2023 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana

• "Remarkable Aromatic Profile. Full-Bodied, Refreshing" ~96 JS
• "There’s Much to Love Here" ~94 Decanter
• Baby Brother of Iconic Sassicaia
• Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles

About the Wine

Tenuta San Guido is better known for its world-renowned, famous wine “Sassicaia,” one of the original Super Tuscan Wines. Guidalberto is the second wine or "baby brother" of this amazing wine. 

There's a reason why we love second labels so much. Here's where you can find an amazing value: The pleasure of drinking an outstanding wine that shares terroir, and winemaking style with the main wine, with more approachability and without having to spend an arm and a leg. Guidalberto is crafted from declassified Sassicaia fruit and from other estate vineyards. 

Guidalberto (who was a pioneer of modern agriculture in Bolgheri in the early nineteenth century) said, "this wine was created for two reasons: first of all, the desire to see what we could accomplish with Merlot, a grape that we had never used before; second, the desire to offer the consumer a wine which could be appreciated at a younger age compared to our veteran Sassicaia”.

Mario Incisa della Rocchetta started a home wine project in 1948.

Mario Incisa della Rocchetta started a home wine project in 1948. The Western coast of Tuscany is known for its beauty, and in the Sassicaia, pristine vineyards roll downhill toward the sea, interrupted by horses and Italy’s top bird preserve. Even in the 1930s, the Rocchetta family knew this was a special place, and it wasn’t long before Sassicaia changed the game by planting Cabernet Sauvignon where Sangiovese once stood. The rest is just history. 

In the 1970's Marios son, Nicolo, and his nephew, Piero Antinori, started to commercialize the wine. In 1978, Decanter held a wine competition of great clarets of the world, and Sassicaia took first place. A star was born and the image of Bolgheri as an important producer of Bordeaux varietals in western Tuscany was confirmed. The name Sassicaia comes from "Sasso" which means "rocky field". In 2013, Sassicaia was awarded its own DOC. It is the only single, private estate in Italy to have such a prestigious designation.

Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels. 

Tasting Notes

50 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 50 % Merlot. It shows beautiful aromas of ripe red and black berries and spicy oak notes. This is a full-bodied wine of intense red fruit flavors and an elegantly supple texture supported by ripe, silky tannins. 

Reviews

This vintage shows a remarkable aromatic profile of Mediterranean herbs, cassis, black cherries, leather and earth with a kind of gamey depth. Full-bodied, it shows velvety, slightly sandy tannins with a firm structure, refreshing integrated acidity and a savory cedar finish. Drinkable now, but best in one or two years. ~96 James Suckling

2023 was a very good year for the Cabernets, according to Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, who added that a very hot start to August made it more difficult for early-ripening Merlot. As a result, Merlot has been reduced in the blend from 60% to 45%. The rich and glossy red berry, blackberry and black cherry fruit is nicely layered with balsamic herbs, damp earth and lovely mid-palate sapidity, with a creamy undertow which leads to a finish of dark chocolate and bitter herbs. Intense but not overtly concentrated, fresh and poised, there's much to love here – although it will require at least another six months to pull together harmoniously. ~94 Decanter

Jewel-like ruby red, love the rustic, sappy tannins, and the savoury mouthwateringly juicy black fruits fruit, layered with orange peel, cocoa bean, underbrush, finessed, full of signature Tuscan charm transforming these Bordeaux varieties. Approachable, discreet, great length, unflashy, well made, great stuff from the team at Tenuta San Guido. ~93 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2023 Guidalberto is another terrific wine from Tenuta San Guido in this vintage. Aromatic, medium in body and gracious, the 2023 is pure charm. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, spice and blood orange all pulse through a vibrant, refreshing Guidalberto that will drink well on release. The more refined side of Bolgheri is very much on display. This is a fine effort in a year marked by heavy rains and elevated disease pressure. What a delight ~92 Vinous Media

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