2018 Tenuta San Guido ‘Guidalberto’ Toscana IGT

VIN90-93 The 2018 Guidalberto, tasted from an approximate blend from barrel, is positively stellar. I can only hope that the bottled wine is as fresh, vibrant and nuanced as this sample. A rush of black cherry, plum, spice, leather and licorice graces the 2018 with striking depth and nuance. Light on its feet and deep, the 2018 has a lot to offer. In many years, Guidalberto can be a rather rich wine, but in 2018 it is very closely aligned with the house style.
WE92 Made with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, this smooth red opens with aromas of cassis, vanilla, violet and a whiff of bell pepper. Racy and delicious, the linear palate doles out juicy red currant, black cherry and vanilla set against lithe tannins. Bright acidity keeps it balanced and fresh. Drink through 2025.
Winemaker Notes: A full-bodied wine of intense red fruit flavor and and elegantly supple texture supported by ripe, silky tannins. The Merlot in the blend is expressed in sweet black fruit with overall aromas of ripe, concentrated berries offset by restrained spicy oak notes. Pair with meat sauce pastas and roasted meats. 
Careful manual selection of grapes on a sorting table. Soft pressing and destemming of the bunches to prevent the cracking of the berries and excessive release of tannins. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature maintained around 26-28 ° C, without addition of external yeasts. The macerations of this vintage lasted about 12-15 days for Merlot and 10-13 days for the Cabernet Sauvignon. This was made in order to limit the excessive release of tannins in a vintage richer in anthocyanins. Frequent pumpovers and délestages helped the aromatic expression of the musts. The malolactic fermentation begun in early November and was carried out in stainless steel vats. After that the musts were transferred into barriques for aging. Aging: The wine was mostly aged in French oak barrels and partially American oak barrels for 15 months.

From the producer of Sassicaia and from the same vineyards, Guidalberto is a delicious blend of Cabernet and Merlot.

The vineyards of Tenuta San Guido cover approximately 90 hectares and are divided into areas chosen for the particular characteristics of both exposure and composition of the soil.
Some of the vines are planted on the hillside, at an altitude ranging from 200 to 300 meters a.s.l..
For example, the vineyards of San Martino and Mandrioli are close to the hills in the central area of the estate, while the remaining are located lower, at an altitude of about 80 meters a.s.l..
Climate is crucial for a correct and healthy maturation of the grapes. It is influenced by the sea and by the hills that shelter the estate from the inland winds.
The location of vineyards in different areas and elevation is an important factor in the complexity of the wines, and provides a wide choice for the harvest, depending on the weather conditions and the maturation of the grapes. This was recently proved in a study by the University of Pisa that highlighted the uniqueness of the vineyards of Tenuta San Guido by soil type and exposure, compared to the surrounding area.