Guado al Tasso 2018

To be honest, the percentage of Cabernet Franc has been deliberately creeping up over the years to render a more focused and sharper bouquet. Aromas of dark fruit and freshly milled white pepper replace the more banal cherry-based flavors delivered by the Merlot, and the wine appears more lifted and precise as a result. The Cabernet Sauvignon delivers spice and licorice, and these pretty aromas are likewise given more breathing room, thanks to the counterparts found in the Cabernet Franc. Linearity, sharpness, pencil shavings and dark currant or blackberry – this is the direction Guado al Tasso is taking, and this 2018 vintage opens the door to a new chapter for the wine. Drink date: 2024-2045. Score – 96. (Monica Larner, robertparker.com, May 6, 2021)