Guado al Melo
Bolgheri Criseo Bianco 2023
| Denomination | DOC Bolgheri Bianco |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Area | Tuscany (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 70% Vermentino, Fiano, Manzoni Bianco, Petit Manseng, Verdicchio Bianco |
| Aging | After fermentation, ageing on fine lees for about 12 months in stainless steel with frequent bâtonnage, followed by about 12 months of bottle ageing. |
Description
What kind of wine it is
Criseo Bianco by Guado al Melo is a still wine with Bolgheri designation, co-fermented in steel and aged on the lees, embodying the essence of the region. This blend is created from the union of Vermentino, Fiano, Manzoni Bianco, Petit Manseng and Verdicchio, varieties selected to produce a structured profile capable of standing the test of time. On the nose, it offers a complex aromatic bouquet, where notes of grapefruit, tropical fruit, sage and white flowers blend with evolved hints of saffron, bread crust and flint. On the palate, it reveals a savoury and fresh structure, with a dense and deep sip, distinguished by an elegant mineral persistence.
Where it comes from
The grapes are grown in the Campo Bianco vineyard, located on the slopes of the Segalari hill in Castagneto Carducci. This area benefits from an ideal microclimate within Bolgheri, tempered by constant sea breezes. The altitude and exposure ensure marked temperature variations, essential for preserving the aromatic finesse of the grape varieties. The vines grow on deep alluvial soils, characterised by a sandy-clay texture and an abundant presence of pebbles, elements that give the wine a distinctive savoury and vibrant character.
How it is produced
Production follows the practice of field blending, with the simultaneous manual harvesting of the different varieties during the early hours of the morning. After gentle pressing and cold settling of the must, co-fermentation in steel takes place, a process that allows the peculiarities of each grape variety to be integrated from the outset. The wine matures on fine lees for about twelve months, with frequent bâtonnage aimed at increasing volume and complexity. This is followed by a lengthy final ageing that defines the harmony and stylistic precision of the sip.
History and Curiosities
The name Criseo literally means “made of gold” and embodies the artisanal vision of the Guado al Melo winery. This prestigious white wine originates from the Campo Bianco vineyard in Bolgheri, where the grapes grow in harmony as a field blend. Harvested simultaneously in the coolest hours of the morning to enhance their aromatic synergy, the grapes undergo a co-fermentation in steel and a long maturation on the lees with bâtonnage. The result is a wine of authentic charm, the product of minimal oenological intervention, awarded 90 points by James Suckling.
Awards
-
2023
90/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
-
2023
3One of the most prestigious wine guides in Italy.
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2023
3Italian Sommelier Association (AIS) guide
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
12 - 14 °C
Longevity:
03 - 05 years
- Start up year: 1999
- Oenologist: Michele Scienza
- Bottles produced: 120.000
- Hectares: 15
Historical figures and documents report that these areas have been cultivated as vineyards at least since the mid-1800s. They were part of a great estate that with the 20th century was broken up, with the parcels passing from hand to hand until they arrived in our hands in 1998.
This passage of properties had left this particular parcel without a name. Examining historical maps, we discovered the toponym "Guado al Melo," or Ford at the Apple Tree, which was a ford across the Fossa di Bolgheri stream that forms the Northern boundary of our property. And thus Guado al Melo it became, testifying to our bond with the area. In 1999, we re-planted the vineyards, and in 2005 we completed the construction of the current wine cellar. Read more
| Name | Guado al Melo Bolgheri Criseo Bianco 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | White green still |
| Denomination | Bolgheri DOC |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.0% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 70% Vermentino, Fiano, Manzoni Bianco, Petit Manseng, Verdicchio Bianco |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Vendor | Guado al Melo |
| Story | History and Curiosities The name Criseo literally means "made of gold" and embodies the artisanal vision of the Guado al Melo winery. This prestigious white wine originates from the Campo Bianco vineyard in Bolgheri, where the grapes grow in harmony as a field blend. Harvested simultaneously in the coolest hours of the morning to enhance their aromatic synergy, the grapes undergo a co-fermentation in steel and a long maturation on the lees with bâtonnage. The result is a wine of authentic charm, the product of minimal oenological intervention, awarded 90 points by James Suckling. |
| Origin | Vigna Campo Bianco, on the lower slopes of the Segalari hill in Bolgheri (Tuscany) |
| Climate | Mediterranean climate mitigated by sea breezes |
| Soil composition | Fine sandy-clay soil, moderately rich in pebbles (of alluvial origin) |
| Harvest | The grapes are all harvested together, at a moment that is perfect for the synergy of the different varieties, during the coolest hours of the morning. |
| Fermentation | About a year |
| Production technique | Traditional co-fermentation (field blend) in stainless steel with ageing on the lees and bâtonnage |
| Wine making | Harvesting of the different varieties together during the coolest hours of the morning; selection and destemming; gentle pressing; clarification of the must by spontaneous precipitation with overnight settling at low temperature; co-fermentation in stainless steel tanks; ageing on fine lees for about 12 months in steel with frequent bâtonnage, followed by about 12 months of bottle ageing. |
| Aging | After fermentation, ageing on fine lees for about 12 months in stainless steel with frequent bâtonnage, followed by about 12 months of bottle ageing. |
| Total acidity | 5.8 gr/L |
| Residual sugar | 1.0 gr/L |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |