Only wine from a single wine estate in Italy to have its own DOC.
Critic tasting note: (2014 vintage) "Aromas of red berry, blue flower, menthol, exotic spice and a whiff of French oak take shape on this impeccably balanced radiant red. The palate is vibrant and focused—almost ethereal—delivering raspberry compote, Marasca cherry, star anise and cinnamon framed in elegant tannins. Weightless and loaded with finesse, it's an incredible result for what was a cool wet vintage in most of Italy. Drink through 2024." - 95/100, Wine Enthusiast
- Drinking Window: 2018-2040
- Alcohol ABV: 13-13.5%
- Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon & 15% Cabernet Franc
Vintage Notes
In Bolgheri the 2014 vintage was unlike other wine areas as precipitation was scarce. The slow maturing of the Cabernet grapes helped the phenolic ripening producing distinctive aromas and flavours never achieved in other vintages. The winter season was quite mild with frequent rainfall while the spring started late. The heat in May favored a good budding and the summer was warm until the end of July. In the month of August the temperatures were lower than the seasonal average. The maturation therefore was slowly and gradually accomplished, although delayed. This favored aromatic extraction. The late summer rains did not harm the grapes that were monitored and cared for by the agronomists. As a result of slow maturation and favorable climatic conditions the wines appear to be harmonious with moderate alcohol content, a style that reflects the philosophy of Tenuta San Guido.
Harvest Date Notes:
Mid-September - end of October.
Winemaking
The primary fermentation took place in temperature controlled stainless steel vats at a temperature of 30° - 31° C. The maceration of the skins lasted 15 days for both the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Cabernet Franc, with a combination of pumping over and délestage. The malolactic or secondary fermentation also took place in the steel vats.
Ageing
At the beginning of December 2014, the wine started its ageing time in French oak barriques for 24 months before the bottling phase and the following ageing time in bottle.
Established in 1948 by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, Tenuta San Guido is a super-premium Italian wine producer with 75 hectares of vineyards in the Bolgheri DOC in Tuscany. Best known for producing "Super Tuscan" wines, its flagship wine Sassicaia is considered one of Italy's leading Bordeaux-style reds. Prior to 1994, Sassicaia was classified as a simple Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) as it was made from non-traditional varieties for the region and thus was excluded from DOC status. To rectify the situation, Sassicaia was granted its own DOC (Sassicaia DOC) in 1994, the only wine from a single estate in Italy to enjoy this privilege. Alongside Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido also produces a second wine; a Cabernet Merlot Sangiovese blend called Guidalberto.
