Antinori Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore DOC 2016
(Tuscany, Italy) - [WA 98] [JS 98] [VM 98] [JD 97] [DM 96] [WE 96] [WS 94]

About the Winery:
The Guado al Tasso estate is located in the small but prestigious Bolgheri DOC, on the coast of upper Maremma, about one hundred kilometers southwest from Florence. This appellation has a relatively recent history, DOC Bolgheri was approved in 1995 and since then it has become an internationally recognized reference point for the Italian and international winemaking arena.

The estate covers an area of 320 hectares (790 acres) planted with vines, set in a beautiful plain encircled by rolling hillsides known as the "Bolgheri Amphitheatre" due to its particular shape.

The vineyards are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Vermentino Nero and Bianco. The nearby sea provides a mild climate with constant breezes that mitigate summer heat and alleviate harsh winter weather, maintaining a clear sky and a high level of sunlight exposure.

About this Wine:
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and occasionally a small amount of Petit Verdot to best represent the complexity and elegance of the Bolgheri terroir. This wine has been produced since 1990 from vineyards on alluvial soils whose composition ranges from clay-sand to clay-loam with rocky deposits know as “scheletro”.

Tasting Notes:
Guado al Tasso 2022 is an intense ruby red color. The nose opens with floral notes and aromas of red fruit that lead over to hints of sweet spices especially tobacco and licorice root. The palate is silky and savory with outstanding balance and dimension that balance perfectly with the elegant tannic structure. This wine can be enjoyed immediately but has excellent aging potential for the years to come.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - Wine Advocate:
"This stunning vintage of this landmark wine marks a slight adjustment to the blend. The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Guado Al Tasso is no longer made with Petit Verdot. The blend is now 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and now 20% Cabernet Franc. This small change does not go unnoticed, as this wine is absolutely seamless now—like the finest Asian silk fabric. That profound textural softness and suppleness changes the way the wine smells and tastes, with hints of momentary sweetness that are more tactile than anything else. Generally speaking, the 2016 vintage offers more elegance (slightly less concentration) and a hair more freshness compared to the 2015 edition. When I tasted this wine, the bouquet was still timid, but it will no doubt become more expressive and open as this beautiful wine continues forward along its aging trajectory. Some 120,000 bottles were made, a remarkable feat considering the extreme quality on offer." - Monica Larner (May 2019)

98 Points - James Suckling:
"Beautiful center palate of fruit here with ripe and silky tannins that are resolved and fine-grained. Full-bodied, polished and ever so refined. Oyster shell, stone and hints of rosemary and lavender. Driven finish. Better after 2022." (Apr 2019)

98 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is dark, powerful and explosive, with a huge backbone of tannin that gives the wine its vertical feel and soaring intensity. Blackberry, graphite, chocolate, spice, menthol, licorice, cedar and lavender add to the wine's brooding, intense feel. A vibrant, substantial finish rounds things out in style. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 is an infant, but it is utterly breathtaking, even in the early going. 9Drink 2024-2036)" - Antonio Galloni (Mar 2020)

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Tasted alongside the release of the 2022 vintage at the winery, the 2016 Guado Al Tasso is a deep red color and is starting to show a more layered Mediterranean feel, with complex layers of leather, wild herbs, black truffle, cassis, and pressed floral perfume. In this vintage, they used a high portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%) along with 20% Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Full-bodied, it’s focused with good definition in its ripe tannins, spine of fresh acidity, exceptional purity, and mouthwatering finish, with lasting notes of salty earth. In this tasting, the 2016 held a slight edge over 2022, although both were exceptional. Drink 2025-2045." - Audrey Frick (Mar 2025)

96 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"From alluvial soil of mostly clay and sand, Guado al Tasso is Antinori's top Bolgheri wine. It's a classic Bordeaux blend this year without any Petit Verdot - less bold and rich in style than the 2015 but otherwise extremely elegant and drinkable. It's dark and concentrated, opening to aromas of restrained cassis, clean leather and a hint of earthy minerality. The firm yet ripe palate develops flavours of dense, supple brambly fruit and chocolate. It’s a bit warming on the finish but is otherwise extremely well balanced. (Drink between 2019-2040)" - Aldo Fiordelli (Jun 2019)

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this polished, savory red opens with aromas of ripe black-skinned fruit, cedar and warm spice. Reflecting the nose, the linear, vibrant palate delivers juicy blackberry, blueberry and licorice. A hint of camphor unfolds before transitioning into a peppermint close. Smooth, fine-grained tannins provide the elegant backbone. Drink through 2031." - Kerin O’Keefe (May 2020)

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"An exuberant style, boasting ripe black cherry and plum notes, with hints of coffee, chocolate and toasty oak. Sleek and refined, with a backbone of muscular tannins for support. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2033. 2,000 cases imported." - Bruce Sanderson (Aug 2019)