Tenuta Guado al Tasso Estate II Bruciato Bolgheri DOC 2017

Appellation: Tuscany / Italy

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah

Description

Climate
The 2017 vintage in Bolgheri, marked by a dry and mild winter, was characterized by an early bud break in the vineyard. The spring and summer months, dry and hot on the whole, led to an early harvest and an important reduction of the size of the crops, guaranteeing, however, grapes of very high quality. The picking of the grapes for Il Bruciato began on August 26th and terminated by September 10th, two weeks earlier than in a normal vintage.

Vinification
Upon arrival in the cellars, the grapes were destemmed and given a soft pressing. The fermentation and the period of skin contact between the wine and the skins took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and lasted from ten to fifteen days at temperatures between 82° and 86° Fahrenheit (28°-30° centigrade). A part of the Merlot and Syrah musts was fermented at lower temperatures to better conserve their varietal aromas. The malolactic fermentation, which took place partly in small oak barrels and partly in stainless steel and was completed, for each and every variety, by the end of the year. The Cabernet Sauvignon was then blended together with the Merlot and Syrah and the resulting wine put back into small oak barrels where it reposed before being bottled.

Tasting Notes 
The 2017 Il Bruciato shows an intense ruby red color. The nose presents the notes of red and black berry fruit which are characteristic of this vintage and capable of giving the wine an excellent concentration. Sweet spices and a hint of liquorice complete the bouquet. The palate is well structured, persistent, and highly pleasurable in its fruity finish and aftertaste.

Food Pairing
Marries well with red meat, stews, hearty pasta dishes, and cheese.

Rating and review

91 pts - Wine Advocate
This is another extremely popular wine that is easily found up and down the Tuscan Coast. This red blend (with the largest part of the blend going to Cabernet Sauvignon) opens to a soft and velvety texture. The 2017 Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato offers some noticeable ripeness with black cherry, prune and raisin. But ultimately, the wine shows a good level of freshness because the acidity in the grapes was concentrated (like everything else in this hot vintage) in the year’s smaller berries. Tenuta Guado al Tasso extends over 340 hectares. Because of the hot vintage, only 65,000 cases were made of this wine instead of the 100,000 cases produced in a normal vintage.