2021 Marchesi Antinori Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore

"This is a spectacular wine that holds its own against the finest first and second growth Bordeaux" ~Greg Martellotto, Italian Wine Ambassador

It doesn’t just compete—it dominates, effortlessly matching the power, depth, and elegance of the world’s most iconic wines.

The Antinori family has been committed to the art of winemaking for over six centuries since 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member, of the “Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri”, the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. 

"We have demonstrated, over the years, that in Tuscany and in Umbria there was the possibility of producing excellent wines, widely recognized at an international level, which showed both elegance and finesse while maintaining their original character," says Piero Antinori.

Al Tasso is one of the finest wines from the region. It comes from the prestigious Bolgheri DOC, an appellation located on the coast of upper Maremma. Tenuta Guado is placed in a beautiful terroir of alluvial origin, with soils composed of sand and clay, and very fine gravel called scheletro (also known as agglomerate from Bolgheri).

This is a wine for savvy wine drinkers and collectors. This wine is ready to drink today. However, if you're patient enough to cellar this wine for a couple more years, it will only get better. 

"Marchesi Antinori General Manager Renzo Cotarella tells me that 2021 is the best vintage he has ever overseen. Ever. He prefers it to recent classics like 2016 and 2010. There was frost in the spring, and the growing cycle was very long. This is something that most grapes, and especially Sangiovese, need in order to exhibit aromatic depth and flavor complexity. "This is an exceptional year," he says, citing the inner energy certainly exhibited by the wines from 2021. I agree, mostly, but not unequivocally. I love the precision and tension inherent to these wines, but I didn't encounter that same breathless vertical lift and linearity that I remember so well in 2016, for example. That was a vintage that managed to effortlessly balance both power and elegance, which is by no means an easy feat. To me, 2021 has the elegance but not the same piercing power that you only get in cooler vintages when sugar and phenolic ripening line up seamlessly. So, while I love these wines, especially the Chianti Classico Riserva Marchese Antinori and the outstanding Tignanello, my money is still on 2016 as the better vintage, speaking generally. But zoom in on one wine and my money is on the 2021 Tignanello over everything else." ~Vinous Media

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc. On the nose, it’s rich and alluring with aromas of tobacco, licorice, plums, and balsamic notes that are accompanied by subtle, elegant aromas of toasted coffee. On the palate, it’s characterized by aromatic precision and purity, persistent and savory. Tannins are of superb quality. Amazing aging potential.

The 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a very beautiful wine, but also quite a departure from the style that made it famous years ago. Readers will find an especially polished Guado al Tasso, a wine that emphasizes finesse more than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of black cherry fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright, saline undertones extend the exquisite finish. There's more Cabernet Franc in the blend these days, and that very much comes through in the wine's crazy aromatic presence and feel. The 2021 spent 16 months in wood, three months in used French oak barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months in barrel (80% new) for the rest of its aging. Gorgeous. ~98 Vinous Media

This is really well crafted, with ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate. It’s medium-bodied with a balance of currant, dark chocolate and hazelnut character. It’s so long and persistent, with gorgeous sophistication and unctuousness at the finish. Extremely well done. ~97 James Suckling

The pedigree and purity of this red are evident immediately from its black currant, blackberry, pomegranate, violet and wild herb aromas. Saturated with red and black fruit and picking up licorice and mineral elements, this is all about finesse and harmony. Cruises to the long finish, which is tinged with fruit, mineral, cedar, licorice and spice notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. ~97 Wine Spectator

The Marchesi Antinori 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc from a hot year that also benefited from better underground water reserves because 2020 actually saw quite a bit of rain in Bolgheri and that moisture carried over. This wine is all forward thrust as a result, with a determined mouthfeel pushed over the palate thanks to plummy fruit, baked blackberry and sweet spice. The wine gracefully adds a spot of much-needed minerality that adds to the sensations of freshness. There is even some mint that livens up the mouthfeel. ~95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

***Free Shipping on 6 or More Bottles of This Wine***