Antinori Guado al Tasso Rosso Superiore 2019

Antinori Guado al Tasso Rosso Superiore 2019 is a Bolgheri DOC Superiore red blend from Tuscany, Italy, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. This vintage earned 98 points from James Suckling and 97 points from The Wine Advocate, placing it among the highest-rated releases from one of Italy's most prestigious coastal estates.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Bolgheri DOC, Tuscany, Italy  |  2019 Vintage  |  Producer: Marchesi Antinori — Tenuta Guado al Tasso

Production & Heritage

Tenuta Guado al Tasso is the Bolgheri estate of the Antinori family, one of Italy's oldest wine dynasties with roots stretching back to 1385. The 2019 blend consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot — a notably elevated proportion of Cabernet Franc compared to earlier vintages, a deliberate decision reflecting the grape's resilience in warmer growing seasons as the estate adapts to climate change. Fermentation and maceration take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats over 18 to 25 days, followed by 14 months of aging in new French oak barriques.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with focused pencil shaving and graphite, giving way to a wild, perfumed layer of dried thyme, sage, and blackberry. Deeper into the glass, camphor, pipe tobacco, and dried flowers emerge alongside hints of toasted coffee and white pepper.

Taste: The entry is rich and concentrated with ripe black plum and juicy cherry, quickly broadening at the mid-palate into dark licorice, cocoa, and menthol. The 25% Cabernet Franc contributes a distinctive green peppercorn spice and floral lift that keeps the wine vibrant and layered despite its concentration. Fresh acidity provides a structural backbone that carries the fruit through the peak.

Finish: Exceptionally long and silky, with ultrarefined, savory tannins that linger alongside balsamic and crushed stone minerality. The texture has been described as seductive and almost impossibly smooth, with dried mint and licorice echoing well after the last sip.

How to Drink Guado al Tasso 2019

This wine is best served at 16–18°C (61–64°F), ideally decanted for at least an hour to allow its complex aromatics to fully open. It rewards patient sipping on its own, though it also commands a place at the dinner table. A Bistecca alla Fiorentina pairing is classic — the wine's tannins and acidity cut through charred, fatty beef. It works beautifully alongside wild boar ragù with pappardelle, where its dark fruit and herbal complexity mirror the gamey richness. For a more refined pairing, try it with aged Pecorino Toscano — the cheese's nuttiness draws out the wine's tobacco and spice notes.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Italian wine collector or Super Tuscan enthusiast
• Anchoring a formal dinner with grilled red meat or braised game
• Cellaring as a long-term investment — the 2019 vintage has significant aging potential
• Marking a milestone occasion where a 98-point wine signals the significance of the moment

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Guado al Tasso 2019 taste like? The dominant profile centers on dark fruit — black plum and blackberry — layered with tobacco, licorice, cocoa, and menthol, all carried by silky, refined tannins and bright acidity. It is a powerful yet elegant wine with remarkable aromatic complexity.

How does Guado al Tasso 2019 compare to Sassicaia? Both are flagship Bolgheri DOC Superiore wines built on Cabernet Sauvignon, but Sassicaia (from Tenuta San Guido) typically leans more austere and mineral-driven, while Guado al Tasso tends toward greater ripeness and aromatic generosity, particularly in warm vintages like 2019. The two are consistently ranked among the top Super Tuscans and share comparable critical acclaim.

Is Guado al Tasso 2019 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its ultrarefined tannins, layered aromatics, and long finish make it an outstanding wine for contemplative drinking on its own, especially after an hour of decanting.

Where is Guado al Tasso made? Guado al Tasso is produced at Tenuta Guado al Tasso, the Antinori family's coastal estate in the Bolgheri DOC, located along the Tyrrhenian coast in Tuscany's Maremma region. The maritime climate and gravelly soils of Bolgheri are ideally suited to Bordeaux grape varieties.

What foods pair well with Guado al Tasso 2019? Charcoal-grilled T-bone steak benefits from the wine's tannic structure and acidity. Braised lamb shank with rosemary draws out herbal and tobacco notes. Wild boar ragù mirrors its dark fruit and spice. Aged Pecorino Toscano complements the nutty, savory undercurrents. Dark chocolate with sea salt echoes the cocoa and mineral tones on the finish.

What sizes does Guado al Tasso come in? The standard bottling is 750ml, though magnum (1.5L) formats are also produced for select vintages.

Is Guado al Tasso 2019 worth the price? Guado al Tasso 2019 positions as a premium Super Tuscan, and with scores of 98 from James Suckling, 97 from The Wine Advocate, and 96 from Wine Enthusiast, it competes with — and often outperforms — wines at higher price tiers within the Bolgheri Superiore category, making it a strong value proposition among elite Italian reds.

Why Guado al Tasso 2019?

The 2019 vintage represents a pivotal moment for this estate: the increased proportion of Cabernet Franc to 25% of the blend signals a forward-looking approach to winemaking in a warming climate, and the results have been validated by near-unanimous critical praise across major publications. Scoring 98 points from James Suckling and 97 from The Wine Advocate, the 2019 stands as one of the finest Guado al Tasso releases in the wine's history. The combination of Bolgheri's maritime terroir, 14 months of new French oak, and a blend calibrated to a specific vintage's conditions produces a wine that is both immediately captivating and built for the cellar. Among the top Bolgheri Superiore wines, the 2019 Guado al Tasso delivers extraordinary complexity at a price point that remains more accessible than several of its peers.