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Located between Livorno and Grosseto, Tenuta San Guido is an iconic reference among Tuscan wines. Much better known by the name of its most famous wine Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido is a 7,500-acre estate located in the province of Livorno on the western coastal outskirts of Tuscany near the village of Bolgheri. Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta acquired the original landholding through his marriage to Clarice della Gherardesca in 1940.
The legacy of Sassicaia began in 1944, when Mario Incisa acquired several Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vine cuttings and planted them on a sloping hillside of the San Guido estate, called Castiglioncello after the 11th-century castle at the vineyard's upper edge. This tiny, 3.75-acre vineyard stood alone until 1965, when a second Cabernet vineyard was planted with cuttings from the Castiglioncello parcel; the gravelly, 30-acre plot would give the wine its name: Sassicaia, "the place of many stones". Sassicaia’s quality and influence were so great that Tenuta San Guido now has its own single-estate DOC appellation granted to the flagship label: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC.
For Italian wine and Supertuscan fans in particular, Sassicaia would rank high on the bucket list as the last wine to drink before we bid adios to this beautiful world. Sassicaia’s stratospheric pricing means it’s not going to be your everyday wine unless you are one of those crypto billionaires who bailed out before Titanic meets Iceberg. Thankfully, Tenuta San Guido has a backup plan for us mere mortals.
Guidalberto is Tenuta San Guido’s second wine. Guidalberto is made from grapes harvested off the same celebrated Bolgheri vineyards as the estate’s iconic flagship cuvée and benefits from the same expert winemaking skills. Aged for 15 months in oak and a further three months in bottle, it delivers the essence of Sassicaia, showing a wealth of charm and balance whilst being inherently more approachable upon release.
With Guidalberto, current owner Nicolò Incisa Della Rocchetta drew inspiration from his great great great grandfather, Guidalberto della Gherardesca, a pioneer of modern agriculture who lived in Bolgheri in the early 19th century. Wishing to perpetuate the pioneering and innovative spirit of his family, Nicolò Incisa created this new vintage in 2000 in order to experiment with the cultivation of Merlot, a grape variety that had not previously been grown on his estate and also to provide his customers with a wine that could be enjoyed in its youth. He omitted to mention that the wine also saves marriages by offering a top quality, affordable drink that doesn’t demand half the grocery budget.
Guidalberto has had a lot of loving attention from renowned wine critics since Day 1. Here are some professional reviews for the Guidalberto 2013:
"Beautiful and bold, the 2013 Guidalberto is one of the best editions of this wine ever made. It shows great energy and momentum with dark fruit, spice, tobacco and black truffle that come together with impeccable unity. I love the heft and power that supports this wine at the back. Its tannic structure is firm but velvety and will continue to soften as the wine evolves over the next few years. I would suggest holding onto this bottle for three to four more years before popping the cork." Robert Parker, 93 points
"Fragrant, fresh and loaded with finesse, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot opens with scents of fragrant blue flowers, perfumed berry and a whiff of pine forest. The bright, silky palate delivers crunchy red currants, juicy raspberries and white pepper. It’s nicely balanced, with firm, polished tannins and lively acidity. Drink 2016–2022." Wine Enthusiast, 92 points
"Extremely attractive aromas of plums, light berries, and milk chocolate with just a hint of earthy spice. Currants too. Full body, soft integrated tannins and a smooth textured finish. Delicious to drink now or hold. Consistently outstanding quality." James Suckling, 92 points
Guidalberto costs a fraction of the Sassicaia in normal times. Today, we are widening the gap further with this special promotion. Stocks are limited to 120 bottles to keep the offer civilised and away from the prying eyes of our accountant.
Per bottle: S$89 (usual price: S$99) 6-11 bottles deal: nett price per bottle: S$85 12 and more bottles deal: nett price per bottle: S$79
To enjoy the 6 bottles and 12 bottles deals, use promo codes GUIDA6 and GUIDA12 respectively when you checkout.
Have fun as always!
Best regards, Wong Peng Chung (Kenny) Founder and Chief Wine Drinker
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