Belguardo Tenuta featured image
Belguardo Tenuta 2021
Vintage
2021
Region
Maremma, Tuscany
Country
Italy
Style
Still
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
ABV
14%
Dietary
Vegan, Vegetarian
Sustainability
-
Belguardo
Belguardo is a Tuscan wine estate in Maremma, Italy, owned by the Mazzei family and located between Grosseto and Montiano, close to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Known for Vermentino, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Mediterranean red blends. Belguardo brings the Mazzei family’s long winemaking experience into one of Tuscany’s most dynamic coastal regions. The estate’s combination of sea influence, sandstone and limestone-rich soils, south to south-west exposures and research-led vineyard work gives Belguardo a distinctive place within modern Tuscan wine.
Read MoreViticulture
Belguardo Tenuta 2021 is sourced from vineyards in Loc. Montebottigli, in the municipality of Grosseto. The vines are planted at 70 to 130 metres above sea level, with a south to south-west exposure. Soils are mainly sandstone, supporting drainage, concentration and aromatic depth. The vines are 24 years old, trained using both spur cordon and Guyot systems, and planted at a density of 6,600 vines per hectare. This coastal Tuscan site supports structured, ripe and balanced red wines.
Vinification
Cabernet Franc was hand-picked on 12 September, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon from 22 September. Fermentation took place at 28 to 30?C, with 16 days of maceration to build structure, colour and depth. The wine was aged for 18 months in small 225-litre French oak barrels, 70% new, followed by four months of finishing in concrete tanks. It was bottled in May 2024, combining oak-aged complexity with concrete-refined balance.
2021
The 2021 season followed an autumn and winter with typical temperatures and good rainfall, building strong water reserves. A cold spring snap and frost on 7 and 8 April damaged some developed buds, particularly Sangiovese, Vermentino and Syrah, reducing fruiting in some areas. From May, vines recovered with favourable bud development and flowering. July and August brought heat, before 28mm of rain on 24 August restored diurnal range and supported final ripening. The vintage was rated very good.
Tasting Note
Belguardo Tenuta 2021 is full-bodied and seductive, with dark spice aromas and a deep, enveloping profile. The palate is structured and polished, showing ripe dark fruit, savoury spice and well-integrated oak. Its texture is broad and composed, supported by the concentration and phenolic balance of the vintage. The finish is long, smooth and persistent, with dark fruit, spice and refined Tuscan coastal character carrying through.
Food Pairing
Pair with aged cold cuts, grilled steak, roast lamb, mildly spiced dishes, middle-aged cheeses, braised beef, mushroom rag?, venison or chargrilled vegetables.
Bottle Shots - Belguardo Tenuta 2021
