Sub-Region
Sub-Region
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orvieto | 21 | - |
Inc. VAT
£287.09 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 7 | - |
Inc. VAT
£509.09 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£341.21 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Intense aromas of crushed lime and lemon as well as mineral and flint follow through to a medium body, ultra-precise acid and fruit balance. Long and linear finish. Just a hint of vanilla and cream. Give it a year or two to develop in the bottle but already a beauty. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 95 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£712.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Intense aromas of crushed lime and lemon as well as mineral and flint follow through to a medium body, ultra-precise acid and fruit balance. Long and linear finish. Just a hint of vanilla and cream. Give it a year or two to develop in the bottle but already a beauty. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£546.04 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is big and powerful, without being ripe and heavy. So much apple, stone, and hints of toffee. Aromatic. Full-bodied, layered and framed with phenolic tension and a great finish. Muscular and agile at the same time. One of the best I have tasted. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 2 | 96 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£548.44 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Focused and complex on the nose with stone, sliced cooked apple and hints of toffee. Full-bodied, with a density and freshness and liveliness. Vivid and energetic. All about class here. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£495.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Complex nose of toast, charred pineapple, green papaya, kaffir lime and lemon. Crushed stones and white pepper, too. Full-bodied with vibrant acidity. Textured. Long and layered. Delicious and concentrated. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 3 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£678.04 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)This is very aromatic and lifted with mineral, nougat, floral, and lightly cooked apples. Some flint and matchstick. Medium- to full-bodied with a fine phenolic and acid backbone that energizes the wine. Complex aftertaste with subtle fruit and pastry at the end. This will age beautifully but hard not to drink now. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£427.24 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)This is very aromatic and lifted with mineral, nougat, floral, and lightly cooked apples. Some flint and matchstick. Medium- to full-bodied with a fine phenolic and acid backbone that energizes the wine. Complex aftertaste with subtle fruit and pastry at the end. This will age beautifully but hard not to drink now. |
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|
Umbria | 5 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£421.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)This is Marchesi Antinori's top white wine, and it comes from the region of Umbria. The Castello della Sala 2022 Cervaro della Sala is based on Chardonnay and has a small part of the local grape Grechetto in the blend. The nose opens to a reductive note of flint or matchstick, but it lifts quickly to reveal soft orchard fruit, white peach and minty apple. There are delicately applied toasted notes with a hint of pecan or macadamia nut. To finish, you also get salty mineral notes that underline the extremely vertical or lifted personality of the bouquet. Renzo Cotarella tells me that tweaks to winemaking in recent years have attempted "to slim down the wine and not make it any bigger." This was a hot vintage, but Cervaro della Sala remains true to its leaner and meaner blueprint. However, given its accessible personality, we could expect a shorter drinking window for the 2022s. |
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|
Tuscany | 4 | 90 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£440.44 |
|||||
Vinous (90)Dark garnet with ruby highlights. Spicy oak notes on the nose. Plum fruit along with some light cabernet blackcurrant on the penetrating palate. Savory and elegant in flavor, with lovely ripe fruit; fresh and focused, with considerable finesse. Finishes long and silky. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 94 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£358.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)A tight, fruity red with black-cherry and blueberry aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with chewy yet fine-grained tannins. Love the polish and focus. Driven and linear. Drink after 2021. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 93 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£229.24 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (93)Cherry, black currant and raspberry flavors are at the heart of this red, flanked by vanilla, toasty oak, mineral and tobacco elements. There is a beam of ripe fruit and dusty tannins right through the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 94 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£220.84 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (94)A harmonious red, offering an expression of cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors offset by a vibrant, well-integrated structure. Shows iron, tobacco, smoke and a hint of wild herbs, which weigh in as this evolves on the palate toward a lingering aftertaste. Delivers finesse and energy. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£275.44 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (95)A sleek, elegant red, with fine purity to the aromas of cherry, black currant, iron, olive and tobacco. Shows new oak on the palate, lending both spiciness and structure offset by ample fruit and texture. Ends with a balanced, complex finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2047. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 45 | 94+ (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£247.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94+)This is one of the big surprises of this tasting and ultimately represents one of the best buys in the entire extended Marchesi Antinori portfolio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori shares the DNA of Tignanello. It is Sangiovese kissed with small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Of course, the wine is more accessible and open compared to Tignanello, and spiritually, this wine is a Chianti Classico. By that I mean that the elegant minerality of these soils and the sunny flavors of its environs are the determining characteristics. You get wildflower, iris, tart fruit and plum. The wine's enhanced mineral character, with dusty white rock, is what adds lasting complexity and depth. |
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|
Umbria | 4 | - |
Inc. VAT
£287.09 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 5 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£269.09 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2020 Conte della Vipera bursts from the glass with an intense display that mixes zests of lime, grapefruit and blood orange with smoky crushed stone and dusty yellow flowers. This is soft in feel yet possesses an energizing core of sour citrus and bright acidity that brings its mineral-tinged notes of melon and mango into vivid focus. Savory herbs and sour citrus linger through the medium-length finale, leaving the mouth watering for another sip. The Conte della Vipera is a spicy and vibrant blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£950.44 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)This is a landmark wine from a landmark vintage. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which results in a generous, striking and unforgettable product. The bouquet is elegant and toned, with aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is tight and firm, and it boasts persistence and impressive balance. It has all of the qualities required for long-term aging, so keep this for 10 years or more. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£898.84 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)So much blue fruit such as blueberries and blackberries; the purity of the fruit is incredible. Essence of cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied yet with focused and fine tannins. Forceful but focused and polished. Needs two or three years to come around. And then enjoy for years afterwards. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98-99 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£897.64 |
|||||
James Suckling (98-99)Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic aromas and flavors. Long, long finish. Serious contender here for wine of the vintage. One of the best ever from here? A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£805.24 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)From a warm and sunny vintage that produced darkly concentrated fruit, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a teaser and a super pleaser. This is one flashy wine. This carefully calculated blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot pours from the bottle with a beautifully saturated and rich color. I double-decanted my sample before writing this review, and the wine's aromas showed immediate harmony and intensity. The wine seduces and flirts with all your senses. This vintage caps many years of study regarding blending: The Merlot is slightly decreased here, and the Cabernet Franc is slowly taking on a more important supporting role. The Petit Verdot that was used as a peppery accent two years ago has now been removed altogether. The results are pliant, seamless and fluid, and that's the big takeaway here. The wine is bountiful, round, supple and full-bodied. Unless you are decidedly not a fan of this style, there's nothing not to love. I had anticipated more tightness in terms of possible hot-vintage tannins, but I am very pleased by the general integration of the mouthfeel. The Guado al Tasso vineyards are located not too far from the sea, at a low elevation of about 60 meters above sea level. The soils are alluvial with a unique mix of limestone clay and sand, with pockets of rocks and are generally known as the Bolgheri Agglomerate. Some 120,000 bottles of this vintage hit the market in February 2020. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£912.04 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry—this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Some 115,000 bottles were made. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£522.41 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£765.62 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£760.84 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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|
Tuscany | 5 | 96 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£824.44 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) |
Inc. VAT
£901.24 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)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. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 93 (WS) |
Inc. VAT
£372.04 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (93)An opulent, dense red, featuring ripe black cherry and blackberry notes, with persistent hints of earth and tobacco. The flavors linger on the spicy aftertaste as the vibrant structure lends support. Decant now or age another year. Merlot. Drink now through 2025. |
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|
Tuscany | 7 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£426.29 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Cont’Ugo is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of this coolish year on the Tuscan coast. The juiciness of Bolgheri Merlot is nicely tempered by the moderate year. Sweet dark cherry, mocha, spice and leather all meld together in this gracious red from Antinori’s Guado al Tasso estate. I would give the tannins a year or two to soften. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orvieto | 21 | - |
In Bond
£220.00 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 7 | - |
In Bond
£405.00 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£279.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Intense aromas of crushed lime and lemon as well as mineral and flint follow through to a medium body, ultra-precise acid and fruit balance. Long and linear finish. Just a hint of vanilla and cream. Give it a year or two to develop in the bottle but already a beauty. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 95 (JS) |
In Bond
£578.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (95)Intense aromas of crushed lime and lemon as well as mineral and flint follow through to a medium body, ultra-precise acid and fruit balance. Long and linear finish. Just a hint of vanilla and cream. Give it a year or two to develop in the bottle but already a beauty. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 99 (JS) |
In Bond
£439.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (99)This is big and powerful, without being ripe and heavy. So much apple, stone, and hints of toffee. Aromatic. Full-bodied, layered and framed with phenolic tension and a great finish. Muscular and agile at the same time. One of the best I have tasted. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 2 | 96 (JS) |
In Bond
£441.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (96)Focused and complex on the nose with stone, sliced cooked apple and hints of toffee. Full-bodied, with a density and freshness and liveliness. Vivid and energetic. All about class here. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£397.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)Complex nose of toast, charred pineapple, green papaya, kaffir lime and lemon. Crushed stones and white pepper, too. Full-bodied with vibrant acidity. Textured. Long and layered. Delicious and concentrated. Drink or hold. |
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|
Umbria | 3 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£549.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)This is very aromatic and lifted with mineral, nougat, floral, and lightly cooked apples. Some flint and matchstick. Medium- to full-bodied with a fine phenolic and acid backbone that energizes the wine. Complex aftertaste with subtle fruit and pastry at the end. This will age beautifully but hard not to drink now. |
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|
Umbria | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£340.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)This is very aromatic and lifted with mineral, nougat, floral, and lightly cooked apples. Some flint and matchstick. Medium- to full-bodied with a fine phenolic and acid backbone that energizes the wine. Complex aftertaste with subtle fruit and pastry at the end. This will age beautifully but hard not to drink now. |
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|
Umbria | 5 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£335.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94)This is Marchesi Antinori's top white wine, and it comes from the region of Umbria. The Castello della Sala 2022 Cervaro della Sala is based on Chardonnay and has a small part of the local grape Grechetto in the blend. The nose opens to a reductive note of flint or matchstick, but it lifts quickly to reveal soft orchard fruit, white peach and minty apple. There are delicately applied toasted notes with a hint of pecan or macadamia nut. To finish, you also get salty mineral notes that underline the extremely vertical or lifted personality of the bouquet. Renzo Cotarella tells me that tweaks to winemaking in recent years have attempted "to slim down the wine and not make it any bigger." This was a hot vintage, but Cervaro della Sala remains true to its leaner and meaner blueprint. However, given its accessible personality, we could expect a shorter drinking window for the 2022s. |
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|
Tuscany | 4 | 90 (VN) |
In Bond
£351.00 |
|||||
Vinous (90)Dark garnet with ruby highlights. Spicy oak notes on the nose. Plum fruit along with some light cabernet blackcurrant on the penetrating palate. Savory and elegant in flavor, with lovely ripe fruit; fresh and focused, with considerable finesse. Finishes long and silky. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 94 (JS) |
In Bond
£283.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (94)A tight, fruity red with black-cherry and blueberry aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with chewy yet fine-grained tannins. Love the polish and focus. Driven and linear. Drink after 2021. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 93 (WS) |
In Bond
£175.00 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (93)Cherry, black currant and raspberry flavors are at the heart of this red, flanked by vanilla, toasty oak, mineral and tobacco elements. There is a beam of ripe fruit and dusty tannins right through the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2028. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 94 (WS) |
In Bond
£168.00 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (94)A harmonious red, offering an expression of cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors offset by a vibrant, well-integrated structure. Shows iron, tobacco, smoke and a hint of wild herbs, which weigh in as this evolves on the palate toward a lingering aftertaste. Delivers finesse and energy. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 95 (WS) |
In Bond
£213.50 |
|||||
Wine Spectator (95)A sleek, elegant red, with fine purity to the aromas of cherry, black currant, iron, olive and tobacco. Shows new oak on the palate, lending both spiciness and structure offset by ample fruit and texture. Ends with a balanced, complex finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2047. 5,000 cases imported. |
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|
Tuscany | 45 | 94+ (WA) |
In Bond
£190.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94+)This is one of the big surprises of this tasting and ultimately represents one of the best buys in the entire extended Marchesi Antinori portfolio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori shares the DNA of Tignanello. It is Sangiovese kissed with small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Of course, the wine is more accessible and open compared to Tignanello, and spiritually, this wine is a Chianti Classico. By that I mean that the elegant minerality of these soils and the sunny flavors of its environs are the determining characteristics. You get wildflower, iris, tart fruit and plum. The wine's enhanced mineral character, with dusty white rock, is what adds lasting complexity and depth. |
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|
Umbria | 4 | - |
In Bond
£220.00 |
|||||
|
Umbria | 5 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£205.00 |
|||||
Vinous (92)The 2020 Conte della Vipera bursts from the glass with an intense display that mixes zests of lime, grapefruit and blood orange with smoky crushed stone and dusty yellow flowers. This is soft in feel yet possesses an energizing core of sour citrus and bright acidity that brings its mineral-tinged notes of melon and mango into vivid focus. Savory herbs and sour citrus linger through the medium-length finale, leaving the mouth watering for another sip. The Conte della Vipera is a spicy and vibrant blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98 (WE) |
In Bond
£776.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)This is a landmark wine from a landmark vintage. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which results in a generous, striking and unforgettable product. The bouquet is elegant and toned, with aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is tight and firm, and it boasts persistence and impressive balance. It has all of the qualities required for long-term aging, so keep this for 10 years or more. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£733.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)So much blue fruit such as blueberries and blackberries; the purity of the fruit is incredible. Essence of cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied yet with focused and fine tannins. Forceful but focused and polished. Needs two or three years to come around. And then enjoy for years afterwards. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 98-99 (JS) |
In Bond
£732.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (98-99)Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic aromas and flavors. Long, long finish. Serious contender here for wine of the vintage. One of the best ever from here? A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (WA) |
In Bond
£655.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (97)From a warm and sunny vintage that produced darkly concentrated fruit, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a teaser and a super pleaser. This is one flashy wine. This carefully calculated blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot pours from the bottle with a beautifully saturated and rich color. I double-decanted my sample before writing this review, and the wine's aromas showed immediate harmony and intensity. The wine seduces and flirts with all your senses. This vintage caps many years of study regarding blending: The Merlot is slightly decreased here, and the Cabernet Franc is slowly taking on a more important supporting role. The Petit Verdot that was used as a peppery accent two years ago has now been removed altogether. The results are pliant, seamless and fluid, and that's the big takeaway here. The wine is bountiful, round, supple and full-bodied. Unless you are decidedly not a fan of this style, there's nothing not to love. I had anticipated more tightness in terms of possible hot-vintage tannins, but I am very pleased by the general integration of the mouthfeel. The Guado al Tasso vineyards are located not too far from the sea, at a low elevation of about 60 meters above sea level. The soils are alluvial with a unique mix of limestone clay and sand, with pockets of rocks and are generally known as the Bolgheri Agglomerate. Some 120,000 bottles of this vintage hit the market in February 2020. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£744.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (96)Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry—this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Some 115,000 bottles were made. |
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|
Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
£430.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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|
Tuscany | 2 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
£630.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 97 (JD) |
In Bond
£618.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (97)The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045. |
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Tuscany | 5 | 96 (WA) |
In Bond
£671.00 |
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Wine Advocate (96)The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage. |
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Tuscany | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) |
In Bond
£735.00 |
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)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. |
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Tuscany | 2 | 93 (WS) |
In Bond
£294.00 |
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Wine Spectator (93)An opulent, dense red, featuring ripe black cherry and blackberry notes, with persistent hints of earth and tobacco. The flavors linger on the spicy aftertaste as the vibrant structure lends support. Decant now or age another year. Merlot. Drink now through 2025. |
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Tuscany | 7 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£336.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Cont’Ugo is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of this coolish year on the Tuscan coast. The juiciness of Bolgheri Merlot is nicely tempered by the moderate year. Sweet dark cherry, mocha, spice and leather all meld together in this gracious red from Antinori’s Guado al Tasso estate. I would give the tannins a year or two to soften. |