Wine Advisor
Tenuta San Guido, Le Difese Toscana 2018
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Description
Le Difese, first vintaged in 2002, is the latest arrival at Tenuta San Guido. It is an extremely pleasant, smooth, and versatile wine that welcomes with grace, the selection of grapes while it exemplifies its qualities when paired with food. Le Difese takes its name from the teeth of the wild boar, depicted in gold on the label. A soft and young wine that also welcomes the selection of the masses of Sassicaia and Guidalberto. The simple and non-invasive structure, makes it enjoyable from the first moments in the glass.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2018 Le Difese is a very pretty, understated wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, dried herbs and a touch of spice bring out the more delicate side of Maremma Cabernet Sauvignon. Best of all, the 2018 will drink well right out of the gate.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Just bottled, the 2018 Le Difese is very pretty, and also the most refined vintage I can remember tasting here. Fresh and light on its feet, the 2018 is truly delicious. It is also the first vintage of this wine that really is in line with the house style. Having the ability to make this wine in the Bolgheri property rather than at a remote facility represents a major step up for San Guido.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
This is the entry-level wine from Tenuta San Guido that may (or may not) give us an idea of the fruit character to be found in next year's Bolgheri releases from the same vintage. A big production of 321,000 bottles, the 2018 Le Difese is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon brightened up with a quarter or a third Sangiovese. The wine opens to mid-weight intensity with some leathery or dried tobacco-like notes that give the wine a rather sultry or savory first impression. With a little extra prodding, it starts to offer plummy dark fruit and dried blackberry, something you can serve with a traditional pappardelle alle lepre.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A medium-bodied red with plum and cherry character. Walnut and bark undertones. It’s creamy and savory at the finish. Drink now.
About the Producer
Tenuta San Guido is located in the seaside area of Bolgheri in Toscana, Italy. The Sassicaia wine produced by the winery is known as the king of wine in Italy and enjoys the reputation of "Italian Lafite". Marquis Mario (Mario Incisa della Rocchetta) is the founder of the San Guito winery. He loves fine wine, horse racing and environmental protection, and has always dreamed of making a wine of excellent quality, an Italian wine that can swept the upper class. Well, it's Bordeaux style. In the 1940s, Marquis Mario and his wife came to live in the winery of San Guito. The innovation of "the first person to eat crabs". Winery San Guito made Sicilian wines from 1948 until the mid-1960s, but it was only consumed in-house. 1968 was a year to remember. This year, the ever-improving Cissicaia was launched for the first time. In the international blind tasting competition that year, Cissicaia’s excellent performance shocked the entire wine world, and its popularity was comparable to that of the top wineries in Bordeaux. Sanguito Winery's vineyard covers an area of 173 acres (about 70 hectares), all located in the DOC production area of Siciia, and the garden is planted with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is 25-30 years, the planting density is 4,000-5,000 vines/ha, and the average yield is 1 kg/plant. Winemaking at San Guito Winery takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel barrels that hold between 3,500 liters and 11,000 liters. The dipping time is approximately 2 weeks. Aged for 2 years in 33% new French oak barrels with a capacity of 225 liters. The main wine produced by San Guito Winery is San Guito Winery Xishijiaya dry red wine. This wine is one of the most famous Italian wines, made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Recent good years include: 2000, 1998, 1997, 1993, 1990, 1988, 1985, 1982, 1978 and 1975.
