Tenuta San Guido, Guidalberto 2022

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot on limestone rich in alberese and gabbro as well as stones and pebbles, with some clay, at 100 to 300 m above the nearby sea. Facing west and south-west. Warm year and a harvest that began as early as 23 August for the Merlot. Dry ice needed in the winery. 40% new barriques, 40% second use and 20% third and fourth passage in equal proportion (presumably previously used for stablemate Sassicaia). 95% French oak, 5% American.

Tenuta San Guido is a legendary estate located in Tuscany in the Bolgheri area and extends between the coast and the rolling hills of the Maremma. The vineyards are planted up on those hills and have even been given their own DOC – Bolgheri Sassicaia, the first, and so far only case in Italy of a DOC contained in a single estate.

Its name derives from the Saint Guido della Gherardesca, who was the ancestor of Count Giuseppe della Gherardesca, who founded the estate in the early 20th century. But Sassicaia history began when Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, the Count’s son-in-law, decided in the 1940s to fulfil his dream of producing a Bordeaux-style wine and planted some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Sassicaia was first produced in 1948 but was not on the market until the 1968 vintage, which also marked the beginning of the collaboration with oenologist Giacomo Tachis. The wine was met with much perplexity, but in a few years it achieved international acclaim as one of the best red wines in the world.

Tenuta San Guido has been managed since 1983 by Mario's son, Nicolo, who contributed to increasing the prestige of Sassicaia and also created other great wines: Guidalberto in 2000, and Le Difese in 2002 – names that are a must for all lovers of great red wines.

He now leads the estate together with his daughter Priscilla and her cousins.