Guado al Tasso Cont'Ugo Bolgheri Italy 2022

Guado al Tasso Cont'Ugo Bolgheri Italy 2022Our View: The estate commenced producing this wine only in 1990 but as ever from the Marchesi Antinori stable this wine is a gem. Rather uniquely form this area of Tuscany it is 100% merlot with fruit and structure that makes it enjoyable with many food types. A great wine to try if you haven't yet experienced a Tuscan merlot! The Wine: A polished, richly expressive Merlot from Bolgheri that balances power with elegance. This is a wine for fans of

Our View:

The estate commenced producing this wine only in 1990 but as ever from the Marchesi Antinori stable this wine is a gem. Rather uniquely form this area of Tuscany it is 100% merlot with fruit and structure that makes it enjoyable with many food types. A great wine to try if you haven't yet experienced a Tuscan merlot!

The Wine:

A polished, richly expressive Merlot from Bolgheri that balances power with elegance. This is a wine for fans of plush, fruit-forward Tuscan reds that deliver complexity and length—worthy of ageing but already delicious now. 

The wine is produced by the Tenuta Guado al Tasso estate, created by Marchesi Antinori in 1990, located in the Bolgheri DOC on the Tuscan coast’s Maremma region. The first vintage of Cont'Ugo was in 2011 and grapes are sourced from a strict selection of the best 40ha of merlot planted at Guado al Tasso. 

It's set within a 320‑hectare vineyard area surrounded by the so‑called “Bolgheri amphitheatre,” a configuration of hills that moderates temperature with seaside breezes, providing ideal conditions for ripening Merlot. Soils are loamy‑clay of alluvial origin at elevations between ~45–60 m. 

The 2022 season was unusually hot with low rainfall, followed by mid‑August rains that improved ripening. The small berries achieved excellent health and concentration. Hand‑harvested grapes; maceration lasting 20‑25 days in temperature‑controlled stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation in barrels. 

Tasting Note:

An intense ruby red colour - the nose offers smooth notes of small ripe red fruit especially red currants, raspberries and ripe cherries accompanied by light hints of mediterranean scrub and forest floor. The palate delivers good structure, excellent persistence of flavours and a pleasant fruity finish. This wine can be enjoyed immediately but has excellent ageing potential for the years to come. 

The Facts:

What the critics say:

94 Points - Wine Spectator:

"Distinctly fruity, this red features black cherry, blackberry, plum, licorice, cedar and oak spice aromas and flavors. A supple version, with terrific balance and a long aftertaste. Shows just enough grip to lend serious weight". 

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck: 

"The 2022 Cont'Ugo features dusty cedar, fruit leather, baking spice, and fresh earth aromas. Full-bodied, with a gamey richness and a fleshy quality throughout. A plush texture and a graceful tapering finish complement its weightless feel".