2019 | WA 97 The 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is made with 25% Cabernet Franc, with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. That this heat-resistant grape now makes up a quarter of the blend speaks to how vintners are gearing up to counter climate change. These are intelligent choices, and you can count on this wine to maintain that level of extreme elegance and intensity that it is known for (even when Merlot was a bigger part of the blend). Indeed, this is a new and improved Guado al Tasso with focused aromas of pencil shaving, white pepper and crushed stone that frame a rich core of black fruit.  2020 | WA 96 The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage. Winery History While the Antinori family’s winemaking legacy spans 26 generations and over 600 years, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso estate entered their portfolio in 1932 as part of the dowry of Carlotta della Gherardesca upon her marriage to Niccolò Antinori. This noble property in Bolgheri, which had been in the della Gherardesca family since the 17th century, sits within a natural "amphitheater" between the hills and the sea, creating a unique microclimate that the family spent decades researching. It wasn't until 1990 that the flagship Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore was first produced, quickly becoming a cornerstone of the "Super Tuscan" movement by blending traditional Bordeaux varieties with a distinct coastal Mediterranean identity.

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Winemaker Notes The 2020 Marchesi Antinori Guado al Tasso is defined by a richer, more concentrated profile than the 2019, reflecting a warmer growing season that resulted in a "luscious" and opulent Bolgheri Superiore. The nose is dominated by ripe blackcurrants, maraschino cherries, and sweet spices, underpinned by the estate’s signature notes of Mediterranean scrub, dark chocolate, and a touch of toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is voluptuous and broad, featuring thick, velvety tannins and a powerful structure that maintains balance through a surprising vein of saline acidity. While it offers immediate "wow factor" with its deep fruit density and 14.5% alcohol, critics note that its long, spicy finish suggests a wine built for serious cellar aging, likely hitting its peak between 2028 and 2045. Winery History While the Antinori family’s winemaking legacy spans 26 generations and over 600 years, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso estate entered their portfolio in 1932 as part of the dowry of Carlotta della Gherardesca upon her marriage to Niccolò Antinori. This noble property in Bolgheri, which had been in the della Gherardesca family since the 17th century, sits within a natural "amphitheater" between the hills and the sea, creating a unique microclimate that the family spent decades researching. It wasn't until 1990 that the flagship Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore was first produced, quickly becoming a cornerstone of the "Super Tuscan" movement by blending traditional Bordeaux varieties with a distinct coastal Mediterranean identity.

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Winemaker Notes The 2019 Marchesi Antinori Guado al Tasso is a masterclass in Bolgheri elegance, characterized by its refined energy and a distinct aromatic lift thanks to a significant 25% Cabernet Franc component. On the nose, it offers an alluring mix of black plums, licorice, and mocha, accented by sophisticated notes of dried mint and crushed graphite. The palate is full-bodied and seamless, trading raw power for a velvety, linear structure and a savory, mineral-driven finish that lingers with hints of toasted spice. Currently entering its ideal drinking window, this vintage is celebrated by critics as a benchmark for its precision and "cool" Mediterranean character, though it still benefits from a two-hour decant to fully unfurl its complex layers. Winery History While the Antinori family’s winemaking legacy spans 26 generations and over 600 years, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso estate entered their portfolio in 1932 as part of the dowry of Carlotta della Gherardesca upon her marriage to Niccolò Antinori. This noble property in Bolgheri, which had been in the della Gherardesca family since the 17th century, sits within a natural "amphitheater" between the hills and the sea, creating a unique microclimate that the family spent decades researching. It wasn't until 1990 that the flagship Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore was first produced, quickly becoming a cornerstone of the "Super Tuscan" movement by blending traditional Bordeaux varieties with a distinct coastal Mediterranean identity.

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