Tenuta San Guido’s Le Difese Toscana IGT 2024 comes from the Bolgheri estate best known for Sassicaia, one of the original Cabernet-led “Super Tuscans.” First made in 2002, Le Difese is positioned as the estate’s more accessible red, built for earlier drinking while still reflecting the house style. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Tenuta San Guido’s Bolgheri vineyards and Sangiovese sourced from elsewhere in Tuscany; fermentation is reported in temperature-controlled stainless steel, followed by maturation in a mix of French and American oak.

The 2024 vintage is also notable for how much Sangiovese is in the mix. Decanter reports that Le Difese 2024 uses “bought-in Sangiovese from family and friend estates in Chianti and Chianti Rufina – 75% of the blend in 2024.” In Decanter’s view, that sourcing and the season combine to shape a cooler-toned expression: the wine “perfectly reflects the cooler, rainier growing season, resulting in gentle aromatics and wonderful freshness.” They highlight “crushed red and black berries” and “chalky tannins,” calling it “a poised and juicy sip,” while noting it is “soft yet hemmed in a bit by its structure,” with the practical advice: “Give it a few more months then enjoy.”

James Suckling also awarded an excellent 92-point review, emphasizing immediacy and lift. He describes “a fresh and crunchy red with aromas of plums, cherries, light chocolate and cinnamon,” with “a medium body with fine tannins and a crisp finish.” He also notes a “tangy” profile with “a touch of orange peel,” concluding it is “a delicious and satisfying glass of Tuscany red,” and adds the positioning plainly: “The second wine of Sassicaia. Drink now.”

Overall, Le Difese 2024 reads as a fresh, medium-bodied Tuscan red where bright fruit, fine tannin, and measured structure are the main themes, with top-end critical reception supporting its value in the San Guido lineup.