Tenuta Belguardo was purchased in the 1990s after the Mazzei family identified the potential for producing quality wines on the estate. In line with their philosophy of innovation, the family implemented an intense re-planting programme, carefully selecting grape varieties and clones. The estate is situated in the Maremma between the hills of Grosseto and Montiano, and within the official Morellino di Scansano viticultural zone. The estate is only 10km from the coast which plays an important role in the microclimate of the vineyards which cover 60 hectares and are planted with Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante, Vermentino, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and other indigenous varieties.
Vineyards location: 70-130 m (230-426 ft) a.s.l.; S-SW exp.
Soil: Mainly Sandstone
Vineyards age: 20 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training and Guyot
Nr. of vines per hectare: 6,600
Harvest: Hand picked from August 26th (Cabernet Franc),
September 7th (Cabernet Sauvignon)
Fermentation temperature: 28 – 30° C
Period of maceration: 16 days
Ageing: 18 months in small french oak barrels (225 lt / 70% new)
Finissage: 4 months in concrete tanks
Bottling: December 2019
The 2017 vintage will be remembered for its unusual and extraordinary adverse weather conditions.
At the end of 2016 the amount of the rainfall was almost near zero: below 10-15 mm at the end of 2016 and 10 mm at the beginning of 2017, with a climate particularly cold and strong northern winds. In spring there were mild temperatures and very little rainfall, which favoured the early budding. May brought an increase in the temperatures above the seasonal averages, which culminated in August with peaks above 40 ° C. The plants responded positively to these conditions of poor watering, also thanks to the careful and accurate management of the vineyards and the soil, including the use of drip irrigation in the vineyards. The analyses showed a technological maturation about 10 days earlier the seasonal average, with grapes perfectly healthy.
Beginning of the harvest: 21 August
End of the harvest: 13 September
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 91 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 2348°C
Evaluation: Good
Classic notes of ripe red fruits associated with Maremma, combine with notes of blackberries and dark spice. This wine has an impressive structure with a full body and a very long and perfumed finish.
Steak, roast beef, lightly spicy foods, venison, cheese.
James Suckling 93 pts
Falstaff 92 pts
Decanter 90 pts
Maremma, Tuscany
85% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Cabernet Franc
Natural Cork
13.94%
5.74 g/l
Yes
Yes
