TENUTA SAN GUIDO | Guidalberto | Toscana | Bolgheri | 2016
cabernet sauvignon | merlot

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Location of the vineyards, their exposure to sunlight, the different areas with their unique soils and the elevation are all crucial factors that influence the complexity of the resulting wines. This theory was recently proved in a study by the University of Pisa, that highlighted the uniqueness of the vineyards of Tenuta San Guido by soil type and exposure, compared to the surrounding wine-growing areas of the Maremma Toscana appellation.

Tonight we’ve decided to review a wine that we were eager to try for quite some time – a genuine Super Tuscan wine from the famous Bolgheri region – Guidalberto 2016 by Tenuta San Guido. The winery is located on the Tyrrhenian coast in the Maremma Toscana area, which is the birthplace of Super Tuscan wines and now has its own appellation. There are three wines that are produced at Tenuta San Guido: Sassicaia – the flagship wine, Guidalberto – the estate’s ‘second vin’ and Le Difese. Guidalberto was created by Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta with the desire to offer the consumer a wine which could be appreciated at a younger age than the highly priced Sassicaia. In order to make the wine less coarse and more friendly, cabernet sauvignon grapes were blended with merlot – a grape variety that was never used before on the estate. Both varieties are sourced from South and South-West facing hills, situated between 100m and 300m above the sea level, with soils rich in limestone, clay and stones. The wine was aged for 15 months in french and partially american oak barrels, with additional ageing in the bottle. The 2016 vintage is considered by many wine experts to be one of the best of the last decade, which was further proven true by the Sassicaia wine, that was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. The last Sassicaia wine to be awarded the perfect score was the epic 1985 vintage, that set the benchmark for all italian wines, still considered by many as one of the greatest italian wines ever made. That said, without further ado, let’s take a look at the wine tasting results.
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Take a look at the tasting notes below and our detailed assessment of the wine:

//Visual
concentration: medium
colour: ruby
clarity: hazy
hue/rim: ruby

//Olfactory
intensity: rich
fruit profile: red fruits
__red fruits: sour cherry | red currant | cranberry | red plum
fruit character: unripe | ripe

//Flavor
non fruit: spice | oak | animal | earth
__spice: red pepper | nutmeg 
__oak: light roasted oakwood
__animal: iron | veal | leather | hints of farmyard
__earth: red soil dust | forest floor | compost
__wood: new / light
aroma: primary | secondary

//Palate
sweetness: dry
acidity: high
alcohol: med(+)
tannin: med(+)
__grip: fine
body: round | medium+
balance: good
__dominant: acidity
complexity: complex

//Taste
fruit profile: red fruits
fruit character: ripe
non fruit: animal | earth
finish: med(+)
aftertaste: velvety-crisp

//Scoring
TENUTA SAN GUIDO | Guidalberto | Toscana | Bolgheri | 2016
variety: cabernet sauvignon | merlot
country: Italy | Toscana
region: Maremma Toscana | Bolgheri
rating: 92.7

//Conclusion
maturity: youthfull | on the rise
verdict: great | a must try
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This is definitely a great wine of Italy and, with a total of 92.7 points scored, this wine is right there, among the best wines we’ve rated so far. Check our complete database on the wine rating page, where you can find all the wines that we have tasted and reviewed or go to the about us page and find out more about our exquisite rating system.

Verdict: this is a classic Super Tuscan wine blend indeed – fruity-savory, velvety and elegant – a wine that is still on the rise, as it has yet to reach the summit of its prime form, thus one that requires another 3 or 4 years of bottle ageing. With fine-grained tannins, mouth-watering acidity and a seedy-ripe finale, this wine is a fine example of how an old-world blend can be crafted using tradition and technology. It feels supple, round and well structured, with a medium+ body and a noble mixture of primary fruit and terrior-driven earthy notes, which makes it a blueprint wine that has both, distinctive personality and the footprint of the Bolgheri’s signature terroir. Enjoy!
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