2007 Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore

Dark ruby. Complex nose offers lively aromas of cassis, dry herbs and tobacco, nicely complicated by vanilla and sexy oak. Lush and sweet on entry, but with extremely good definition and lift to the flavors of spicy blackberry, coffee, black pepper and mocha. The juicy, complex, extremely long finish features smooth, sweet tannins that expand with air. An extremely impressive wine that may not be as long-lived as some previous vintages, but is, for my money, the best Guado al Tasso ever. Very well done.

What a powerful nose. Fresh herbs, currants, cassis, minerals, orange peel, pepper, and a rosemary character. A full bodied wine with minerals, dried herbs, currants, and hints of lightly toasted oak. This is very precise, powerful, and gorgeous. Immense complexity with a very, very long finish. Fabulous and balanced right now but could still use more bottle age. This may turn out to be the best release yet. Don't touch this until 2015. Find the wine.

Still pretty purplish crimson. Really rather refined on the nose with lovely fragrance. Lightly minty. Can this really come from just 10% Cabernet Franc? Lovely lift and an edge of savour. A very gentle texture. Long and appetising. Really fine. Sweet but not heavy.