Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido, Toscana 2023 - 150cl
Guidalberto is the wine Tenuta San Guido makes in the shadow of Sassicaia — often called the second wine of Bolgheri's most famous estate, though it's very much its own thing. The blend leans on Cabernet Sauvignon with a generous slug of Merlot, which softens and rounds where Sassicaia stays austere. This is the 2023, and it comes in magnum — 150cl, the format that ages more slowly and turns any dinner into an occasion.
The nose is all Mediterranean scrub and cassis — lavender, thyme, blackcurrant, a little leather and earth lending a savoury, almost gamey depth. The palate is fresh and lifted, with a coastal salinity that keeps it moving, velvety tannins carrying a faintly sandy grip, and a long cedary finish. There's blueberry and floral lift in there too. Approachable young in a way Sassicaia never quite is.
Delicious now, but the magnum rewards patience — the larger format holds the wine fresher for longer, so there's no rush at all. Drink across the next ten to twelve years. A brilliant bottle for a table of six who all want to remember what they drank.
How to Serve
Decant an hour ahead — a young magnum especially benefits — and serve at 18°C in big Bordeaux glasses. Chill the room, not the wine.
Where to Drink It
- The River Cafe, Hammersmith — a magnum on the table by the water is exactly the mood.
- Scott's, Mayfair — polished enough for a big-format Bolgheri.
- Bocca di Lupo, Soho — sharing plates for a sharing bottle.
Food Pairings
Made for a shared rib of beef, but equally happy with a rack of lamb and rosemary. The Merlot in the blend loves a bit of roast fat.
