JJB: $39.94 *
Tenuta San Guido’s 2023 ‘Le Difese’ has recently come across our desk, and it’s a wonderful example of what this team accomplished in the vintage. The legendary producer of Sassicaia makes only a handful of wines, and since the early 2000s, ‘Le Difese’ has brought together Cabernet from their Bolgheri estate with Sangiovese from Chianti. With its bigger sibling notching 100pts from Wine Advocate for 2023, that same deft hand is very much on display here. A wet spring reduced yields across much of Tuscany, but a warm summer and dry fall ultimately delivered a beautifully balanced edition of ‘Le Difese’.
Tenuta San Guido has always been “the most restrained of Bolgheri’s super-stars” (Vinous), not just in its winemaking approach, but also in the focus and consistency of the range. The estate appears to be operating at an exceptionally high level as it approaches the 60th anniversary of its first commercial vintage in 1968. ‘Le Difese’ in particular has been a standout in recent years, and for critic Kerin O’Keefe, this 2023 is “the best vintage I’ve had to date of this wine.”
93 points, Wine Enthusiast: “The nose is bright and crunchy with berry aromas of wild cherry, wild strawberry, potting soil, terracotta, orange zest and tea leaf. Sweet strawberries and raspberries headline the palate alongside red plums and more tangy citrus, plus a balancing note of Earl Grey tea which is fortified by firm, insistent tannins. I always find this to be an exceptional experience.”
93 points, JebDunnuck.com: “The nose is fresh and pure, with a juicy, floral perfume of fresh red berries, violets, and wet stone. It’s fresh and inviting on the palate, with the very pretty elegance that the Sangiovese brings with its more defined structure and refreshing feel. This is a fabulous entry wine to drink over the coming 8-10 years.”
93 points, Kerin O’Keefe: “The 2023 Le Difese is terrific and the best vintage I’ve had to date of this wine. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, it has lovely aromas of Mediterranean scrub, lavender and sea breeze while the smooth, delicious palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, cassis, star anise and black tea. Velvety tannins and fresh acidity keep it balanced. Round and juicy and made for early pleasure, it will also give several years of sheer enjoyment.”
*Offer publication date June 3, 2026. Pricing and availability subject to change.
