Antinori Guado Al Tasso - Bolgheri Superiore 2020 (MAGNUM)

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.

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.

“The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. 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.” - 96 Points, Wine Advocate

“The 2020 Guado Al Tasso pours an inky opaque red hue and reveals luxurious, layered aromas of sandalwood, cassis, boysenberry, lavender, and black olive. Fleshy and full-bodied, it fills the palate with ripe, sweet tannins and wonderful accents of salted dark chocolate on the finish. This is a wine that will certainly reward proper cellaring, but it already has a lot of the open-knit charm that’s characteristic of this vintage. Drink 2025-2045.” - 96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

"‘This is not the best possible Guado al Tasso, but it's the best we could do in vintages like this,’ commented Antinori CEO, Renzo Cotarella. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon is slightly lighter in this vintage due to the rainfalls of September.’ Dense purple in the glass, the 2020 offers a complex bouquet of cassis, earthy forest floor, wild Mediterranean herbs and intense dried eucalyptus leaf. Density and extraction dance in an embrace on a palate that's full of concentration, youth and precision. The tannins are velvety, the acidity natural and crisp, and the use of oak well judged. The finish is focused on graphite minerality, for an enticing yet ageworthy Superiore.” - 95 Points, Decanter

Producer: Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori)

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Appellation: Bolgheri Superiore

Vintage: 2020

Size: 1.5ml