Bolgheri Rosso Cont'Ugo Guado al Tasso Antinori 2022 (750ML)

Drought held Bolgheri from late winter through most of a hot 2022 summer, pushing the vines ahead of schedule until storms brought water during the critical ripening weeks. Merlot for Antinori’s Cont’Ugo came in between August 30 and September 9, about ten days early. The wine is 100% Merlot from Guado al Tasso vineyards at 45 to 60 meters, on clay-loam soils of alluvial origin. Fermentation ran about 20 days in stainless steel, malolactic finished in barrique, and the best lots spent 12 more months in second-fill barrels before bottling in the second half of January 2024. Deep ruby, it shows red currant, raspberry and ripe cherry, with a brush of Mediterranean herbs and forest floor. The palate is well built and persistent, ending on fruit. Try it with porchetta, lasagne or grilled fennel sausages.