Cont’Ugo Tenuta Guado Al Tasso Bolgheri 2013 75cl

Bold Bolgheri energy in a glass, the kind that makes you pause mid-conversation. Cont’Ugo from Tenuta Guado al Tasso is a Merlot-led red from coastal Tuscany, built for people who like their Italian red wine with depth, grip, and a little mystery.

Bolgheri is famous for taking classic French grapes and giving them a Tuscan accent. Here, that means ripe fruit up front, a savoury backbone underneath, and a finish that sticks around long enough to make you go back for another sip. The 2013 vintage is a great year for this style, more layered, more expressive, and a touch more serious (in a good way).

• Appearance: Deep ruby with garnet at the rim, slow legs that hint at concentration.
• Nose: Black cherry, plum, dried herbs, cedar, and a dusting of cocoa.
• Taste: Dark fruit and bittersweet chocolate, lively acidity to keep it fresh, firm tannins that give it shape, and a dry, savoury finish.
• Body: Full-bodied, with a confident, structured feel.
• Finish: Long, with lingering cherry, espresso, and a gentle earthy note.

What you’re really buying here is balance with attitude. Merlot brings plush fruit and roundness, while Bolgheri’s coastal influence keeps the wine lifted and energetic, so it doesn’t feel heavy or sleepy. That’s why this bottle works when you want something impressive, but still totally drinkable.

This is also a red that rewards attention. Give it a little time in the glass and it starts showing more than just fruit, think herbs, tobacco, and that classic cedar-and-spice vibe that makes you feel like you picked the right bottle.

If you’re building a cellar, this is a smart add. If you’re opening it now, it still shows off that 2013 complexity without feeling stuck in the past.

Fun Fact: Tenuta Guado al Tasso is part of the Antinori family, one of Italy’s most influential wine dynasties, with winemaking roots that go back more than 600 years.