The nose shows excellent aromatic finesse and freshness with notes which recall rosemary, mint, red fruit and, lightly, liquorice. Very balanced on the palate, savoury and long, the wine is potent and subtle at the same time, elegant and of great drinking pleasure.
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”.
The 2018 vintage’s growing season saw frequent rain showers especially during winter and springtime. These climatic conditions abundantly replenished groundwater reserves that were significantly depleted after the drier 2017 season. Bud break was delayed by about one week compared to seasonal averages. Summer trends proceeded normally with hot, dry weather creating ideal conditions for a slow, steady ripening phase. September, with virtually no rainfall at all, was dominated by temperatures higher than 2017 however were affected by cooler nights. Harvest time was slightly later for Merlot, picking went from September 5th through the 22nd; and was right on schedule for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 15th and October 5th.
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.
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules. Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
Maturation: All the wines went immediately into new French oak barrels where they went through a complete malolactic fermentation by the end of the year. After a year of aging, the finest lots were selected and blended and then went back into barrel for an additional six months of aging. A year in bottle preceded the release.
