Wine Reviews

I’ve always been drawn to so-called “second wines” (aka the little brother to the estate’s star wine), both because I love an underdog and because it’s objectively more likely to be impressed when your expectations are lowered and your guard is down. Tenuta San Guido’s Le Difese always punches above its weight, but in 2022 it’s a knock out.

The 2023 Le Difese is a gorgeous wine from Tenuta San Guido. Fresh, aromatic and inviting, the 2023 is all charm. Floral notes meld into a core of crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and white pepper. Medium in body and gracious, Le Difese is an absolute delight.

The 2022 Le Difese is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, succulent red cherry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange all race across the palate. This exuberant yet mid-weight coastal Tuscan red is a total pleasure bomb. The 2022 is an especially fine edition. It benefits from a warm year – which can be a positive for entry-level wines – earlier bottling and selection. Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (both estate and non-estate sites)

A bright, fragrant and fruity wine with aromas of red cherries, violets and forest floor. Juicy and crisp on the palate, with a light to medium body and chalky tannins. Medium length and very fragrant.

A tangy raspberry and pomegranate attack is followed by some ripe dark fruits wrapped in soft, open-knit tannins.