Guado al Tasso 2013
Climate
The 2013 vintage was, on the whole, a cool one, above all during the spring in September. The summer months, warm and sunny, but without excessively high peak temperatures, assisted in a proper, unstressed growth both of the grapes and of vine vegetation.. At the end of August, it was necessary to proceed with manual leaf removal to achieve the extract and complexity which characterize Guado al Tasso. September gave us lovely sunny days and cooler than usual nights, ideal conditions for balance between sugar accumulation and aromatic ripeness. In conclusion, a cool vintage which gave excellent fruits.
Vinification
The harvest began with the Merlot on September 4th and concluded with the Cabernet Sauvignon in early October. The grapes were sorted and selected twice, first immediately after picking and then after destemming, and only perfectly ripe berries went into the fermenting tanks. As in every vintage, the single vineyard parcels, subdivided into a series of small plots, were harvested and fermented separately to preserve their specific character and personality. The fermentation and skin contact took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel fermenting tanks and lasted 15-20 days. After fermentation, only superior lots went directly into new small oak barrels, where they went through their malolactic fermentation. The finest selections for Guado al Tasso were assembled and blended together after a year of aging and remained in barrel for a further six month period before bottling.
Tasting Notes
The 2013 Guado al Tasso is a wine of great elegance and finesse, silkier and more vibrant than ever. In a cool vintage, one with a very long growing season, the Cabernet Sauvignon (55%) brought notes of aromatic herbs and mint along with crisp tannins which added length. The Merlot (25%) gave concentration and texture and ample sensations of plums and blackberries. The characterful Cabernet Franc (18%) contributed aromatic and flavor elegance, intensifying the finish and aftertaste with notes of liquorice and cassis. And, finally, the Petit Verdot (2%) combined very well with other varieties, underlining the wine’s spiciness.
Awards
Wine Advocate 96/100 USA James Suckling 97/100 USA Wine Spectator 94/100 USA
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 2023 growing season in Bolgheri began with mild winter weather and very limited rainfall that caused the vines to break dormancy slightly earlier, beginning on March 20th. Spring brought periods of moderately intense precipitation that required careful vineyard management to keep the vines healthy and vigorous. Beneficial hot, dry weather in the month of July slowed down vegetative growth and provided perfect conditions for veraison and the beginning of the ripening phase. Temperatures in August were consistent with seasonal averages, however, at the end of the month, unstable weather moved in from the Atlantic bringing rain showers and refreshing temperatures that guaranteed optimal conditions for the grapes to progress through the ripening phase. The month of September was sunny and dry allowing grapes to reach peak maturity in all vineyard parcels and producing fruit of exceptional quality. The grape harvest began at the beginning of September with Merlot, continued with Cabernet Franc during the first half of September, and was completed at the end of the month with Cabernet Sauvignon.
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 then transferred into new French oak barriques where it was left to age up until bottling which took place in July 2025.
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 2023 is an intense ruby red color. The nose presents extraordinary intensity with notes of plums, blackberries and blackcurrants that meet hints of tobacco and licorice roots and closes with light notes of mint and blood oranges. The palate impresses for its dense, mouth filling tannic texture and exceptional depth and pleasantness in both the mid palate and finish. The 2023 vintage is enjoyable right out of the gate but at the same time has excellent aging potential.
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
