MARCHESI ANTINORI 'Guado al Tasso' Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2019 Bottle

Description

The 2019 Guado al Tasso, scored 97 points by The Wine Advocate, embodies elegance and refinement. This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot presents an alluring nose of crushed blackberries, dark chocolate, and spice. The palate is rich and full-bodied, with round tannins offering a velvety texture. James Suckling notes its long, lingering finish, amplified by notes of ripe black plum, licorice, and a hint of mint. VINOUS praises its balance and energy, with clean, bracing mineral notes persisting on the enchanting finish. Wine Enthusiast highlights layers of camphor and pipe tobacco, seamlessly woven with oak-driven spice. Guado al Tasso 2019 is a stunning expression of Bolgheri's terroir, worthy of aging.

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MARCHESI ANTINORI
Marchesi Antinori is a historic Italian wine producer founded in 1385, making it one of the oldest wineries in Italy. Based in Tuscany, the Antinori family has dedicated itself to quality winemaking for over six centuries, operating several estates in renowned regions, including Chianti Classico and Bolgheri. The winery is famous for its iconic Super Tuscan wines, such as Tignanello and Solaia, which blend traditional Sangiovese with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Marchesi Antinori champions sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly practices, reflecting the unique terroir of its vineyards. With a reputation for excellence and innovation, Marchesi Antinori remains a leading figure in the global wine industry, appealing to both enthusiasts and collectors alike.

GUADO AL TASSO
Guado al Tasso is a prestigious wine estate owned by the Marchesi Antinori family, located in the Bolgheri region of Tuscany, Italy. Established in the late 1990s, the estate covers approximately 300 hectares, with around 80 hectares dedicated to vineyards that cultivate a blend of international grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. The flagship wine, Guado al Tasso, is celebrated for its rich fruit flavours, structured tannins, and complex aromatic profile featuring dark berries, spices, and earthy notes. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine gains depth and elegance. Committed to sustainable viticulture, the estate reflects the uniqueness of its terroir, making Guado al Tasso a sought-after choice for wine enthusiasts and collectors.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Drink Date: 2024 - 2048
I've been tracking the increasing percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend of this iconic Tuscan wine. 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. A fluttering of dried mint gives lift and power to the bouquet. This is a beautifully linear and powerful red blend.

JAMES SUCKLING 97 points
Best Guado al Tasso ever. Wonderful nose of crushed blackberries and cherries with hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and a long, long finish. It goes on for minutes. Now just a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Better after 2015.

VINOUS 97 points
Drinking Window 2027 - 2049
From: Tuscany: New Releases from the Coast (Jul 2022)
The 2019 Guado al Tasso is a model of total refinement. Deeply pitched spice, mocha and leather nuances meld into a core of plush dark fruit as the 2019 reveals its considerable charms. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing, but the 2019 has so much more to offer. I admire the wine’s balance and allure, both of which it has in spades. Like so many 2019s, Guado al Tasso is a wine more of energy and persistence than volume. Clean, bracing mineral notes linger on the sublime finish. The 2019 spent 18 months in barrel, 90% new. (Originally Published in March 2022) - By Antonio Galloni on February 2022

WINE ENTHUSIAST 96 points
This gorgeous, full-bodied red opens with layers of aromas including camphor, pipe tobacco, oak-driven spice and ripe black-skinned fruit. Boasting structure and finesse, the intense palate delivers ripe black plum, juicy cherry, licorice and menthol framed in ultrarefined tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2026–2039. — Kerin O’Keefe

DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Aldo Fiordelli
(at San Guido, Castagneto Carducci, 15 Jun 2022)
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2039
Guado al Tasso has evolved to this classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot - the Petit Verdot has been omitted since 2015. It confirms in this good, impressively fresh vintage the consistency demonstrated last year. The wine is full of straw, eucalyptus leaf and graphite flavours which mingle with cassis and cedar wood. It has a great mid-palate, which doesn't come across as over-extracted, although the tannins are still oaky on the finish and the toastiness is yet to be integrated. It will evolve gracefully.