Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT 2022
(Tuscany, Italy) - [VM 92] [DM 92] [JD 91+] [JS 91]

About the Winery:
Considered the seminal "Super Tuscan", Tenuta San Guido's Sassicaia is one of Italy's leading Bordeaux-style red wines. The name Sassicaia (Italian sassi meaning stone) indicating a stony field, originated in 1948 when first produced by Incisa della Rocchetta using Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Le Difese (Toscana IGT) has been produced by the legendary Sassicaia since 2003. It is a 70% Cabernet and 30% Sangiovese blend.

Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature and maceration lasts for about 12 days for both the Cabernet Sauvignon to the Sangiovese. It is then aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels and for a further three months in the bottle.

The wine is distinguished by a good structure and is extremely supple making it very pleasant and drinkable.

Tasting Notes:
Bright red with purple nuances. Respectable acidity and PH and a beautiful balance of musts that are well structured but harmonious and fruity. Blending wines with a non-invasive structure, a good balance in terms of acidity and density of the wine, combined with soft and well-integrated tannins. Beautiful spiciness. A pleasant palate of every day wine drinking, with juicy red fruits. A very good wine that is meant to be enjoyed young.

Technical Data

Appellation: Tuscany IGT
pH: 3.45
Acidity: 5.75 g/l
ABV: 14%
Ageing: Aged  for about 8 months in French oak barriques, and a small quantity of American barrels.

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2022 Le Difese is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, succulent red cherry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange all race across the palate. This exuberant yet mid-weight coastal Tuscan red is a total pleasure bomb. The 2022 is an especially fine edition. It benefits from a warm year - which can be a positive for entry-level wines - earlier bottling and selection. Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (both estate and non-estate sites) and Sangiovese, all purchased." - Antonio Galloni (Feb 2024)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Le Difese 2022 is a blend of 55% Sangiovese and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, the former brought in from long-standing partners based in Chianti and Chianti Rufina – ‘In Bolgheri it's not easy to find Sangiovese,’ third-generation Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta explained. 2022 saw slightly lower production than 2021 due to a warm spring and a rainy autumn. Macerations were shorter than previous years, and the wine retains the same blend as last year as part of the estate's continuing plans to make Le Difese approachable almost immediately and give it its own Tuscan identity. Bright red and purple scents with a creamy backdrop and herbal touches lead to a soft and textured palate full of fresh, tangy cherry and dark hedgerow berries. Ripe, precise and sapid with a long, breezy, balsamic finish, Le Difese should be enjoyed over the next decade." - James Button (Feb 2024)

91+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2022 Le Difese is made with 60% Sangiovese and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and includes some grapes purchased from the Chianti in Ruffina to enhance the wine’s aromatic profile and freshness. The grapes see maceration on the skins for 15 days, then are aged in used barrels for eight months. Deep ruby with a tinge of light purple, this 2022 is aromatic of anise, fresh leather, and spiced cherries. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe tannins, with a clean mineral touch. It’s approachable and offers a supple texture with an open drinking window over the coming 6-8 years. Drink 2024-2030. This will be released in March 2024." (Jan 2024)

91 Points - James Suckling:
"Bright and attracitve aromas of raspberries and cranberries with some cedar follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a crunchy finish. Fresh and crisp. Second wine of Sassicaia. Drink now."(Feb 2024)