il Bruciato Bolgheri Rosso

Il Bruciato Bolgheri Rosso is a Cabernet Sauvignon–based red blend from Tuscany's Bolgheri DOC, bottled at 14% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Produced at Marchesi Antinori's Tenuta Guado al Tasso estate, this wine earned 93 points from Jeb Dunnuck for the 2022 vintage and consistently scores above 90 points across major publications.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14%  |  Origin: Bolgheri DOC, Tuscany, Italy  |  Style: Super Tuscan Red Blend  |  Estate: Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Marchesi Antinori)

Production & Heritage

Tenuta Guado al Tasso sits along the Tuscan coast near the village of Bolgheri, owned by the Antinori family — one of Italy's oldest winemaking dynasties, active since 1385. Il Bruciato debuted in 2002, a particularly challenging vintage at the estate, conceived to express the unique coastal terroir of Bolgheri through an accessible, earlier-drinking red. The traditional blend centers on Cabernet Sauvignon (around 65%) with Merlot (20%) and Syrah (15%), though recent vintages like 2023 incorporate Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for added complexity. Fermentation and maceration take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for 15 to 20 days at 28–30°C, with a portion of the Merlot and Syrah musts kept at lower temperatures to preserve each variety's distinctive aromatics. The wine then ages for at least six months in French oak barriques before release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark berry compote and blackcurrant lead, followed by leather, espresso, and a subtle thread of vanilla. Beneath those primary notes, violet and a faint mentholated lift add aromatic depth.

Taste: The entry is ripe and fruit-forward — black cherry, blackberry, and blueberry — before the mid-palate shifts toward savory territory with olive, Mediterranean herbs, and iron. At its peak the wine shows a full-bodied, mouth-filling texture balanced by fresh acidity, with licorice and rosemary emerging alongside firm but integrated tannins.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering notes of tobacco, dark spice, and earthy minerality. A gentle warmth carries the fruit through to a clean, satisfying close.

How to Drink Il Bruciato

Pour at 16–18°C and allow 20 to 30 minutes of air to let the aromatics fully open; a brief decant rewards the effort. Il Bruciato's structure and herbal undertones also make it a strong foundation for red wine cocktails: a Kalimotxo works if you want an approachable summer serve that plays off the berry fruit; a New York Sour benefits from its tannic backbone and dark-fruit density; and a Sangria Roja with citrus and brandy complements the wine's native Mediterranean herb character.

Best For

• Introducing a curious drinker to Bolgheri and Super Tuscan wines
• Pairing with a Saturday night Italian dinner at home
• Gifting a Tuscan wine lover who already knows Chianti Classico
• Building a cellar entry point from the Antinori portfolio

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Il Bruciato taste like? Il Bruciato delivers concentrated black cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant flavors layered with leather, licorice, rosemary, and a savory herbal undertone. The tannins are firm but balanced by ripe fruit and fresh acidity, resulting in a full-bodied yet approachable red.

How does Il Bruciato compare to Guado al Tasso? Il Bruciato is often described as the "young brother" of Guado al Tasso, the estate's flagship Bolgheri Superiore bottling. Where Guado al Tasso undergoes longer oak aging and commands a significantly higher price, Il Bruciato is designed for earlier drinking and offers an accessible introduction to the same coastal Tuscan terroir.

Is Il Bruciato good for sipping on its own? Yes — its ripe fruit, balanced tannins, and herbal complexity make it rewarding to drink neat, particularly after a short decant or 20 minutes in the glass to let the aromatics develop.

Where is Il Bruciato made? Il Bruciato is produced at Tenuta Guado al Tasso, a Marchesi Antinori estate located in the Bolgheri DOC along the Tuscan coast in western Italy. The vineyards benefit from a warm Mediterranean climate moderated by sea breezes.

What foods pair well with Il Bruciato? Grilled lamb chops complement the wine's herbal, savory notes. Aged pecorino cheese mirrors its tannic structure and earthy finish. Wild boar ragù over pappardelle matches the wine's weight and dark-fruit intensity. Rosemary-roasted beef tenderloin echoes the herbal aromatics. Eggplant parmigiana bridges the fruit sweetness and savory depth.

What sizes does Il Bruciato come in? Il Bruciato is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle and is also produced in a 1.5L magnum format in select vintages.

Is Il Bruciato worth the price? Il Bruciato positions as an entry-level expression from one of Bolgheri's most prestigious estates, delivering 90-plus-point quality at a fraction of the cost of the flagship Guado al Tasso. Within the broader Bolgheri Rosso category, it represents strong value for the level of pedigree and consistency it brings.

Why Il Bruciato?

Few Bolgheri Rosso wines carry this combination of critical consistency and estate pedigree. Backed by the Antinori family's six centuries of winemaking heritage and produced from the same coastal vineyards that yield Guado al Tasso, Il Bruciato punches well above its weight class — the 2022 vintage alone earned 93 points from Jeb Dunnuck, 91 from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and 91 from Decanter. The deliberate low-temperature fermentation of Merlot and Syrah musts preserves aromatic freshness that many competitors in this price tier sacrifice for extraction. For anyone seeking a serious Tuscan red that doesn't require years of cellaring to enjoy, Il Bruciato delivers immediate reward with genuine Bolgheri character.