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 2010 vintage, with the exception of July, was characterized by essentially cooler and rainier than average weather. Bud burst, in mid-April, was a week later than normal and May was particularly cool and rainy, delaying bud growth. June and, above all, July were dry with temperatures above seasonal averages, assisting a partial recovery of ripening time. August and September saw significant rains, but periods of fine weather as well. This was one of the coolest, latest, and most difficult vintages in recent years but one which, nonetheless, gave extremely satisfying results in terms of elegance and aromatic finesse in the finished wines.
Awards
I Vini di Veronelli Super Tre Stelle Italy
A.I.S. Guide 5 Grappoli Italy
Wine Advocate 97/100 USA
Falstaff 92/100 Austria
Wine Spectator 93/100 USA
Wine Enthusiast 94/100 USA
Wine & Spirits 91/100 + Year's Best USA
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.
