2021 Marchese Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany

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. Drinkable now, but event better in two or three years.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Deep, dark rich ruby with a black core. Concentrated and intense aromas of blackberries, plums and blackcurrants with hints of tar and tobacco. Polished and extremely elegant on the palate, with many layers of fine tannins and a firmness on the finish.

97 points falstaff.com

From the coastal vineyards of Bolgheri on Tuscany’s western edge, Marchese Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso stands as one of Italy’s great Super Tuscan benchmarks. The Antinori family, with over six centuries of winemaking history, has shaped this estate into a reference point for Bordeaux inspired blends grown on Italian soil. Gravelly alluvial soils, maritime breezes and warm, sunlit days create ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc to ripen fully while retaining freshness and structure.

A deep garnet crimson with inky depth fills the glass. Aromas unfold in layered waves of blackcurrant, dark plum and blackberry intertwined with cedar, tobacco, graphite and sweet spice. There is a commanding presence here, polished yet powerful, with a sense of pedigree from the first swirl.

The palate is full bodied and beautifully structured, delivering concentrated cassis and black cherry fruit framed by firm, refined tannins and vibrant acidity. Notes of dark chocolate, liquorice, dried herbs and finely integrated oak build through the mid palate, leading to a long, resonant finish that feels both expansive and controlled. Built for serious cellaring, Guado al Tasso will evolve magnificently over fifteen to twenty five years, gaining layers of leather, truffle and savoury complexity.

Florentine steak sliced thick and simply seasoned, wild boar ragù clinging to pappardelle, or aged pecorino passed around as the evening stretches late. A record like Verdi’s La Traviata or something cinematic from Ennio Morricone, the wine carrying that same sense of drama, heritage and unmistakable Italian grandeur.