Extraordinary intense ruby red in colour. Fruity, more of cherry than cassis, with hints of toast, coffee and dark chocolate. Finely structured and complex; balanced, with soft tannins and a lingering finish. Displays unmistakable varietal flavor while retaining strong regional character.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah and other red grape varieties.

Rating

93 Point Rating IWC Tanzer 1999 Antinori Bolgheri Guado al Tasso Tenuta Belvedere Very dark ruby with a blackish core. Deep aromas of blackberry, cocoa and cinnamon fill the nose. Dense and exceedingly plush, displaying luscious dark berry flavors, with graphite appearing on the long finish. In spite of its formidable structure the wine maintains an admirable sense of balance.

Wine maker notes

The beginning of spring was characterized by some rainfalls and temperatures slightly higher than seasonal average, favoring budding a few days earlier than normal, for the various varieties. These conditions resulted in excellent flowering and the relative vegetal cycle. The rainfalls, during the first part of summer period, permitted a good vegetative balance of the vines also in the month of August, when there was a total ripening of all varieties. This excellent condition produced more grapes per vine than desired for our quality production level. For this reason, during August, the red grape varieties were carefully selected and thinned in order to eliminate the excessive production. During the first part of September the weather was particularly favorable and the grapes ripened perfectly. Merlot was harvested at the beginning of September, the Cabernet Sauvignonfrom mid September. After destemming and light crushing, the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon were vinified separately; maceration took place in stainless steel tanks over a period of 15-20 days, during which time alcoholic fermentation was also completed, at a temperature never exceeding 30 °C. The resulting wine is rich in colour and very structured but soft on the palate, without any astringency. The wine were then transferred to new French oak barriques (Troncais and Alliers) where malolactic fermentation was completed by the year’s end. The wine were then racked, blended and then returned to the barrels for about 14 months aging, followed by aging for about one year in bottles before release. Alcool : 13.50% vol.

Other text

Guado al Tasso, meaning literally ”Badger’s Ford”, takes its name from a common sight at the estate of Tenuta Guado al Tasso, Bolgheri, where it is produced. The vineyard is at an elevation between 44 and 58 metres (145 and 190 feet) above sea-level on stony, slightly calcareous soils. Tenuta Guado al Tasso is located 60 miles southwest of Florence, near the medieval village of Bolgheri, in an area known as the Maremma. The 900 hectares (2,223 acres) estate stretches up from the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the hills, and aside from extensive vineyards, also grows wheat, corn, sunflowers, tomatoes and olive trees. Guado al Tasso was first produced in 1990; the successive vintages are 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. All the vintages have been produced in limited quantities.