Antinori Guado al Tasso 2018 Bolgheri Tuscany Italy

Tenuta Guado al Tasso is located on rolling hills near the coast in the Bolgheri amphitheater. It is a part of the Antinori group, known for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, rather than Sangiovese grape.  The proximity to the coast provides plentiful sea breezes which moderate the warm, sunny climate, while at the same time minimizing cloud cover.  This means that the grapes can reach full ripeness while retaining acidity, which is essential to make a complex, balanced wine.

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”.

Guado al Tasso 2018 is an intense ruby red color. The nose opens with captivating notes of sweet spices and small dark ripe fruit, licorice root, leather and tobacco. On the palate the tannins are graceful: silky on entry and vibrant on the finish. – Winemaker’s tasting notes

Made with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot, this has aromas of cassis, French oak, leather and a whiff of bell pepper that waft out of the glass. Elegantly structured, the bright, linear palate offers black-skinned berries, licorice and coffee bean set against taut, fine-grained tannins. - Kerin O’Keefe