2024 Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato

The 2024 Il Bruciato, a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, 8% Syrah, and 7% Petit Verdot, pours a youthful, saturated ruby hue. The nose is expressive and detailed, with aromas of wildflowers, thyme, ripe cherry, and a subtle gamey earthiness. Medium to full-bodied, it shows a rounded, chocolate-tinged texture balanced by refreshing acidity and a finessed, even structure. Despite challenges in the vineyard this season, the results overcame them, and the wine retains good clarity and a savory, umami-tinged depth without excess weight. It’s polished and approachable. Drink 2026-2036. The wines for this report were tasted with winemaker Marco Ferrarese at the winery, located in the heart of Bolgheri, as well as in repeat tastings with the Consorzio. In addition to readers exploring the Guado Al Tasso wines, if visiting the region and or the estate, I highly recommend making a stop at the estate’s restaurant on Via Bolgherese, Osteria del Tasso. In a highly unusual turn of events, I happened to have a spare 30 minutes to pop in for lunch without a reservation one afternoon between visits, and it was, even with such limited time constraints, one of the dining highlights from my trip.

The entry-level Marchesi Antinori 2024 Bolgheri Rosso Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato, a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, 8% Syrah and 7% Petit Verdot, shows ripe, chewy darkness with thick flavors of plummy fruit, blackberry and a savory note reminiscent of tomatoes on the vine. Soft in texture with a medium- to full-bodied mouthfeel, the wine finishes with a gentle dustiness from fully-integrated tannins.