2021 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Cont'Ugo Bolgheri

Cont'Ugo is produced entirely with Merlot. The vineyards are located at an altitude ranging between 45 and 60 meters above sea level on clay loam soils of alluvial origin that give the wine deep complex notes while retaining the aroma and freshness typical of Merlot berries. After the grapes were harvested by hand and carefully selected on sorting tables, the berries were transferred to temperature-controlled stainless steel vats where alcoholic fermentation and maceration with skins took place for a period of approximately 20 days. Fermentation temperatures at this high end winery are managed according to the ripeness of the grapes: lower temperatures were applied to preserve and improve aromatic freshness, while higher temperatures, up to 30°C, to stimulate the extraction of phenolic compounds and structure . The different batches were divided according to their individual characteristics and then transferred into oak barriques, a third of which were new. The malolactic fermentation was completed towards the end of the year. The best batches were blended by the winemaker to get the right profile and the blend was transferred to barriques for further maturation/aging of 12 months after which it was bottled. The Cont'Ugo was aged in the bottle for a further 6 months in the winery's cellars before becoming available.

The Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Rosso Cont'Ugo is a pure expression of Merlot from the Marchesi Antinori estate in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. This vintage is fragrant and bright with aromas ranging from bold berries and raspberries to blue flowers and dried mint. The aromas are lofty and bright, and on the palate the wine delivers a graceful, medium-bodied approach. The Cont'Ugo is a wine of great depth and complexity while retaining the aroma and richness of fruit characteristic of Merlot.

The 2021 vintage in Bolgheri was characterized by a prolonged dry period from June to the end of September. However, unlike 2017, the particularly rainy winter has helped to significantly increase the water reserves of the deep soils that characterize the area, providing the vines with the right support for the entire production phase. The spring, which was generally cool, caused a slight delay in budding and subsequent flowering. Summer temperatures have never been excessive, allowing the grapes in each vineyard to ripen slowly and regularly with excellent levels of integrity and health.
The Merlot harvest for Cont'Ugo started on September 8 on the earliest vineyards and ended in late September with the later plots.

After manual harvest and careful selection in the cellar, the grapes were transferred to thermo-conditioned stainless steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation and maceration took place, lasting approximately 20 days. The fermentation temperature was managed depending on the ripeness of the grapes: lower temperatures were chosen, around 25 °C, to maintain greater aromatic freshness, and higher temperatures, up to around 30 °C, to promote the polyphenolic extraction and emphasize structure. The different parcels, subdivided by characteristics, were transferred to barriques where they completed malolactic fermentation towards the end of the year. The best batches were collected and transferred to second-passage barriques for another twelve months of maturation, after which the wine was bottled. Bottling took place in the first ten days of March 2023.

Cont'Ugo 2021 has an intense ruby ​​red color. The nose is characterized by notes of small ripe red fruits such as shadow morals and raspberry, combined with sensations of juniper and musk. In the mouth it is well structured and lively, with a fruity and persistent aftertaste.