, continued with Cabernet Franc from the beginning to mid-month, and was completed with Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of September.
Vinification
Upon arrival in the cellar, the grapes were sorted on two different occasions, once before destemming and again immediately after to guarantee that only perfectly ripe berries reached fermentation vats. Keeping with tradition, each single vineyard parcel was subdivided into smaller blocks and the grapes were harvested separately based on climate trends and individual characteristics of each grape variety and then fermented separately. Fermentation and maceration took place in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for 18 - 25 days. After racking operations, the wine was transferred directly into barriques where malolactic fermentation was completed by the end of the year. In February, wine from the very best vineyard blocks was selected and the final blend was made. Guado al Tasso was again transferred into new French oak barriques where it aged up until bottling which took place in May 2024.
Historical Data
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and occasionally a small amount of Petit Verdot to best represent the complex and elegant terroir found in Bolgheri. This wine has been produced since 1990 from vineyards on alluvial soils whose composition ranges from clay-sand to clay-loam with rocky deposits known as “scheletro”.
Tasting Notes
Guado al Tasso 2022 is an intense ruby red color. The nose opens with floral notes and aromas of red fruit that lead over to hints of sweet spices especially tobacco and licorice root. The palate is silky and savory with outstanding balance and dimension that balance perfectly with the elegant tannic structure. This wine can be enjoyed immediately but has excellent aging potential for the years to come.
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. 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
