Guado al Tasso

~ The Entrance to Antinori's Guado al Tasso Estate in Maremma ~

Like many prominent central Tuscan winemakers,  Antinori is not alone in flocking to coastal Maremma and developing vineyard estates.  Indeed, the 750 acre Guado al Tasso Estate, which sits approximately 60 miles southwest of Florence, is special. Inherited by Piero Antinori's Mother, after the collapse of a sharecropping "feifdom", the estate has now become a prime source of vineyard land.  

Renzo Cotarella, Antinori's chief winemaker responsible for gems like Tignanello and Solaia,  once told me that the Guado al Tasso estate could surpass Solaia in terms of vineyard quality.   High praise to be sure.  The flagship of the estate is the eponymous Guado al Tasso Rosso.  Today we're focusing on the estate's younger sibling,  the value driven, Il Bruciato. 

The 2007 Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato, captures the essence of Antinori's Bolgheri estate well.  Crafted from younger vines and grapes that do not make the cut for Guado al Tasso Rosso, the wine is vinified in stainless steel and then transferred to French barrique and tonneaux where it spends 8-12 months depending upon the vintage.  Although the blend varies slightly from vintage to vintage, the 2007 is comprised of 50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot and 20% Syrah.  

We decanted the wine for 30 minutes prior to dinner - mostly to allow a large, crust like sediment to be removed.  The wine is deep, dark purple in the decanter and gives off bountiful aromas of raspberry, mocha, vanilla, spice and eucalyptus.  It reminded me of a chocolate covered cherry cordial.   On the palate, the wine is ripe and warm,  with cherry, coffee, vanilla and spice notes throughout and a tiny touch of smoke on the finish.  Modern and forward in style, this is less "classic" than its older brother and readers wanting a more typical Italian experience will be disappointed here.  With charred NY Strip steaks, it was a nice pairing,  but beyond that,  I don't see it matching well with food.  

87 points, about $20 retail and a nice value at the price point.  

~ The 2007 is 50% Cabernet, 30% Merlot and 20% Syrah ~

E Vero!