【Super Toscana 酒王 Sassicaia 三牌酒】
【Decanter 91 pts】【Vinous 91 pts】
ZI281A Tenuta San Guido Le Difese 2021
Special Price: $175/btl
Production area: Italy/ Toscana IGT
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon , Sangiovese
Alcohol: 14%
Volume: 750ml
Harvesting: manual harvesting
Recommended drinking temperature: 18-20 degrees
Suggested decanting time: 45 minutes or more (decanting in a bottle)
Tasting Notes: Ruby red in color, the wine offers aromas of milk chocolate and black pepper, with notes of blackberry, black cherry, and oak spice, along with a touch of vanilla. The wine has a good spicy structure, a rounded palate, rich fruit, pleasant freshness, and silky tannins.
【Decanter 91 pts】
Le Difese in 2021 sports a majority of Sangiovese – 55% – in a break from the traditional 70/30 split in favour of Cabernet Sauvignon. Third-generation at Tenuta San Guido, Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, explained that this decision was made to enhance the wine's 'local Tuscan' character, and to improve its drinkability early on as 'a first step into the Tenuta San Guido world.' While the Cabernet is grown on the estate, the Sangiovese is sourced, as always, from long–term partners based in Chianti Rufina. Bright, incredibly vibrant red, black and blue fruits introduce subtle, finely grained tannins with notes of wood and chocolate. It's at once juicy, tangy and crunchy, with good ripeness and great acidity. Matured for eight months in used barriques.
【Vinous 91 pts】
The 2021 Le Difese is redolent of crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, lavender, spice and sweet pipe tobacco. Medium in body yet nicely layered, the 2021 is impeccably balanced. It is also a sheer delight to taste at this early stage. In many vintages, Le Difese is a fruity, forward wine, but the 2021 has a nervy feeling of classicism that is hugely appealing. It's one of my favorite recent vintages. As it has been for some time, Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from the estate and Sangiovese purchased from several properties in Chianti Classico, with the energy of Sangiovese very much driving the feel in this vintage.
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【Vinous 92 pts】【Decanter 92 pts】
【Jeb Dunnuck 91 pts】【James Suckling 91 pts】
ZI281B Tenuta San Guido Le Difese Toscana IGT 2022
Special Price: $205/btl
Production area: Italy/ Toscana IGT
Grape varieties: 55% Sangiovese, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
Harvesting: manual harvesting
Recommended drinking temperature: 18-20 degrees
Suggested decanting time: 45 minutes or more (decanting in a bottle)
【Vinous 92 pts】
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 (both estate and non-estate sites) and Sangiovese, all purchased.
【Decanter 92 pts】
Le Difese 2022 is a blend of 55% Sangiovese and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, the former brought in from long-standing partners based in Chianti and Chianti Rufina – ‘In Bolgheri it's not easy to find Sangiovese,’ third-generation Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta explained. 2022 saw slightly lower production than 2021 due to a warm spring and a rainy autumn. Macerations were shorter than previous years, and the wine retains the same blend as last year as part of the estate's continuing plans to make Le Difese approachable almost immediately and give it its own Tuscan identity. Bright red and purple scents with a creamy backdrop and herbal touches lead to a soft and textured palate full of fresh, tangy cherry and dark hedgerow berries. Ripe, precise and sapid with a long, breezy, balsamic finish, Le Difese should be enjoyed over the next decade.
【Jeb Dunnuck 91 pts】
The 2022 Le Difese is made with 60% Sangiovese and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and includes some grapes purchased from the Chianti in Ruffina to enhance the wine’s aromatic profile and freshness. The grapes see maceration on the skins for 15 days, then are aged in used barrels for eight months. Deep ruby with a tinge of light purple, this 2022 is aromatic of anise, fresh leather, and spiced cherries. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe tannins, with a clean mineral touch. It’s approachable and offers a supple texture with an open drinking window over the coming 6-8 years.
【James Suckling 91 pts】
Bright and attracitve aromas of raspberries and cranberries with some cedar follow through to a medium body, with fine tannins and a crunchy finish.
【Le Difese - Sassicaia】
Sassicaia is one of the world's most acclaimed wines, earning the title of "Super Tuscan" producer thanks to the vision, perseverance, and tireless work of founder Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. Sassicaia has also been recognized as one of Italy's top Bordeaux blends. The winery also produces a second wine, Guidalberto Chapel, and a third wine, Le Difese.
【Tenuta San Guido】
Tenuta San Guido, located on the Bolgheri coast in Tuscany, Italy, was founded in the 1840s. It was a forerunner in the Italian wine world, pioneering the use of international grape varieties and creating the "Italian International Style." Even more remarkable, it achieved the title of Italian wine king with a single wine: Sassicaia! While not a designated designation of origin in Italy, and only categorized as an IGT fine table wine, this in no way diminishes its standing among Italian wines. Accolades such as "Italy's Lafite," "one of the world's finest Cabernet Sauvignon," "one of three Italian wines to receive a perfect score from Robert Parker," "the king of Italian wines of the 20th century," and "the forefather of the new Super Tuscany" all attest to the winery's success and offer immense recognition.
