Guidalberto (2nd Vin) 2005 75cl

Boasting a ripe and fruit-forward stye, the 2005 Guidalberto mirrors the warm vintage. Vines experienced vigorous growth in 2005 thanks to ample springtime rains and heated summer temperatures. Ripening was not even across the Bolgheri area and vintners had to time their harvests carefully. This wine shows an evident level of inner sweetness with bold tones of Morello cherry, mature blackberry, moist pipe tobacco and Spanish cedar. The mouthfeel is round and rich with sweet tannins at the back. It is holding well today, ten years from the harvest. I suggest drinking this wine over the next two or three years.  When Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi made a state visit to Washington, D.C. this past April, he packed a few bottles for the trip. He selected four wines to share with President Barack Obama. According to media reports they were Sassicaia (the 2011 vintage), Ornellaia, Tignanello and a Brunello di Montalcino by Mastrojanni. The statesmen sampled the wines together and President Obama joked that it would be “insulting” not to taste them. During a press conference, he turned to Renzi and smiled: “I will give you, Matteo, a report on whether it is up to the quality we expect.”  Born in Florence, Prime Minister Renzi made a sound selection of wines from his native Tuscany to share with the American president. Of these wines, none is more iconic than Sassicaia. Roughly one month prior to the White House wine summit, I was in Bolgheri at Tenuta San Guido to taste a few older vintages of Sassicaia including the 1982 and 1998. I was also able to taste preview samples of the excellent 2013 vintage and the challenging 2014 vintage. June 2015

Wonderful aromas of crushed blackberry and cherry follow through to a full-bodied palate, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Needs time to develop in the bottle, but hard not to drink now. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Best after 2009. 11,500 cases made. –JS