Guidalberto, Tenuta San Guido 2023 75cl

Guidalberto is the wine to reach for when Sassicaia feels a stretch too far. Made at the same estate, Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, it blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot for a softer, more immediately generous take on coastal Tuscan Cabernet.

Introduced as the estate's second wine, Guidalberto was designed to be approachable earlier while carrying the same fingerprints of place. The Merlot fleshes out the mid-palate and rounds the tannins, so this drinks beautifully young in a way Sassicaia never quite does. It matures in a mix of French and American oak.

The 2023 should show a bright ruby colour and a nose of ripe blackberry, plum, sweet vanilla and a lick of cedar and Mediterranean herb. The palate is plush and rounded, with juicy dark fruit, smooth tannins and enough freshness from the maritime climate to keep it lively. It is polished and easygoing without being simple.

At around £48 it is genuinely good value for a wine carrying the San Guido name and pedigree. Drink over the next five to eight years.

How to Serve

Serve at 16-18C in a Bordeaux glass. A short decant of half an hour helps if drinking now.

Where to Drink It

Trullo in Highbury for Italian comfort. Bocca di Lupo in Soho for the menu. Bancone in Covent Garden for a relaxed dinner.

Food Pairings

Rare-grilled steak, or a rich mushroom and beef ragu.