Guado al Tasso 2011
Climate
The 2011 vintage was characterized by a cool July, while both early spring, late August, and early September were very warm, with temperatures well above seasonal averages. Bud burst was slightly early but quite uniform. Regular weather during the spring and a cool early summer with scattered rainfall, up until the beginning of August, favored a lengthy growing season without vine stress. The heat of late August, though mitigated by the nearby presence of the sea, caused some irregularity and variability in the ripening along with a loss of production, particularly in early-ripening varieties such as Merlot. September was milder in its temperatures, and occasional rainfall allowed the later-ripening Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon to complete the final phases of their ripening in a uniform manner, guaranteeing an exceptional concentration of flavor and tannins.
Vinification
The harvesting of Guado al Tasso was done entirely by hand with the grapes picked directly into small, thirty seven pound (fifteen kilogram) packing cases. Once in the cellars, the grapes were sorted twice: first on a sorting table where only the finest and healthiest bunches pass the selection and then, after destemming, with a careful choice of the single berries to insure that only perfectly ripe grapes finished in the fermenting tanks. As in every harvest, the many individual vineyard plots were fermented on their own in order to conserve the separate and distinctive characteristics of their grapes. The fermentation took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and lasted 15-20 days. After the wine was run off its skins, it was racked into new oak barrels where it went through a complete malolactic fermentation. After the initial year of aging in French oak barrels, the finest selection for Guado al Tasso were assembled and went back into barrel for an additional six month period of aging before bottling.
Tasting Notes
A wine of the aromatic intensity and silkiness of texture was something rather unexpected in such a hot vintage as the 2011. The Merlot gave sweetness of flavor, density of texture, and a very intense aroma of black fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon contributed an exceptional richness along with additional black fruit aromas, liquorice, and not the slightest hint of greenness. Cabernet Franc added a magnificent balance and poise, smoothing the elevated tannic power of the other varieties and, finally, the Petit Verdot supplied that light touch of spice which completed the bouquet. This is a concentrated wine, one of great class and elegance, a wine capable of a very lengthy aging and positive evolution in the bottle.
Awards
I vini di Veronelli 2015 Super Tre Stelle Italy Bibenda 2015 5 Grappoli Italy Annuario L. Maroni 91/100 Italy Wine Advocate 95/100 USA Antonio Galloni 94/100 USA James Suckling 95/100 USA Falstaff 94/100 Austria Wine Spectator 92/100 USA Daniele Cernilli 91/100 Italy Wine & Spirits 95/100 + Year's Best + 100 Best Wines of the Year USA
The Wine
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and occasionally a small amount of Petit Verdot to best represent the complexity and elegance of the Bolgheri terroir. This wine has been produced since 1990 from vineyards on alluvial soils whose composition ranges from clay-sand to clay-loam with rocky deposits know as “scheletro”.
The Bolgheri Amphitheater
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.
Te Duce Proficio
Guado al Tasso added the Antinori family’s historic family crest on the capsules.
A Tribute to the Della Gherardesca Family
Guado al Tasso designed a label with the Della Gherardesca family crest and the initials DG as a tribute to the former estate owners.
Climate
The 2021 growing season in Bolgheri was impacted by a long period of drought that lasted from June throughout September. However, unlike the 2017 vintage, winter was particularly rainy which contributed to replenishing groundwater reserves in the deep soils that characterize this territory. The vines had the necessary soil moisture for the entire growth cycle. Spring was cool resulting in a slight delay in bud break and flowering. Temperatures during the summer months were never excessive and ensured a normal, gradual ripening phase of the fruit in each vineyard parcel and produced berries that were whole and perfectly healthy. The grape harvest began with Merlot at the beginning of September, continued with Cabernet Franc mid-September and was completed at the end of the month with Cabernet Sauvignon. All three grape varieties presented exceptional concentration of fruit flavors and extract, defining 2021 as a superb vintage.
Vinification
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 15 - 20 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 July 2023.
Historical Data
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”.
Tasting Notes
Guado al Tasso 2021 is an intense ruby red color. The palate is intense and complex with captivating aromas of currants, blackberries and blood oranges followed by undertones of spices, tobacco, licorice, and roasted coffee. The palate is mouth filling and persistent, bursting with vibrant silky tannins. A powerful yet graceful vintage with outstanding aging potential.
Tenuta Guado Al Tasso
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.
Soil
Alluvial in origin, soils vary from sandy-clay to silty-clay and in some areas good presence of very fine gravel called scheletro (also known as agglomerate from Bolgheri).
Antinori Estates
Estates in Italy
