“Tenuta Belguardo” Rosso Maremma Toscana Riserva DOC 2021

Tenuta Belguardo | Mazzei | Tuscany
Belguardo S.r.l. Agr. | Loc. Montebottigli | VIII° Zona | IT 58100 Grosseto

09522421 · 0,75 l · 52,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

In 1398, Ser Lapo Mazzei wrote a letter in which the word "Chianti" is used in the modern sense of wine for the first time. The oldest document of its kind. The family that wrote this letter is still making wine today – for more than 600 years, now in its seventeenth generation. When a family dynasty of this depth comes to the Maremma in 1997 and decides to grow its most important wine on the sandy soils between Grosseto and Montiano, it is a vote of confidence in a terroir. The philosophy is clearly formulated: Tenuta Belguardo only releases in the best vintages. No compromises. Since the first vintage in 2000, this attitude has defined the positioning of the cru: not quantity, but statement. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from parcels with the highest proportion of sandstone and skeleton, which demand from the Cabernet a balance between natural power and elegance that would not be achieved on heavier soil. 15% Cabernet Franc is the perfect counterpart: structured, herbal, characterised by freshness even in hot vintages.

2021 began with a promise that was almost broken. April frosts on the 7th and 8th damaged the already well-developed buds and reduced the harvest. Midsummer took its toll on the vineyards again. Then, on 24 August, 28 millimetres of rain fell, restoring the daily temperature fluctuations and allowing for an even, final ripening phase. The grapes arrived in the cellar in excellent condition – concentrated and rich in polyphenols. 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70 per cent new, then four months of fining in concrete vats.

Deep, bright ruby red colour. Dark spices, ripe dark fruit, graphite, cedar and a hint of Mediterranean scrub on the nose. Full-bodied and seductive on the palate, carried by long, enveloping tannins, with a final that never ends. Storage potential for over 20 years. A Bordeaux cru with the soul of the Maremma. SUPERIORE.DE

"Impenetrable ruby red with violet reflections. Redcurrant and tobacco on the nose, with some cedar wood. Concentrated and powerful on the palate, massive tannin structure, refreshing acidity, long, spicy finish." Falstaff

"Cru made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, which the Mazzei family ages in wood for 18 months: Captivating forest fruit nose, floral components, subtle spice; polished evolution towards an opulent yet elegant finish." Vinum

"A layered wine, showing bright-red cherries and plums with spicy aromas such as graphite and vanilla. Medium-bodied. Crisp and chewy with velvety fruit-soaked tannins, savory and polished." James Suckling

"The 2021 Maremma Toscana Rosso Riserva Tenuta Belguardo is nicely stitched together, showing pretty intensity and vertical lift that are characteristics of the vintage. The wine is redolent of sweet fruit, cooked cherry and baking spice. You do feel some of the heat and softness of the vintage." Wine Advocate

"The nose is balanced, with fruit aromas of pomegranate and black plum but also savory notes of top soil, graphite and coffee. Blackberries, plums and figs star on the palate, but there's a strong, lingering earthiness too, until a fresh mint breeze blows across the finish. Tannins are almost slippery, but still powerful, like a creature of the deep." Wine Enthusiast

"The 2021 Tenuta Belguardo is one of the most refined wines I have tasted from Mazzei’s Maremma estate. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, espresso, dried herbs, new leather and incense all take shape in the glass. This is a contemporary expression of Maremma, a wine that is more about freshness and energy than the opulence that once defined these wines." Vinous