Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT 2011
(Tuscany, Italy) - [VM 93] [WA 93]
Regular price $100.00 Sale price $89.98 Save $10.02
About the Wine:
Guidalberto marks the new millennium: the 2000 vintage appears on the market with less pretense than Sassicaia and with a more approachable drinkability, while showing a great aging potential. It is not intended to follow in the footsteps of Sassicaia, but rather be a wine that shows another expression of the Tenuta San Guido territory.
The label depicts the Oratory of San Guido and the wine is named after the family ancestor Guidalberto della Gherardesca, an agricultural pioneer in the Bolgheri area. It was in the first decades of the 1800’s when he built the first factories, and churches, and planned the avenue of cypress trees, the Viale dei Cipressi. These trees were initially used to mark the boundaries between the different crops. Its ornamental value, with the tall cypresses running in double rows, came after that.
Notes from the Winemaker:
Soil:
The soils on which the vineyards stand has varied and complex terrain features with a strong presence of limestone, feature areas rich in marl and pebbles as well as being partly clayey; they sit at an altitude of between 100 and 300 metres above sea level, with a south/south-west exposure.
Weather:
The weather in 2011 was very good. It can be considered one of the best vintages since 2000. The winter was harsh, with temperatures below the seasonal average, especially in November and January. Spring started early with mild temperatures and excellent water supply with gradual rainfall without wind. This favoured an excellent vegetative development of the plants to the benefit of the production. The summer was hot and long, but with temperatures in the seasonal averages, except for July, when the heat was more noticeable, but with a good temperature variation between night and day that prevented water stress on the plants and over-ripening of the grapes.
Harvesting:
The ripening of the grapes was regular, allowing the harvest to begin in early September and be completed around mid-October. The grapes arrived at maturity healthy, with plump, crisp berries.
Fermentation:
Fermentation takes place in steel vats at a controlled temperature of 30° - 31° C, with maceration lasting 15 days for both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aging:
Once malolactic fermentation was complete, the wine was placed in French oak barriques, and a small part in American oak, where it was aged for a period between the 20 and 25 months. The duration of the ageing is technically decided on the basis of the seasonal trend of the vintage.
Ratings & Reviews
93 Points – Vinous Media:
“Mocha, espresso, plums and cloves form a highly expressive mosaic of aromas and flavors in the 2011 Guidalberto. Wonderfully open and seductive, the 2011 captures the essence of Bolgheri in a style that is resonant and super sensual. Silky tannins make the 2011 impossible to resist today. San Guido hit it out of the park with the 2011 Guidalberto. (Drink between 2015-2023).” – Antonio Galloni (Aug 2013)
93 Points – Wine Advocate
“The 2011 Guidalberto reveals a plump, opulent and irresistible style. The 2011 vintage was a scorcher in much of Italy, but Bolgheri performed very nicely thanks to the soft sea breezes that kept the summer heat in check. There is beautiful fruit ripeness here, but the wine never feels overdone or overblown. Expert winemaking is clearly at hand. You can almost feel the crunch of the berries in your mouth and the soft tannins have been expertly managed. Dark cherry, blackberry preserves, spice, candied almond and tarry licorice rise from the glass. The wine is still youthful with a darkly extracted personality that will flesh out further in time.” – Monica Larner (June 2015)