“We have always picked early, earlier than other producers, which shows in the freshness of the wines,” states Rocchetta at the launch of Guidalberto 2021
A great wine always commands attention, but rarely needs to shout. In fact it’s often those hushed tones and quiet murmurings of approval that cause heads to turn and interest to be piqued: “this must be something special”. And Guidalberto is indeed a special wine that shows the breeding of the Tenuta San Guido stable but stands alone from its Sassicaia sister.
Admiring the evening skyline of the City of London at Jason Atherton’s City Social at Tower 42 there was that polite but excitable “great wine” hum from members of the UK wine press. We had congregated there to be reunited with Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta from Tenuta San Guido, CEO of Armit Wines Brett Fleming and Nicolas Clerc M.S. for the global release of the Guidalberto 2021 vintage.
Showcased amongst back vintages from 2020 to 2002 to show its amazing freshness through the years. The origins of Guidalberto was never about ageing but always “tantamount to freshness and drinkability,” states Fleming.
Rocchetta goes on to describe the origins of the Guidalberto brand: “The first vintage of 2000 was to create a new wine to experiment with Merlot and to reach a wider audience. It was to be the type of wine to enjoy young while waiting for Sassicaia to age – we never expected it to last so long!”.
No surprise then that library vintages are scarcer than Sassicaia, “we do not have a large library of old vintages at the winery” underlines Rocchetta. But, thanks to the foresight and acumen of Fleming, Armit was able to find some: “We are trying to hold vintages back as a business…I am not a distributor of Tenuta San Guido, I am a partner.” An important ethos, crucial in the fragile fine wine market of today, and it is clear to see the strong relationship between both Fleming and Rocchetta.
The great Guidalberto
An awesome line-up of Guidalberto to prove its ageability
Whilst sampling the Guidalberto 2021 and 2020 vintages side-by-side, as set by Clerc, it dawned on me that Guidalberto is fundamentally about the journey and the story of wine. The connection between the wine and the land goes far beyond just the grapes and lies in the human facet of terroir. The brand is named after a family ancestor who, in turn, was named after the chapel within the vineyards dedicated to Saint Guido – a continued focal point and beacon of the brand.
Guidalberto 2021, like all years, is is a 60% led Merlot Bordeaux blend with 40% support from Cabernet Sauvignon, with the exception of a 50/50 blend in the 2020 vintage. Contrary to the initial conception of the wine, it is most age-worthy.
At just over 20 years old, the 2002 held up beautifully as a classically rustic style, still showing wonderful freshness despite its age. However, each vintage showed incredible character and pedigree. The recurring theme amongst my notes from vintages 2015, 2013, 2008 and 2003 were “refined, rich, quiet power, structure and ripeness, silky, fine” and, above all, “freshness”.
All of these qualities glimmered within the latest release of Guidalberto 2021: aromatic, pure, bright and vibrant with smooth and fine tannins, refined and harmonious red and black berry fruits with the merest whiff of spice. All this is from a wine bottled only two weeks prior to being shown. The full line-up demonstrated how well the exceptional 2021 will continue to endure and showed the true durability of this standalone brand.
Gastronomic Guidalberto
Guidalberto 2021 covering all bases at the global launch
In terms of versatility within gastronomy, Guidalberto showed that it can cover all bases with food served at Jason Atherton’s City Social at Tower 42 . ‘Game pâte en croute with Madeira and peppercorn jelly, vegetable salad and spiced apple’ shone with both the 2020 and the 2021 vintages.
Unconventionally, the dusty suede, leather and coffee bean profile of the 2015 paired wonderfully with ‘Roast cod, roasted salsify, sea herbs, warm roe and sauce Matelot’. As did (you guessed it!) the Guidalberto 2021. As for the previously unmentioned 2017 vintage, it found its calling with the ‘Highland venison saddle and shoulder with truffle pithivier, red cabbage, celeriac mash and grand veneur sauce’. A dense, youthful and shy wine that, once open and introduced to the venison, developed into an intense, earthy and savoury beast laden with sundried tomatoes and Tuscan herbs.
Graceful Guidalberto
“We have always picked early, earlier than other producers, which shows in the freshness of the wines,” states Rocchetta. Just part of the reason why Fleming was emphasising that Guidalberto is “really trying to make it as a standalone wine.” Clearly this is something of a tactical decision by both Tenuta San Guido and Armit Wines, after all, the release comes exactly one month after the 2020 premiere of Sassicaia.
Both wines are released specifically to the UK and London markets long before any other overseas trading platforms, cementing the significance of the relationship with Fleming and Armit and the importance of the UK on-trade.
Guidalberto is gastronomic, gracious and great indeed.
Armit Wines, which imports and distributes Guidalberto 2021 is a commercial partner of The Buyer. To discover more about them click here.
