Cabernet Sauvignon Archives - Iconica https://iconica.wine/varietals/cabernet-sauvignon/ Appreciating Fine Wine Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:24:11 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/iconica.wine/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-Iconica-Flavicon.webp?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Cabernet Sauvignon Archives - Iconica https://iconica.wine/varietals/cabernet-sauvignon/ 32 32 254871815 Finca Ambriosa Precioso Introduction Pack https://iconica.wine/product/finca-ambriosa-precioso-introduction-pack/ https://iconica.wine/product/finca-ambriosa-precioso-introduction-pack/#respond Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:15:45 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=8416 Precioso Malbec

Precioso is an opportunity to explore the most premium expression of each Microterroir.

It is a classic Malbec expression with great fruit depth and spicy complexity from the oak ageing. It delivers many layers of black fruit jam, spices, toast, chocolate and tobacco on the palate, lingering in a beautiful long, savoury finish. This complex and expressive wine is an excellent example of a modern style of Malbec, with bright acidity and a chalky textural palate.

  • 94 points | Tim Atkins
  • 92 points | Robert Parker

Precioso Cabernet Franc

Precioso Cabernet Franc is an expressive, complex, and bold red wine with elegant oak use. Its expressive profile of abundant plum, blackberry jam, and black pepper, with a soft pyrazine, leather, and smoke undertone, surprises the nose and the palate. It finishes with a dried tobacco and chocolate note from the oak. The tannins are fine-grained and abundant, giving it a luscious texture, perfectly balanced with its vibrant acidity.

Precioso Cabernet Sauvignon

Precioso Cabernet Sauvignon is an expressive, complex, and bold red wine with elegant oak use. Its expressive profile of abundant plum, blackberries jam, leather and smoke surprises in the nose and the palate, finishing with a dried tobacco and chocolate note from the oak. The tannins are fine-grained and abundant, giving it a luscious texture, perfectly balanced with its vibrant acidity.

  •  91 points | Robert Parker

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]]> https://iconica.wine/product/finca-ambriosa-precioso-introduction-pack/feed/ 0 8416 Principal Grande Reserva Red 2012 https://iconica.wine/product/principal-grande-reserva-red-2012/ https://iconica.wine/product/principal-grande-reserva-red-2012/#respond Mon, 05 May 2025 09:27:42 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7717 With its violet tones, the Principal Grande Reserva Red 2012 presents aromas of ripe black fruit, wrapped in light spicy notes, which lends it complexity and many layers of depth. It is a full-bodied, voluminous wine with elegant and smooth tannins.

£100 per bottle Duty Paid Delivered incl VAT

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]]> The property’s 61 hectares are spread over the rich clay-limestone soils that dominate the gentle hills of this property. The entire vineyard is dry farmed. It is here that 4 of the world’s most reputed red grape varietals (Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot) are planted. These wines are vinified using gravity flow winemaking to produce our most emblamatic red wine, which will stand shoulder to shoulder with all of the fine red wines in the world. Atlantic-influenced climate, protected by the Caramulo and Bussaco Hills. Vineyards planted at high density (5555 plants per hectare) on gentle hills of clay-limestone soils. Completely dry farmed.

All grapes are harvested manually and then placed onto a selection tray where only the best bunches will enter the winery. Destemming and crushing follow, where the grapes are then transferred to temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place. Maceration lasts for approximately 20 days, using the delestage technique. The wine is then aged for 24 to 30 months in 225 litre French oak barrels (new and used). The final blend ages for another 6 years in the bottle before being released to the market.

To explore the other Mentzendorff Wines in this exclusive portfolio – click here

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]]> https://iconica.wine/product/principal-grande-reserva-red-2012/feed/ 0 7717 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2021 (Jéraboam) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-jeraboam/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-jeraboam/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:49:21 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7409 100 points | Wine Advocate

“A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia offers impeccable balance, excellent freshness and absolutely no signs of over-ripeness. The fruit balance is ideal with a hint of crunch and lasting tension from pulp and skins. The tannins are deftly managed with firm grip and enough velvetiness to add volume and length. There is no greenness on the bouquet that instead offers mulled herbs and spice, with cinnamon and clove, layered delicately between mostly red and some purple berry fruits.

Redcurrant, blueberry, sweet pomegranate and Rainier cherry run strong in this vintage. A fragrant hint of heritage rose emerges with time. The oak tones are geared toward gingerbread, hazelnut, cigar, sandalwood and something like a grilled sweet red pepper. To the palate, it offers nice weight with no heavy glycerin, and a rinse of acidity that adds to the wine’s natural energy, brightness and viscosity. That marked freshness opens the wine up to long aging potential, but you still need to give it more time in bottle.” (Monica Larner)

 

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]]>

2021 is an exceptional vintage and has already gained a lot of success from critics. Similar in style to 2019, 2016 & 2011, the vintage conditions were almost perfect and grapes were able to achieve perfect ripeness. Sassicaia’s vineyards at altitude allow the grapes to achieve great freshness and vibrancy. Bright red berry fruits, red cherries and violet hints combine with liquorice, leather and sweeter clove spice. The tannins are tightly wound and firm and need time to resolve but are supported by a generous fruit core. The wine finishes on the savoury and has an incredibly long length.

Soil Type

They show different and composite morphological characteristics, with the presence of calcareous areas rich in marl, as well as stones and stones and partially clayey. The production plants are located at an average altitude between 100 and 300 meters above sea level, with exposure to the West/South-West.

Weather Trends

The 2021 vintage experienced a positive seasonal trend, beginning with a rainy autumn and colder-than-average temperatures. A harsh winter followed, especially in mid-February, when the “Burian” cold front brought freezing nighttime temperatures of -5 to -7°C. April started with spring warmth, but by mid-month, temperatures dropped again, approaching 0°C. This caused bud thinning in early-ripening vines like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Throughout spring, sunshine alternated with sporadic rain, and cool air kept temperatures below normal.

The plants showed no significant issues, except for a slight vegetative slowdown. Summer temperatures arrived by late May and persisted without rain until mid-July. By mid-August, temperatures normalized and, especially at night, dropped slightly below the seasonal average. The vines weren’t affected by the summer heat, and vegetation development remained steady, with smaller bunches and berries resulting in lower production.

This climate produced a perfect balance between technical and phenolic maturity, with healthy grapes and excellent seed and stem lignification.

Harvest

The harvest was carried out by hand, starting in the first days of September with the youngest and earliest vineyards and continuing with the Cabernet Sauvignons from the lower vineyards, finishing in the first week of October, with those on the hills at around 400 meters above sea level. of the sea (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione).

Vinification

Grapes were carefully selected on a sorting table to eliminate impurities and imperfections. They underwent very soft pressing to avoid breaking and delicate destemming to prevent the release of improper tannins. Alcoholic fermentation, using selected yeasts, concluded in the first week of November at controlled temperatures, not exceeding 28-29°C.

Outdoor delestages and pumping over operations helped achieve excellent polyphenol extraction, with a strong aromatic component and fresh musts. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred in steel tanks, ending in early December. By the first week of December 2021, after appropriate must decanting, the wine was placed in oak barriques.

Ageing

At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine was placed in barriques using approximately 40% new wood, a further 40% first passage and 20% second passage. For the 2021 vintage, French oak wood was used (Tronçais, Allier and Jupilles in particular) with extra-fine grain, light toasting and long seasoning.

Sassicaia 2021, after 24 months of aging in wood, was decanted into steel tanks before assembly. Subsequent refinement in bottle before marketing.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2021 (Jéraboam) appeared first on Iconica.

]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-jeraboam/feed/ 0 7409 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2021 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:47:58 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7401 100 points | Wine Advocate

“A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia offers impeccable balance, excellent freshness and absolutely no signs of over-ripeness. The fruit balance is ideal with a hint of crunch and lasting tension from pulp and skins. The tannins are deftly managed with firm grip and enough velvetiness to add volume and length. There is no greenness on the bouquet that instead offers mulled herbs and spice, with cinnamon and clove, layered delicately between mostly red and some purple berry fruits.

Redcurrant, blueberry, sweet pomegranate and Rainier cherry run strong in this vintage. A fragrant hint of heritage rose emerges with time. The oak tones are geared toward gingerbread, hazelnut, cigar, sandalwood and something like a grilled sweet red pepper. To the palate, it offers nice weight with no heavy glycerin, and a rinse of acidity that adds to the wine’s natural energy, brightness and viscosity. That marked freshness opens the wine up to long aging potential, but you still need to give it more time in bottle.” (Monica Larner)

 

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2021 (Magnum) appeared first on Iconica.

]]>

2021 is an exceptional vintage and has already gained a lot of success from critics. Similar in style to 2019, 2016 & 2011, the vintage conditions were almost perfect and grapes were able to achieve perfect ripeness. Sassicaia’s vineyards at altitude allow the grapes to achieve great freshness and vibrancy. Bright red berry fruits, red cherries and violet hints combine with liquorice, leather and sweeter clove spice. The tannins are tightly wound and firm and need time to resolve but are supported by a generous fruit core. The wine finishes on the savoury and has an incredibly long length.

Soil Type

They show different and composite morphological characteristics, with the presence of calcareous areas rich in marl, as well as stones and stones and partially clayey. The production plants are located at an average altitude between 100 and 300 meters above sea level, with exposure to the West/South-West.

Weather Trends

The 2021 vintage experienced a positive seasonal trend, beginning with a rainy autumn and colder-than-average temperatures. A harsh winter followed, especially in mid-February, when the “Burian” cold front brought freezing nighttime temperatures of -5 to -7°C. April started with spring warmth, but by mid-month, temperatures dropped again, approaching 0°C. This caused bud thinning in early-ripening vines like Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Throughout spring, sunshine alternated with sporadic rain, and cool air kept temperatures below normal.

The plants showed no significant issues, except for a slight vegetative slowdown. Summer temperatures arrived by late May and persisted without rain until mid-July. By mid-August, temperatures normalized and, especially at night, dropped slightly below the seasonal average. The vines weren’t affected by the summer heat, and vegetation development remained steady, with smaller bunches and berries resulting in lower production.

This climate produced a perfect balance between technical and phenolic maturity, with healthy grapes and excellent seed and stem lignification.

Harvest

The harvest was carried out by hand, starting in the first days of September with the youngest and earliest vineyards and continuing with the Cabernet Sauvignons from the lower vineyards, finishing in the first week of October, with those on the hills at around 400 meters above sea level. of the sea (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione).

Vinification

Grapes were carefully selected on a sorting table to eliminate impurities and imperfections. They underwent very soft pressing to avoid breaking and delicate destemming to prevent the release of improper tannins. Alcoholic fermentation, using selected yeasts, concluded in the first week of November at controlled temperatures, not exceeding 28-29°C.

Outdoor delestages and pumping over operations helped achieve excellent polyphenol extraction, with a strong aromatic component and fresh musts. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation occurred in steel tanks, ending in early December. By the first week of December 2021, after appropriate must decanting, the wine was placed in oak barriques.

Ageing

At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine was placed in barriques using approximately 40% new wood, a further 40% first passage and 20% second passage. For the 2021 vintage, French oak wood was used (Tronçais, Allier and Jupilles in particular) with extra-fine grain, light toasting and long seasoning.

Sassicaia 2021, after 24 months of aging in wood, was decanted into steel tanks before assembly. Subsequent refinement in bottle before marketing.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2021 (Magnum) appeared first on Iconica.

]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2021-magnum/feed/ 0 7401 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Jéroboam) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-jeroboam/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-jeroboam/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:31:57 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7396 97 points | James Suckling

A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027. (March 2023)

96 points | Wine Advocate

The Tenuta San Guido 2020 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to those who seek a more voluptuous, opulent and, ultimately, more accessible wine. This vintage precisely reflects Coastal Tuscany, unlike a more generic "Tuscan" wine from elsewhere in this large central Italian region. You taste the ripeness and soft fruit weight from a coastal appellation with exceptionally bright luminosity and warm Mediterranean offshore breezes. Sassicaia from the cool vintages is a famously reticent or withholding wine in its earliest years, requiring a long lead time before it eases into an ideal drinking window. That's definitely not the case here.

This wine is beautiful and compelling straight out of the gate, showing a lovely mix of dark fruit, oak spice, balanced freshness, textural richness, soft tannins and an expertly contained 14% alcohol content. The wine's immediate character is what distinguishes this vintage, and I wouldn't get too fussed by exaggerated cellar-aging ambitions. The wine awards sheer pleasure in its current form, with dazzling primary fruit and soaring intensity over the near and medium term.Drink 2024 - 2042. (Monica Larner Jan 2023)

18/20 points | Jancis Robinson

Full bottle 1,370 g. In this case, the prototype Maremma Bordeaux blend Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc. Canopy was especially vigorous in spring and needed trimming, followed by a warm summer with occasional showers, meaning the grapes ripened more than a week earlier than usual. To retain Sassicaia's trademark freshness, harvest started in the first week of September and ended in the last week of September with vines on the hills at over 300 m (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione). The wine was matured for 25 months in 45% new French oak barrels before going into tank for selection and blending.

Mid crimson; easy to see the bottom of the glass. Intense nose with a hint of iodine. Great tanginess that seems more Tuscan than Bordelais. Long and really builds towards its ample finish. Bone dry. Embryonic but convincing that a fine future lies ahead. Subtle rather than flashy. I wouldn't guess it was as much as 14%. I aerated it and gave it an hour in a young-wine decanter. Drink 2024 - 2038. (Feb 2023)

97 points | Vinous

The 2020 spent 15-18 days on the skins, followed by 25 months in French oak, 50% new. Production is down about 30% because of selection in the vineyard.

The 2020 Sassicaia is a bold, rapturous wine. Dark, fleshy and expansive on the palate, the 2020 offers scents of blackberry jam, gravel, spice, new leather, liquorice and crème de cassis. The sheer intensity of the fruit nearly buries potent tannins. Sassicaia is never a huge wine; the 2020 does seem to have an extra dimension of textural intensity. It's an intensity that is hugely appealing. Estate Manager Carlo Paoli describes 2020 as a year with a long, rainy winter and a cold spring. "Temperatures warmed up in the middle of June," he explained. "July was very hot, but heat moderated in August. Even so, it was a year in which ripeness moved quickly, as opposed to 2021, when ripeness was more gradual. We picked the entire estate in 22 days instead of the 29-30 that is more typical." Drink 2028 - 2050 (Antonio Galloni Feb 2023)

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Jéroboam) appeared first on Iconica.

]]>
Soil Type

The soils have varied and complex features with strong presence of limestone, areas rich in marl and pebbles, as well as partially clay. They are situated at an altitude between 100 and 400 meters above sea level, with a West, South-West.

Weather Trends

Autumn brought abundant rain from mid-October to late December. Temperatures stayed mild, sometimes exceeding seasonal averages. Intense cold arrived in February, nearing 0°C. March began with strong sea winds and rain, but mild temperatures helped early varieties like Merlot develop buds. Late March brought Russian winds, dropping temperatures and causing night frosts. Cabernet Sauvignon was unharmed, while some Cabernet Franc showed slower development on secondary buds.

April and May were mild, with alternating sun and rain, leading to increased vegetation. Agronomists intervened to control plant growth. By mid-June, sunny, warm weather lasted until harvest, interrupted only by rain in July and August. The grapes ripened 7-8 days earlier than usual. Despite higher sugar content, they arrived healthy, fully ripe, and of excellent quality.

Harvest

The manual harvest began in the first week of September with the grapes from the younger vineyards starting from the Cabernet Franc and then continued with the Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards located at lower altitudes, ending in the last week of September with those on the hills located over 300 meters above sea level (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione).

Vinification

Selection of the grapes through a sorting table, to eliminate impurities and any presence of imperfections. Soft pressing and delicate destemming of the grapes, maintaining the integrity of the berries and avoiding excessive transfer of tannins. The alcoholic fermentation (completely spontaneous and without the addition of external yeasts) was concluded by the end of October and carried out regularly and at controlled temperatures not exceeding 27-28 °C.

Frequent delestages and pumping over allowed for excellent aromatic extraction and freshness in terms of acidity of the musts. The malolactic fermentations took place in steel, at the end of November. In the first week of December, after frequent decanting to clean the musts, the wine was placed in oak barriques.

Ageing

At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine was placed in barriques using 45% new wood, 45% first passage and 10% second passage. Sassicaia 2020, after more than 25 months of aging in wood, was decanted into steel tanks before the final blending and then bottling. Subsequent refinement in the bottle before release on the market.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Jéroboam) appeared first on Iconica.

]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-jeroboam/feed/ 0 7396 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:22:20 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7386 97 points | James Suckling

A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027. (March 2023)

96 points | Wine Advocate

The Tenuta San Guido 2020 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to those who seek a more voluptuous, opulent and, ultimately, more accessible wine. This vintage precisely reflects Coastal Tuscany, unlike a more generic "Tuscan" wine from elsewhere in this large central Italian region. You taste the ripeness and soft fruit weight from a coastal appellation with exceptionally bright luminosity and warm Mediterranean offshore breezes. Sassicaia from the cool vintages is a famously reticent or withholding wine in its earliest years, requiring a long lead time before it eases into an ideal drinking window. That's definitely not the case here.

This wine is beautiful and compelling straight out of the gate, showing a lovely mix of dark fruit, oak spice, balanced freshness, textural richness, soft tannins and an expertly contained 14% alcohol content. The wine's immediate character is what distinguishes this vintage, and I wouldn't get too fussed by exaggerated cellar-aging ambitions. The wine awards sheer pleasure in its current form, with dazzling primary fruit and soaring intensity over the near and medium term.Drink 2024 - 2042. (Monica Larner Jan 2023)

18/20 points | Jancis Robinson

Full bottle 1,370 g. In this case, the prototype Maremma Bordeaux blend Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc. Canopy was especially vigorous in spring and needed trimming, followed by a warm summer with occasional showers, meaning the grapes ripened more than a week earlier than usual. To retain Sassicaia's trademark freshness, harvest started in the first week of September and ended in the last week of September with vines on the hills at over 300 m (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione). The wine was matured for 25 months in 45% new French oak barrels before going into tank for selection and blending.

Mid crimson; easy to see the bottom of the glass. Intense nose with a hint of iodine. Great tanginess that seems more Tuscan than Bordelais. Long and really builds towards its ample finish. Bone dry. Embryonic but convincing that a fine future lies ahead. Subtle rather than flashy. I wouldn't guess it was as much as 14%. I aerated it and gave it an hour in a young-wine decanter. Drink 2024 - 2038. (Feb 2023)

97 points | Vinous

The 2020 spent 15-18 days on the skins, followed by 25 months in French oak, 50% new. Production is down about 30% because of selection in the vineyard.

The 2020 Sassicaia is a bold, rapturous wine. Dark, fleshy and expansive on the palate, the 2020 offers scents of blackberry jam, gravel, spice, new leather, liquorice and crème de cassis. The sheer intensity of the fruit nearly buries potent tannins. Sassicaia is never a huge wine; the 2020 does seem to have an extra dimension of textural intensity. It's an intensity that is hugely appealing. Estate Manager Carlo Paoli describes 2020 as a year with a long, rainy winter and a cold spring. "Temperatures warmed up in the middle of June," he explained. "July was very hot, but heat moderated in August. Even so, it was a year in which ripeness moved quickly, as opposed to 2021, when ripeness was more gradual. We picked the entire estate in 22 days instead of the 29-30 that is more typical." Drink 2028 - 2050 (Antonio Galloni Feb 2023)

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Magnum) appeared first on Iconica.

]]>
Soil Type

The soils have varied and complex features with strong presence of limestone, areas rich in marl and pebbles, as well as partially clay. They are situated at an altitude between 100 and 400 meters above sea level, with a West, South-West.

Weather Trends

Autumn brought abundant rain from mid-October to late December. Temperatures stayed mild, sometimes exceeding seasonal averages. Intense cold arrived in February, nearing 0°C. March began with strong sea winds and rain, but mild temperatures helped early varieties like Merlot develop buds. Late March brought Russian winds, dropping temperatures and causing night frosts. Cabernet Sauvignon was unharmed, while some Cabernet Franc showed slower development on secondary buds.

April and May were mild, with alternating sun and rain, leading to increased vegetation. Agronomists intervened to control plant growth. By mid-June, sunny, warm weather lasted until harvest, interrupted only by rain in July and August. The grapes ripened 7-8 days earlier than usual. Despite higher sugar content, they arrived healthy, fully ripe, and of excellent quality.

Harvest

The manual harvest began in the first week of September with the grapes from the younger vineyards starting from the Cabernet Franc and then continued with the Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards located at lower altitudes, ending in the last week of September with those on the hills located over 300 meters above sea level (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione).

Vinification

Selection of the grapes through a sorting table, to eliminate impurities and any presence of imperfections. Soft pressing and delicate destemming of the grapes, maintaining the integrity of the berries and avoiding excessive transfer of tannins. The alcoholic fermentation (completely spontaneous and without the addition of external yeasts) was concluded by the end of October and carried out regularly and at controlled temperatures not exceeding 27-28 °C.

Frequent delestages and pumping over allowed for excellent aromatic extraction and freshness in terms of acidity of the musts. The malolactic fermentations took place in steel, at the end of November. In the first week of December, after frequent decanting to clean the musts, the wine was placed in oak barriques.

Ageing

At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine was placed in barriques using 45% new wood, 45% first passage and 10% second passage. Sassicaia 2020, after more than 25 months of aging in wood, was decanted into steel tanks before the final blending and then bottling. Subsequent refinement in the bottle before release on the market.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

The post Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (Magnum) appeared first on Iconica.

]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-2020-magnum/feed/ 0 7386 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2021 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-guidalberto-2021-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-guidalberto-2021-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 14:00:06 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7380 95 Points | Decanter

According to Tenuta San Guido’s director of winemaking, Carlo Paoli, the 2021 is the best Guidalberto he has ever made. The percentage of Merlot was reduced back to the typical 40% this year because the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon was so good. The 2021 Guidalberto is very deeply coloured, almost black with a narrow purple rim.

It took an hour or so to really open up. When it did, it had a wonderful range of aromas and flavours. Cassis and blueberry, blue flowers, and violet and iris notes predominate. They are followed by a palate full of perfectly ripe blackberries and blueberries wrapped in gentle, cream flavours. This is a wine of velvety richness balanced by vivid acidity, with very pure, focused flavours and aromas. Delightful! Drink 2024 - 2038 (Susan Hulme MW March 2023)

94 points | Jeb Dunnick

Displaying a deep, nearly opaque purple colour, the 2021 Guidalberto is fleshy, seductive, and impressively aromatic at this youthful stage. A floral perfume of crushed violets, boysenberry, and graphite. Composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, it’s one of the most expressive releases of this wine I’ve tasted. Full-bodied, with a bright lift of acidity, it has ripe, tight-grained tannins and a well-coiled structure.

As it opens in the glass, it starts to reveal more earth notes with turned soil. It’s a shame to open this wine early, as it offers very impressive structure. It will really start to show at its best 2-3 years after its release. The 21st release of this cuvée (the first vintage was in 2000), 2021 was a fantastic vintage for the region and this wine. Drink 2025 - 2040. (Audrey Frick Jan 2024)

94 points | Wine Advocate

A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2021 shows tart cherry fruit with darker tones of blackberry and plum. This vintage delivers especially chiselled and focused fruit characteristics that are elegantly framed by light spice, cola and earth. This vintage shows a heightened sense of intensity and territorial identity that is the hallmark of this storied estate. Drink 2023 - 2033. (Monica Larner, May 2023)

Carlo Paoli, Tenuto San Guido General Manager

"It has a satisfying drinkability, with its own personality different from Sassicaia, but similar in flavour and elegance. Its complexity and structure determine its great potential for ageing and refinement over a long period of time.”

 

The post Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2021 (Magnum) appeared first on Iconica.

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Guidalberto marks the new millennium: the 2000 vintage appears on the market with less pretense than Sassicaia and with a more approachable drinkability, while showing a great aging potential. It is not intended to follow in the footsteps of Sassicaia, but rather be a wine that shows another expression of the Tenuta San Guido territory.

The Label

The label depicts the Oratory of San Guido and the wine is named after the family ancestor Guidalberto della Gherardesca, an agricultural pioneer in the Bolgheri area. It was in the first decades of the 1800’s when he built the first factories, and churches, and planned the avenue of cypress trees, the Viale dei Cipressi. These trees were initially used to mark the boundaries between the different crops. Its ornamental value, with the tall cypresses running in double rows, came after that.

Soil Type

The vineyards sit on varied, complex terrain with limestone, marl, pebbles, and clay. The altitude ranges between 100 and 300 meters above sea level, with south/south-west exposure.

Weather Trends

Autumn 2020 was rainy with mild temperatures, but winter turned harsh due to a polar cold front. Spring arrived timidly in late March but was interrupted by cold air, bringing temperatures close to zero. Rain persisted until mid-May, followed by sunny days. June was mild, but July was hot and dry. August started with heat but saw rain on the 16th, stabilizing temperatures. The grapes ripened perfectly, without excess sugar, and had nice pulp and well-lignified pips.

Harvest

The manual harvest began with Merlot in late August, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon on 22 September. It ended in early October. Ideal weather allowed a calm harvest, producing a balance between technical and phenolic maturity. Excellent lignification of seeds and stalks released only noble tannins during destemming and maceration.

Vinification

Grapes were sorted in the field and again on arrival at the cellar. Soft pressing and gentle destemming avoided excessive tannic transfer. Alcoholic fermentation occurred in stainless steel vats at controlled temperatures of around 27-28°C, without external yeasts. Maceration lasted 14-16 days for Merlot and 16-18 days for Cabernet Sauvignon, with frequent pumping over and délestage for balanced musts and excellent anthocyanin extraction. Malolactic fermentation took place slowly in stainless steel, starting in early November and finishing by the end of the month.

Aging

From mid-December, musts were placed in 225-litre barriques, 40% new French oak, 40% second passage, and 20% third and fourth passage. Aging lasted 15 months, followed by three months of bottle refinement before release. This careful selection balanced tannin release while preserving the vintage’s primary and secondary aromas.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

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]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-guidalberto-2021-magnum/feed/ 0 7380 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese 2022 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-le-difese-2022-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-le-difese-2022-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:47:30 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7374 92 Points | Antonio Galloni

"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 and Sangiovese"

Carlo Paoli, Tenuto San Guido General Manager

“A soft and young wine that also welcomes the selection of the masses of Sassicaia and Guialberto. The simple and non-invasive structure, makes it enjoyable from the first moments in the glass.”

 

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Le Difese, first vintaged in 2002, is the latest arrival at Tenuta San Guido. Le Difese is a red wine full-bodied Bordeaux-style but with a Tuscan soul: a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Sangiovese, aged in barrique for 12 months. It is soft, round, elegant and velvety, enlivened by a balanced freshness and hints of cherries, chocolate, herbs and sweet spices. It is an extremely pleasant, smooth, and versatile wine that welcomes with grace, the selection of grapes while it exemplifies its qualities when paired with food.

Le Difese takes its name from the teeth of the wild boar, depicted in gold on the label.

Soil Type

The soils on which the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are planted have varied and composite morphological characteristics with a strong presence of limestone areas, rich in Alberese and Gabbro, as well as stones and stones, and are partially clayey. They are located at an altitude between 100 and 300 meters above sea level, with a West / South-West exposure.

Weather Trends

The 2022 season was warm, but Bolgheri, especially in the hills, experienced different conditions than the rest of Italy. Autumn brought heavy rains and above-normal temperatures, which dropped by late November, causing plant dormancy and pest elimination. Winter was rainy, and from late February, temperatures rose rapidly, creating humid conditions. March was mild with no rain, but from late April, temperatures soared above average, causing strong fruit selection and reducing production.

Despite a warm and dry summer, the area’s proximity to the sea, strong winds, and temperature shifts ensured high-quality grapes. By late August, temperatures dropped. Though the 2022 vintage was challenging with lower yields, hillside vineyards produced excellent grapes with balanced acidity and moderate alcohol. Le Difese 2022 reveals intense fruit, softness, and well-integrated tannins.

Harvest

The harvest, carried out by hand, began on September 4th for the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and from September 16th with the Sangiovese, until the end of the month. It was necessary to speed up the harvest to prevent the grapes, perfectly ripe and of good quality, from risking excessive progress in the technical maturation. We worked during the coolest hours of the day and at night (especially in the cellar) to keep the grapes at optimal temperatures during the processing. This has made it possible to achieve the correct qualitative objectives of the musts.

Vinification

Selection of the grapes in the cellar via a sorting table. Soft crushing-destemming of the grapes to avoid improper transfer of tannins. Primary fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature and maceration on the skins with frequent pumping over to oxygenate and lower the temperature of the musts. We have reduced the délestage operations to avoid excessive tannic transfer. Malolactic fermentation carried out in steel and, at the end of it, was fined in French oak barriques, previously used for Guidalberto. Subsequent conservation in steel vats at a controlled temperature to confer tartaric stability before bottling.

For more information on the Tenuta San Guido wines click here or visit their website here.

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]]> https://iconica.wine/product/tenuta-san-guido-le-difese-2022-magnum/feed/ 0 7374 Marchesi Antinori “Tignanello Toscana” IGT 2021 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/marchesi-antinori-tignanello-toscana-igt-2021-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/marchesi-antinori-tignanello-toscana-igt-2021-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:24:51 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7355 98 points | Robert Parker

"First made in 1971, this legendary Italian wine now celebrates its 50th birthday. Happy Birthday, Tignanello! The Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana 2021 (made with 79% Sangiovese, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc) pulls on all the heartstrings. To be released in May, the wine shows a quintessentially pretty taste profile with tart fruit flavors, redcurrant, tea leaf, heritage rose, crushed white pepper, licorice, nutmeg, clove and chopped mint. It opens slowly to reveal more richness and exuberance with time, becoming downright voluptuous and heady a short while later. The through line, however, remains the bright freshness and minerality of Sangiovese. Compared to the 2018 vintage (which I also loved), this vintage has more overall fruit weight and volume." (ML)

98 points | Vinous

"The Tignanello Toscana 2021 is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel and then just after bottling. Silky and polished, with exceptional finesse, the 2021 has all the pedigree to become a modern benchmark for Tignanello and Italian wine more broadly. Bright dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco all soar out of the glass, framed by a discreet touch of French oak that adds raciness. In some vintages, the elements are discernible. In 2021, it is the total harmony of the wine that makes the strongest and deepest impression. The 2021 spent 17 months in wood, three months in neutral oak during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months (50% new) for the rest of its aging. Superb." (AG)

96 points | James Suckling

"The currants and spices are very pretty, with some hazelnut undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very structured for a Tignanello, with medium chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very polished and curated with a deft winemaking hand coming through. Needs three or four years to soften, but it’s all there."

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Tasting Notes

Tignanello Toscana 2021 appears ruby red with vivid purple hues. On the nose, ripe plums, blackberries, and candied orange peel aromas lead, with dark chocolate, caramel, and licorice adding depth. Sweet tobacco hints complete the bouquet. The palate is rich and sophisticated, with vibrant, supple tannins and a persistent finish.

Vintage

The 2021 Tignanello vintage enjoyed a long, steady season, promising both power and finesse. Winter was mild with frequent rain, supporting early bud break. Cool, dry April weather slowed growth, while May and June’s mild days and scattered rains encouraged excellent flowering and fruit set. Summer was hot and dry, with August rains allowing for ideal ripening conditions. September and October provided perfect skies and breezy, cool nights, allowing the grapes to ripen gradually to perfection. Harvest began in late September for Sangiovese and finished with Cabernet on October 20.

Vinification

This vintage required focus and diligence in both vineyard and cellar. In truncated conical tanks, maceration on the skins preserved aroma, color, and refined tannins. Racking followed daily tastings, and malolactic fermentation in oak enhanced aromatic complexity. Aging took place over 15 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels, with blending and a further 12-month bottle aging. Crafted mainly from Sangiovese, with a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, Tignanello 2021 showcases the essence of a landmark vintage.

To learn more visit Tignanello here or the website here.

 

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]]> https://iconica.wine/product/marchesi-antinori-tignanello-toscana-igt-2021-magnum/feed/ 0 7355 Marchesi Antinori “Tignanello Toscana” IGT 2020 (Magnum) https://iconica.wine/product/marchesi-antinori-tignanello-toscana-igt-2020-magnum/ https://iconica.wine/product/marchesi-antinori-tignanello-toscana-igt-2020-magnum/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:20:02 +0000 https://iconica.wine/?post_type=product&p=7349 97 points | James Suckling

Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2020 has "Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision."

96 points | Wine Spectator

Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2020 is "Delightfully approachable on the nose right away, with warm mocha notes and cool graphite aromas against Bing and black cherries. The palate is equally outrageously delicious and easy to love even in its unbridled youth, with more cherries, blackberries, raspberries and chocolate inside a framework of tannins made to measure and acid built like an invisible force field."

95 points | Robert Parker Wine Advocate

"Newly on the market now, the Marchesi Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT 2020 shows a gorgeous bouquet with an upfront and accessible personality. Right off the bat, you get dark cherry, dried raspberry, spice, toasted almond and citrusy blood orange. The blend is normally 75% to 80% Sangiovese with 7% Cabernet Franc. The grape in between, making up 13% to 18%, is Cabernet Sauvignon. This vintage is very pretty and won’t require a long wait. The tannins are sweet and silky. “Tignanello proves itself as a great vineyard site in both the challenging and the classic years,” says Managing Director Renzo Cotarella."

94 points | Wine Spectator

A concentrated red, with black cherry, blackberry, iron, tobacco and vanilla flavors framed by sweet spices and toast accents. Ends with mouthcoating tannins, yet is pretty well-balanced overall. Alluring and classy.

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Tasting Notes

Tignanello 2020 shines with a deep ruby red color. Aromas of ripe red fruit—cherries, strawberries, and blackberries—blend with floral notes of violets, mallow, and roses. Roasted coffee and cocoa complete its complex bouquet. A vibrant opening leads to a layered, smooth mouthfeel. The finish combines spicy pepper and licorice with fresh herbal notes for lasting depth.

Blend – 79% Sangiovese and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc

In the Cellar

In 2020, focused vineyard work and careful cellar processes ensured excellent quality. Fermentation in conical tanks emphasized aroma and color, yielding supple tannins. Daily tastings guided precise racking before the wine was aged in small oak barrels, where malolactic fermentation enhanced aromatic finesse and complexity.

In the Vineyard

The 2020 season began with mild, dry winter conditions. Early bud break followed, with spring rains and cool temperatures. Summer was warm without extreme heat, and light rain supported optimal ripening. Harvest began on September 20 and ran through October 9, bringing in Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon under ideal conditions.

To learn more visit Tignanello here or the website here.

 

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