Vinous (90)

The 2004 Argentiera is sweet and layered in its dark cherries, toasted oak, earthiness and smoke. It offers notable balance, with ripe tannins that are beautifully woven into the wine's medium-bodied yet generous frame. This blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc spent 14 months in French oak.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon logically feels and tastes most prominent. This is a dark and penetrating Tuscan red that is beautifully elevated, thanks to the extremely elegant and buoyant quality of the aromas. They lift gracefully from the glass with light-footed, almost fleeting character. However, don't underestimate the power and the concentration of the wine, because this vintage delivers both with abundance. I've had my eye on this estate since the vineyards were first planted some 20 years ago, and there is no doubt that this vintage brings Tenuta Argentiera into a new era as a Bolgheri protagonist. Some 80,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (97)

What a beauty and what an incredible leap forward to excellence. The Tenuta Argentiera 2019 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera shows depth and wide shoulders with soft plushness and impeccable fruit. The full-bodied wine is dialed up on all levels from perfumes, intensity, mouthfeel, texture and freshness. This bottle should hold past the 20-year mark.

Embark on a sublime journey of the senses with Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2020, a crown jewel in the tradition of Italian winemaking. Hailing from the precious terroir of Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast, this tastefully crafted wine emanates from the distinguished Argentiera winery, revered for its dedication to preserving the precision and charm of old-world viticulture.

Made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, with a nuanced blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine promises a harmonious symphony of rich black fruits, sweet spices, and mineral nuance. The grapes are hand-harvested, then meticulously aged for 18 months in French oak barrels plus an additional 12 months in a bottle, achieving a perfect blend of freshness and depth.

The Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2020 truly sells itself - a resplendent example of superior winemaking, befitting the most discerning of sommeliers and passionate wine enthusiasts. Allow yourself to savour the unparalleled elegance and depth of this exquisite selection.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

This is a landmark wine from a landmark vintage. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, which results in a generous, striking and unforgettable product. The bouquet is elegant and toned, with aromas of dark fruit, tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is tight and firm, and it boasts persistence and impressive balance. It has all of the qualities required for long-term aging, so keep this for 10 years or more.

James Suckling (97)

So much blue fruit such as blueberries and blackberries; the purity of the fruit is incredible. Essence of cabernet sauvignon. Full-bodied yet with focused and fine tannins. Forceful but focused and polished. Needs two or three years to come around. And then enjoy for years afterwards.

James Suckling (98-99)

Full-bodied, dense and layered with fantastic aromas and flavors. Long, long finish. Serious contender here for wine of the vintage. One of the best ever from here? A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.

Wine Advocate (97)

From a warm and sunny vintage that produced darkly concentrated fruit, the Tenuta Guado al Tasso 2017 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a teaser and a super pleaser. This is one flashy wine. This carefully calculated blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Merlot pours from the bottle with a beautifully saturated and rich color. I double-decanted my sample before writing this review, and the wine's aromas showed immediate harmony and intensity. The wine seduces and flirts with all your senses. This vintage caps many years of study regarding blending: The Merlot is slightly decreased here, and the Cabernet Franc is slowly taking on a more important supporting role. The Petit Verdot that was used as a peppery accent two years ago has now been removed altogether. The results are pliant, seamless and fluid, and that's the big takeaway here. The wine is bountiful, round, supple and full-bodied. Unless you are decidedly not a fan of this style, there's nothing not to love. I had anticipated more tightness in terms of possible hot-vintage tannins, but I am very pleased by the general integration of the mouthfeel. The Guado al Tasso vineyards are located not too far from the sea, at a low elevation of about 60 meters above sea level. The soils are alluvial with a unique mix of limestone clay and sand, with pockets of rocks and are generally known as the Bolgheri Agglomerate. Some 120,000 bottles of this vintage hit the market in February 2020.

Wine Advocate (96)

Renzo Cotarella, managing director of Marchesi Antinori tells me that the 2018 vintage showed very different results in the inland and hilly Chianti Classico appellation compared to the flat, sea-facing Bolgheri appellation. This season saw some rain right before harvest. That extra humidity rolled right off the Chianti Classico hills and disappeared without effect, but it stuck around longer in the thicker, flatter soils of Guado al Tasso. For this reason, one of the estate's top wines, the Cabernet Franc-based Matarocchio, was not produced in 2018 for fear that the fruit would not offer the concentration required of a wine of that important stature. The best of that fruit was used in this wine instead. For that reason, the 2018 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees a little more Cabernet Franc (clocking in at about 22% of the blend) and less Merlot, with the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon, of course, (at about 60%). 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. Some 115,000 bottles were made.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

The ample richness of the 2019 Guado al Tasso is balanced with great energy that drives through the core of this wine. Polished, with aromas of black plum, graphite, cedar, and leather, it is ripe and full-bodied, with good tannins and a linear drive but a long finish. This remarkable wine will benefit from cellaring. Drink 2025-2045.

Wine Advocate (96)

The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)

The 2021 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso is a very beautiful wine, but also quite a departure from the style that made it famous years ago. Readers will find an especially polished Guado al Tasso, a wine that emphasizes finesse more than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of black cherry fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright, saline undertones extend the exquisite finish. There's more Cabernet Franc in the blend these days, and that very much comes through in the wine's crazy aromatic presence and feel. The 2021 spent 16 months in wood, three months in used French oak barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 14 months in barrel (80% new) for the rest of its aging. Gorgeous.

Wine Spectator (93)

An opulent, dense red, featuring ripe black cherry and blackberry notes, with persistent hints of earth and tobacco. The flavors linger on the spicy aftertaste as the vibrant structure lends support. Decant now or age another year. Merlot. Drink now through 2025.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Cont’Ugo is a gorgeous wine that captures the essence of this coolish year on the Tuscan coast. The juiciness of Bolgheri Merlot is nicely tempered by the moderate year. Sweet dark cherry, mocha, spice and leather all meld together in this gracious red from Antinori’s Guado al Tasso estate. I would give the tannins a year or two to soften.

Vinous (92)

The 2020 Cont'Ugo, 100% Merlot, is rich, pliant and super-expressive. A blast of dark fruit, chocolate, new leather and licorice are front and center. There's a bit less of the bombastic intensity of the early years, but that's not a bad thing at all. Quite the contrary.

Wine Spectator (92)

Fresh and varietally expressive, this red bursts with cherry, black currant, olive, tobacco and sweet spice flavors. Balanced and open, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit and spices. Drink now through 2028. 684 cases imported.

For the discerning aficionado, the Argentiera Bolgheri Poggio Ginepri 2022 is an exquisite testimony to the splendour of Italian viticulture. This splendid red wine hails from the renowned Bolgheri region of Tuscany, crafted by the esteemed Argentiera Estate. Meticulously produced using a melange of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah varietals, each grape is hand-selected from vines rooted in the estate's illuvial soils, rich with iron fragments underlying a bed of limestone.

After a temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine is allowed to mature in traditional French oak barrels to achieve its eloquent complexity. The resultant rich red elixir boasts sumptuous notes of ripe red fruit, spices, and an undercurrent of refreshing earthiness. Delight in the refined elegance of the Argentiera Bolgheri Poggio Ginepri 2022, it's truly the embodiment of the extraordinary skills of Argentiera's esteemed vintners.

Hailing from the prestigious wine estate of Bolgheri, the Bolgheri Bolgheri Varvara 2021 is a magnificent triumph of viniculture and a testament to the art of fine winemaking. Handcrafted by the renowned producer, Varvara, this positively exquisite red wine signals its extraordinary quality from the first sniff to the last sip. The wine is a melodious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc varietals, maturing elegantly for 12 months in French oak barrels to achieve its complex depth.

Bolgheri Bolgheri Varvara 2021 is celebrated for its deep, ruby-red colour and robust, layered aroma that teases notes of dark fruit, cedar, and spice. On the palate, it delights with well-balanced fruit and spice flavours, accented by mild tannins and a harmonious finish. This gorgeous wine bears the signature finesse of Bolgheri, a gem of Italy's Tuscan coast known for its superior red wines. It's a bottle any serious wine aficionado would yearn to add to their collection.

The Dario di Vaira Bolgheri Clarice 2020 is a revered Tuscan treasure, hailing from the illustrious Bolgheri zone. Its expert producer, Dario di Vaira, is renowned for creating premium wines that reflect the character of this cherished region. Adopting an organic approach, this 100% Cabernet Franc is vinified in stainless steel vats to preserve the purity of the grape, and aged for 15 months in French oak barrels for complexities. The result is an elegant wine, resonating with fresh red fruits, earthy tones, and a delicate hint of spice.

Dario di Vaira practices a deep respect for the symbiotic relationship between man, vine, and land. He cultivates the vineyards without the use of synthetic products, capitalising on the unique microclimate and soil composition of the Bolgheri terrain. Rich in heritage, the Dario di Vaira Bolgheri Clarice 2020 embodies the passion and tradition of this historic wine-making region.

Indulge in the captivating offerings of Dario di Vaira Bolgheri Superiore 2019, an exquisite specimen from Italy's prestigious Tuscan region. Produced by esteemed winemaker Dario di Vaira, it beguilingly accentuates the famed Bolgheri terroir. An elegant blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 18% Petit Verdot, this robust red is matured in French oak barrels for 18 months, conferring a harmonious complexity in its flavour profile.

The Dario di Vaira Bolgheri Superiore 2019 showcases a vivid ruby hue, rewarding the senses with opulent aromas underscored by ripe red berries, spices, and underwood nuances. Upon tasting, the palate is swathed in smooth tannins, balancing a pleasing full body against refined acidity. The finish lingers, further intensifying its charm. This is a prime example of Dario di Vaira's master craftsmanship, an unforgettable experience for indulging in the heart of Tuscan winemaking excellence.

Decanter (95)

Fabio Motta is one of the best performers in Bolgheri among the small producers of the next generation. Almost ready with his new winery, it represents a kind of garagiste in the appellation. He ferments all the wines with natural yeast and manages careful extraction and maceration. His original blend for Le Gonnare sees an addition of Syrah to complete the 85% of Merlot and is aged in 1/3 new French oak barriques. Intense and perfumed it shows kiwi peel and cedar wood aromas, loaded with restrained cassis and bitter orange flavour. The attack is dense and ripe with elegant texture and chewy tension on the finish.

Wine Advocate (95)

Angelo Gaja and his daughter Gaia Gaja don't make Bolgheri Superiore wines, although this wine qualifies as such. The 2013 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda shows the pedigree of the vintage and the importance this top shelf wine deserves. This is an exceptional blend of Merlot with Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc that is challenging to taste next to the 2014 Magari, which is so radically different. Camarcanda reveals Gaja's signature touch with full and generous fruit layers that are backed by spice, leather, tobacco and lovely succulence. The wine is integrated and smooth with long-lasting favors and beautiful tannin management. Despite its heft, the wine is elegant and silky through and through.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is another beautiful creation from the Gaja family. The 2016 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda (Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc) is infinitely smooth and finely textured down to the very last pixel in what is a high-resolution panoramic photograph. The core of the wine is packed tight with an explosion of flavor and concentration with so much dark fruit, spice, tobacco and sweet tobacco that unfurls from deep inside. This wine will have a long and, I am quite sure, very happy aging future ahead. It shows utmost precision and balance, with long persistence and a beautifully polished texture. Some 22,000 bottles were made.

Vinous (95+)

The 2017 Camarcanda is rich and heady in the glass, with all of the natural radiance of the vintage on full display. Ripe, racy and exotic in its beauty, the 2017 is a prototypical modern Maremma red. Generous fruit, racy contours and lifted savory notes add to its considerable allure. It, too, is arresting in its beauty. The 2017 offers plenty of voluptuousness, but with no excess weight. I loved it. Production is down 40% because of the low production of the year and then severe selection.

Wine Advocate (97)

This is a gorgeous vintage that continues to flesh out beautifully. I added an extra point to my score since the last time I tasted the 2019 Bolgheri Rosso Camarcanda in order to underline the great potential of this vintage. This wine could legally be a Bolgheri Superiore, but Angelo Gaja prefers not to use qualifying wine terms such as Superiore, Classico or Riserva in his various wine projects spanning from Piedmont to Tuscany to Etna. Semantics aside, this is a gorgeous wine—one of the best made at Ca' Marcanda for sure—with impressive intensity and balance. Dark fruit and blackberry are contrasted against spice, tobacco, grilled rosemary and Mediterranean bramble. The 2019 vintage saw favorable weather conditions and "just the right amount of rain," Gaja says.

The Wine Independent (96)

Camarcanda is the flagship Cabernet blend from Gaja’s Bolgheri estate Ca’Marcanda. The 2020 starts off with a distinctive nose of bright, leafy, blackberry and blackberry-leaf aromas. Fresh, sappy and juicy on the palate, the 2020 seems joyfully expressive of Cabernet Franc in particular. It is perhaps a little less concentrated in the middle, but I love the purity and transparency of the flavors. There is a fine cocoa, smoky, dark flavor on the finish and the tannins are very refined. A charming wine with a certain fragility that adds to its charm and great purity of flavor and aroma.