The 2007 Guado al Tasso screams of Bolgheri. Sweet grilled herbs, mocha, spices and black cherry jam are woven into a generous, expansive frame. There is a wonderful sense of richness and warmth to the fruit that carries through to the round harmonious finish, where clean, minerally notes add freshness. This is simply gorgeous today, but it is young, and the oak needs to integrate. Still, it is impossible not to admire the 2007 Guado al Tasso. In 2007 Guado al Tasso is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The late ripening Cabernet Franc, used in place of Syrah for the first time in 2007, adds a measure of freshness that had often been missing in previous vintages.

What a powerful nose. Fresh herbs, currants, cassis, minerals, orange peel, pepper, and a rosemary character. A full bodied wine with minerals, dried herbs, currants, and hints of lightly toasted oak. This is very precise, powerful, and gorgeous. Immense complexity with a very, very long finish. Fabulous and balanced right now but could still use more bottle age. This may turn out to be the best release yet. Don't touch this until 2015.”

This year saw Cabernet Franc used in the blend for the first time. Compared to 1998 tasted before, the 2007 is much more balsamic and leafy in character, with intensity and energy. Spicy in the mouth, it's a refined sip with super-fine, sandy tannins and vertical shape.

(a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot; 14.5% alcohol) Dark ruby. Complex nose offers lively aromas of cassis, dry herbs and tobacco, nicely complicated by vanilla and sexy oak. Lush and sweet on entry, but with extremely good definition and lift to the flavors of spicy blackberry, coffee, black pepper and mocha. The juicy, complex, extremely long finish features smooth, sweet tannins that expand with air. An extremely impressive wine that may not be as long-lived as some previous vintages, but is, for my money, the best Guado al Tasso ever. Very well done.

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Notably dark ruby. Really nice evolution on the nose, with some freshness. Then, yet again, sweetness on palate entry but the tannins seem to have resolved themselves. I could relish this with a bowl of spaghetti amatriciana – or other powerful, hearty dish. (JR)