Born from the same lineage as the legendary Sassicaia, Guidalberto was first created in 2000 by Nicolò, the son of the estate's proprietor, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. Its name pays homage to Nicolò's great-great-great-grandfather, Guidalberto della Gherardesca, a pioneer in Bolgheri's modern agricultural landscape during the early 19th century. He is famous for planting the iconic cypress alley that inspired the poet Giosuè Carducci.
This vintage is intriguingly complex, yet delivers relatively early drinking pleasure. The growing season, characterised by intermittent warm spells and rainy patches, followed by a dry, sun-soaked summer, allowed for full ripening and high-quality fruit. This has resulted in an excellent wine exuding distinct dark berry notes, well-integrated tannins, and a fresh salinity that lends itself to a myriad of occasions.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
94 Wine Advocate Made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia, but it's offered in a more immediate style here (thanks to the addition of the Merlot). This warm vintage opens to medium-dark concentration and very plump aromas that take you immediately to blackberry and blackcurrant sitting out in the sun at your local farmers market. The wine shows a soft and gentle side with a pretty level of elegance transmitted through the fruit freshness and the light oak spice that is discernible here but delivered with grace.
94 James Suckling Lots of mint with sage and fresh rosemary to the currant and orange character on the nose, as well as some ripe raspberries. The palate is very refined with creamy and crunchy tannins that run the length of the wine. It shows a crunchy and energetic personality. Give it a year or two to come together, but it’s showing brightness for the vintage.
94 Wine Spectator This red is elegant, despite its firm structure and dense tannins. Black cherry, black currant, plum, tobacco, iron and rosemary flavors hold court, while all the components show balance. The finish is long, with a salty taste.
93 Decanter Guidalberto used to be great value for money, and even though it's a bit pricier these days, the quality has also improved dramatically in recent vintages as Tenuta San Guido seeks to remove the idea of Guidalberto as a ‘second wine’ by building a dedicated winemaking facility and adjusting the blend. The 2022 is loaded with herbal and sea breeze scents among bright, tangy berries. In the mouth it is saline and precise, with a succulence to the concentrated plum and black berry core, and a gracefulness to the tannic and acid structures which weave through it. Sapid and incredibly moreish, with a beautifully ripe red berry finish, this really does stand up on its own two feet.
