Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
Learn More About Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Through its Reviews.
2020 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
97 Pointz James Suckling
“A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus, and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured, and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027.”
97 Pointz Vinous
The 2020 Sassicaia is a bold, rapturous wine. Dark, fleshy, and expansive on the palate, the 2020 offers up scents of blackberry jam, gravel, spice, new leather, licorice, and crème de cassis. Potent tannins are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. Sassicaia is never a huge wine, the 2020 does seem to have an extra dimension of textural intensity. It's an intensity that is hugely appealing. Estate Manager Carlo Paoli describes 2020 as a year with a long, rainy winter and a cold spring. "Temperatures warmed up in the middle of June," he explained. "July was very hot, but heat moderated in August. Even so, it was a year in which ripeness moved quickly, as opposed to 2021 when ripeness was more gradual. We picked the entire estate in 22 days instead of the 29-30 that is more typical." The 2020 spent 15-18 days on the skins, followed by 25 months in French oak, 50% new. Production is down about 30% because of selection in the vineyard.
97 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Complex aromas and flavors of black currant, blackberry, iron, sweet tobacco, and Mediterranean herbs are the hallmarks of this elegant, tensile red, which is already revealing plenty, yet still feels reserved, as though there were many more facets to be discovered. Superb harmony, freshness, and a long aftertaste prevail. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2045.”
96 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2020 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri speaks to those who seek a more voluptuous, opulent, and, ultimately, more accessible wine. This vintage is a precise reflection of Coastal Tuscany, as opposed to a more generic "Tuscan" wine from elsewhere in this large central Italian region. You taste the ripeness and soft fruit weight that comes from a coastal appellation with especially bright luminosity and warm Mediterranean offshore breezes. Sassicaia from the cool vintages is a famously reticent or withholding wine in its earliest years, requiring a long lead time before it eases into an ideal drinking window. That's definitely not the case here. This wine is beautiful and compelling straight out of the gate, showing a lovely mix of dark fruit, oak spice, balanced freshness, textural richness, soft tannins, and an expertly contained 14% alcohol content. The wine's immediate character is what distinguishes this vintage, and I wouldn't get too fussed by exaggerated cellar-aging ambitions. The wine awards sheer pleasure in its current form, with dazzling primary fruit and soaring intensity over the near and medium term.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“Frosts damaged the the earlier-developing Cabernet Franc in late March, leading to reduced production but superb quality fruit. Spring was mild and summer was generally warm, but a rapid acceleration of maturation in late summer forced the team to begin picking in the first week of September to avoid any overripeness. A traditional 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc blend, its blackcurranty, dusty, leafy, and cedary character is brought into focus by an intense and balsamic palate. It's poised and light on its feet with super-fresh acidity and a fine-grained, almost imperceptible tannic structure. Ripe and tangy raspberry and blueberry fruits linger on the mid-palate, leading to a long, fresh finish with some cream and chocolate notes. This will reward cellaring into the 2050s, yet you'll get plenty of pleasure from it in its youth. 'We advise to keep it at least 10 months in the bottle before opening,' states third-generation Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta.”
2019 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
99 Pointz James Suckling
“The purity of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit is exceptional here, with character and sensibility that’s reminiscent of some of the great Sassicaias from the 1980s, such as 1982 or 1988. But this is much more precise and clean. Aromas and flavors of currants and berries with cedar and earth. Sage and minty character, too. It’s full-bodied yet there’s so much polish and balance, together with structure, elegance, and refinement. Hard not to drink at this stage, yet give it time and respect. This will be a classic Sass and reminds me why I love this wine.”
99 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
#2 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022
“Enticing aromas of blue flower, cassis, camphor, and spice are front and center in this stunning red. The lithe, savory palate features black currant, red plum, and star anise while tobacco notes linger on the long finish. Elegant, polished tannins and bright acidity keep it beautifully balanced and focused.”
98 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Sassicaia is exquisite and refined, with interwoven layers of cassis, leather, Mediterranean herbs, and dark mineral earth. It is medium to full-bodied, with ripe though present tannins and a long and elegant finish that lifts off the palate and has fantastic energy throughout, with notes of black cherry, tobacco, and a stony texture. There is a classic and tension-filled sensibility that will benefit from several years in cellar to achieve its full expression.”
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The latest release from Tenuta San Guido is the 2019 Bolgheri Sassicaia. The bouquet is up front and very expressive from the get-go. It offers a generous display of crunchy, dark cherry that hints at the extra concentration and fruit weight obtained in the 2019 growing season. This vintage will be remembered for the crisp richness of the fruit and its important textural imprint. It also shows fine elegance, bordering on the ethereal, with berry aromas, tarry earth, and brushes of balsam herb or grilled rosemary. Sassicaia always shows an almost-glossy finely knit quality to the polished mouthfeel, and I find it again here next to fresh acidity and firm tannins. Mouthfeel in 2019 is the wine's strongest suit. The 2019 is one of the prettiest and most balanced editions of Sassicaia we've seen this past decade, along with the back-to-back duo of 2016 and 2015. The 2019 marries the precision of the 2016 with the rich fruit weight of the 2015.”
98 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
“Supple and beautifully defined, with black cherry, black currant, and blackberry fruit augmented by tobacco, iron, and thyme. Firmly structured, tightening up as this lingers with an aftertaste of dark fruit, graphite, and spice. Shows a sense of elegance as well as power and intensity.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
100 Pointz Decanter
“Sassicaia 2019 spent 25 months in oak (one-third new). ‘We are going longer in oak in the past few years,’ said Carlo Paoli, managing director of Tenuta San Guido. Quite pale in the glass, the nose is extremely graceful and intense with a lavender note enhanced by restrained bramble fruits, fermented citrus peel, an intense violet aroma, and graphite minerality in depth. The attack is soft and full, the flavor savoury and cedary through to the finish, with integrated velvety tannins and lifted acidity. A perfectly woven structure is bound with signature freshness and fruit vibrancy, making this one for the long haul.”
2018 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
98 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“All about radiance and finesse, this iconic Tuscan red has beguiling aromas of cedar, wild red berry, menthol, and pipe tobacco that mingle with fragrant blue flowers. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the focused, elegantly structured palate is vibrant and savory, delivering cassis, orange zest, licorice, and a hint of coffee framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and balanced.”
97 Pointz James Suckling
“Beautiful, serene aromas of sweet berries and wild flowers with light lavender and fresh sage. Really aromatic. A firm, silky red with medium to full body and ultra fine tannins that are polished and beautiful. Lots of blue fruit and blackberries follow through to a beautiful finish. Really tight and polished. Bright acidity. Will be lovely to drink in a few years. The 2017 and 2016 were about power, but the 2018 is about finesse and subtlety. Try after 2024.”
97 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“This is a classic vintage of an Italian icon now celebrating its 50th vintage. The 2018 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri lays out a familiar blueprint that borrows from the proven track record of this landmark estate that extends into the hills just beyond the Tyrrhenian shores of Tuscany. This vintage is crystalline and pure in its delivery, and if you are familiar with previous editions, it is impossible to mistake this wine for anything but Sassicaia.”
97 Pointz Vinous
“The 2018 Sassicaia is fabulous. Bright and beautifully poised, the 2018 opens with brilliant aromatics that make a strong first impression. Delicate and light on its feet, the 2018 is a regal wine that is going to need a number of years to come into its own. Sassicaia is the most finessed of Bolgheri’s top wines. That is very much the case in 2018 as well. I loved it.”
96 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
“Refined and complex, this red is all about finesse and restraint, starting out with floral and black currant flavors that build steadily on the palate, with olive, cedar, tobacco, and spice notes adding detail as this lingers on the terrific finish. Needs five to seven years to fully emerge.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“Star bright raspberry in colour, this has an elegance and a sense of lift right from the start - a beautifully balanced, finessed, and classical Sassicaia. The freshly cut and dried herbs of great Italian wines reveals themselves through the slow build up across the palate, along with gentle tobacco and liquorice notes. This is juicy and elegant, showing passion fruit and raspberry with an undertow of complexity. One to savour.”
17.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“Initially quite scented, then strangely closed a little in the glass. Subtle tones of cedar, vanilla, and dried tobacco, with precision of fresh blackcurrant and a hint of black cherry. There’s an underlying graphite and stone/mineral complexity too. Juicy palate – certainly good acidity here – and a comparatively moderate tannic load, both of which work in harmony to structure the wine. The tannins are fine grained, without the somewhat pinched texture I saw in the 2017 vintage, though will nevertheless benefit from a little cellaring to resolve to a silky finesse. At about three-quarter distance there’s just a hint of wateriness, but then the delicate flavour does persist to a very good-length finish. This is certainly Sassicaia in the elegant and subtle mould v 2017’s more powerful iteration. It would be interesting to evaluate these two side by side in a few years.”
2017 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“Aromas of exotic spice, baked plum, and French oak mingle with camphor and blue flower on the nose. This boasts extraordi-nary elegance and freshness despite the hot vintage, delivering flavors of juicy Marasca cherry, spiced blueberry, tobacco, and licorice. Velvety, fine-grained tannins provide support while coffee and crushed mint linger on the finish.”
96 Pointz James Suckling
“The balance and beauty to this is impressive, offering sweet, ripe currants and flowers with some crushed-stone and dry-earth undertones. Full-bodied with soft, polished tannins and a long, creamy-textured finish. It’s polished, yet concentrated.”
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
“A taut, densely wrought red, with black currant, black cherry, iron, wild herb, and spice flavors matched to the elegant frame and restrained character. Balanced and long, this has a distinctly Old World feel and looks set to unravel its complex facets slowly. Terrific length.”
94 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2017 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a fascinating wine that symbolizes a never-ending tug-of-war between vintner and vintage. The question is who comes out on top? In this case, my money is on the vintner. The 2017 vintage, characterized by scorching heat and drought across much of Italy, was not an easy one. However, vintners had ample time to prepare because those climatic challenges had already played out midway through the summer season. Vintners with experience such as that amassed at Tenuta San Guido (now on the eve of Sassicaia's 50th birthday celebration) knew exactly how to handle the tricky 2017 growing season. Fruit was harvested early to avoid any jammy sensations, and a strict selection process was employed in order to preserve the best clusters... The 2017 Sassicaia was expertly built to withstand a long aging future, yet only time will tell if the beauty of the bouquet will evolve at the same pace. This fascinating wine magically captures the hallmarks of cool-temperature winemaking in one of the hottest vintages in recent years. Vintners, not vintage, won this round.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“The 2017 Sassicaia shows the natural richness and intensity of the year while retaining its mid-weight sense of balance and overall poise. A burst of super-ripe red cherry/plum fruit makes a strong opening statement. Mocha, cinnamon, leather, and dried herbs appear later, adding aromatic lift. The 2017 is a fairly immediate Sassicaia. Even so, it has enough energy to drink well for a number of years. Production is down 35%, a combination of naturally low yields, dehydration on the vine, and then selection in the cellar. Most of the fruit comes from the estate’s hillside vineyards, older parcels that resisted the conditions better.”
94 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“Cooling breezes from the Tyrrhenian Sea brought relief to the drought- and heat-stricken vines at this estate in 2017, allowing the team at San Guido to produce a smooth and harmonious wine. It opens with a burst of fresh berries amplified by subtle notes of toasted vanilla and warm spice; a hint of orange peel brightens the finish. Approachable now for its sheer exuberance, the wine’s fresh acidity will carry it through a decade or more of cellaring.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“This 2017 Sassicaia is wonderfully fragrant on the nose, but it needs an hour or more to really open up. 2017 was a very difficult vintage mainly because it was so dry it didn't rain for most of the summer and for much of the spring. The vines were stressed, and a lot of fine tuning and management was needed in the vineyards and in the winery to get the best results. But what I love so much about this 2017 is that Carlo Paoli and the Tenuta San Guido team have done a brilliant job. There is a lovely harmony on the palate and a lovely mouth-watering freshness and acidity which is a signature of Sassicaia but more of a challenge in this vintage. There is a little dry twist to the tannins on the finish, but they are beautifully integrated into the rest of the wine and this after all is a signature of the 2017.”
2016 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
100 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Sassicaia is a wine of soaring achievement. I tasted this wine several times during the course of its creation in both barrel and bottle, and the highly deserved 100-point score you see here was enthusiastically assigned at the conclusion of a mini vertical in which I tasted and compared the 2016 vintage against 2015 (which I scored 97 points). It makes perfect sense to present these two excellent vintages in back-to-back comparison fashion because they are two of the best to emerge from Bolgheri, and indeed Tenuta San Guido, in recent memory. These are very similar vintages with long, hot summer months that fueled a long growing season. There was a bit more rain in 2016, and in analytical terms this vintage has a tad more acidity. That acidity will carry it long into the future as the wine completes its slow evolutionary course. This wine is chiseled and sharp with blackberry, ripe cherry, grilled herb, and barbecue spice. The aromas flow from the glass in a continuous stream and are all marked by radiant intensity. The mouthfeel is long and powerful. The crisp linearity of the wine's tannic backbone is perfectly measured to the volume and depth of the fruit flavors. To my mind, the 2016 Sassicaia stands tall next to the epic 1985 vintage that set the ultimate benchmark for vino italiano. Drink 2021-2050.”
98 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Aromas of cedar, tobacco, blue flower, and spiced plum fuse together in this elegantly structured, stunning red. One of Italy's most iconic wines, the smooth, compelling palate delivers flavors of black cherry, cassis, licorice, and a hint of wild herb. Taut, polished tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity lends impeccable balance. A savory saline note lingers on the finish.”
98 Pointz James Suckling
“The aromas are full of blue fruits and an underlying minerality. Hot stones and some rust to boot. Full-bodied yet refined and structured with compacted and tight tannins and an ultra-long finish. Savory and minerally at the end. Seamless texture. Great composure.”
97 Pointz Wine Spectator
A rich, black cherry– and black currant–flavored red, accented by cedar, wild herb, and spice notes, this is supple and vibrant, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit and an emerging mineral element. Firms up nicely on the finish. Hard to keep from enjoying this now, but it will develop nicely with age. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2043. 17,200 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”
96 Pointz Vinous
“The 2016 Sassicaia is a fabulous wine in the making. Powerful and concentrated, with huge tannic clout, the 2016 has so much to offer. Black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, and violet all pulse with energy in an explosive, thrilling Sassicaia that will drink well for several decades. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 is precise and beautifully polished, not to mention absolutely delicious. Don't miss it.”
95 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
“Coming from a long, hot, even growing season, the Cabernet Sauvignon dominated 2016 Sassicaia sports a deep purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of black and blue fruits, tobacco leaf, lead pencil, and plenty of minerality. This carries to a medium to full-bodied wine that has good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, a notable sense of purity and elegance, and plenty of grainy. This elegant, focused Sassicaia will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and drink nicely over the following two decades or more.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
100 Pointz Decanter
One of the secrets of Bolgheri’s mediterranean and windy climate is to turn pyrazines from the Cabernets into extra-dimensional scents of citron and leafy aromas. Sassicaia has been producing Cabernet-based wines here since 1968, which are typically marked by this fresh character on the nose. There's a note of kiwi peel that's particularly intense in this 2016, along with some cedar. In this vintage, its character is - if possible - more restrained than usual and definitely more so than the exceptional 2015. Small dark fruits lurk in the depth of the super-youthful nose, while on the palate the wine is not completely ready to drink - despite the good integration of oak, the tannins are still crunchy, perfectly ripe yet chewy, pushed by a lively acidity. An extremely elegant Sassicaia with a refined finish, this is built for the long haul and is possibly the best of this decade.”
2015 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
98 Pointz James Suckling
“Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon, and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense, and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia.”
97 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The long-awaited 2015 Bolgheri Sassicaia represents a tremendous effort that comes together with seamless precision and focus. This is a confident and proud red wine from Tuscany. Starting with the primary material at hand, you sense the quality of fruit thanks to the wine's beautifully dark appearance and the rich texture it offers to the palate. The acidity is integrated, but more freshness still would have been welcomed in my view (and would also contribute to its longevity). The bouquet is amplified both in terms of volume and length. Its playlist includes dark berry fruit, spice, leather, licorice, and roasted coffee bean. Yet, the mouthfeel is extremely graceful and silky. The wine's undisputed pedigree is showcased on the palate. It should also be noted that this edition of Sassicaia feels more ready and open to me. It will age and evolve beautifully, but the 2015 Sassicaia can also be enjoyed in the medium-term. This wine is all about the here and now.”
97 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“The warm and dry 2015 growing season produced some bold and beautiful wines from Bolgheri, and Sassicaia leads the pack. Fine-boned and silky, it radiates elegance and balance. Flavors of black cherry and raspberry are saturating yet seemingly weightless, warmed by lingering notes of licorice and subtle spice. The fruit has a very slight tartness that adds lift and suggests the grapes were picked at the perfect moment. The flavors continue to gain momentum and energy over several days, indicating the long life that lies ahead of this wine.”
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“This iconic wine’s blackberry, cedar, and vanilla aromas fill the glass. The elegant, structured palate delivers juicy black currant, black cherry, exotic spice, crushed herb, and menthol flavors alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. It boasts a fantastic combination of delicious, ripe fruits, balanced by remarkable freshness and agility for the hot vintage. Drink 2022-2035.”
97 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
Wine of the Year 2018
“Rich and concentrated this red features black currant, blackberry, violet, mineral, and spice flavors. Dense yet lively, structured yet impeccably balanced, with vibrant acidity driving the long, fruit-filled aftertaste. The oak is beautifully integrated. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
95 Pointz Vinous
“The 2015 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia is powerful and dense in the glass, with a level of concentration that is unusual. In most vintages, Sassicaia is a wine of restraint. Although the 2015 is by no means overdone, it exudes richness and textural resonance in all of its dimensions. A rush of black cherry, mocha, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, and underbrush builds as this powerful, creamy wine shows off its muscle.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
98 Pointz Decanter
“This is certainly an exceptional Sassicaia, with a sumptuous nose of ripe, creamy black and red fruit with cedar and spice notes. The colour is by no means dark (as is often the case with Sassicaia), and the impression on the palate is one of controlled power underpinned by gorgeous sweetness and flowing elegance. This is a very confident wine with real authority and presence, beginning with a magnificent attack of rich cassis and ripe griotte cherry followed by cigar box and leather notes, and a long finish of savoury bay leaf and minerals. It's deceptively structured, the tannins wonderfully ripe, creamy, and finely textured, while the juicy acidity also suggests that this wine has a very long life ahead of it. This 2015 exhibits everything that you’d want from Sassicaia - and more - because of its winning combination of winemaking savoir-faire, world-class terroir, old vine fruit, and an outstanding vintage. It is unarguably stunning.”
17++/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“Lustrous mid ruby. Ripe dark fruit reflecting this warm vintage but with intrinsic freshness and finely chiselled tannins.”
2014 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
95 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Aromas of red berry, blue flower, menthol, exotic spice, and a whiff of French oak take shape on this impeccably balanced radiant red. The palate is vibrant and focused-almost ethereal-delivering raspberry compote, Marasca cherry, star anise, and cinnamon framed in elegant tannins. Weightless and loaded with finesse, it’s an incredible result for what was a cool wet vintage in most of Italy. Drink through 2024.”
94 Pointz Wine & Spirits
Cooler-than-average temperatures in August 2014 favored the aroma development in this wine. Scents of dewy herbs and summer strawberries lead into flavors of taut red berries tinged with blood orange. Silky tannins carry the flavors over a cool sheet of acidity, leaving an impression of elegance rather than power. The wine fleshes out with exposure to air, revealing subtle spice notes along with a saline earthiness that recalls the wine’s coastal origins.
93 Pointz James Suckling
“Extremely aromatic with black currant, strawberry, and cherry. Some rosemary. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Bright acidity. It came from all the hillside vineyards. This shows lovely potential and balance. Delicate and fine. Much better than anticipated considering the cool and wet growing season in Tuscany.”
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“This is my official review of the 2014 Bolgheri Sassicaia after having been graciously invited to the estate for various barrel samples spanning back several years. I have watched the evolution of this wine with a close eye and am impressed by how its real quality is diametrically opposed to the poor expectations of this difficult vintage. The nose is redolent of bright fruit and blackberry. Spice, tar, and leather appear subtly at the back. The wine took on considerable weight each year I came back to taste it and this vintage was bottled earlier than average, precisely to give it more time to unwind and relax in the small confines of the bottle. This is a solid effort for sure and the wine is a stunning example of what it takes to make great wine, even when weather conditions are not in your favor.”
92 Pointz Wine Spectator
Distinctly Old World in style, this red boasts savory, cedar, and mineral accents to the core of black currant and macerated cherry fruit. Elegant and persistent, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit, spice, and mineral. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2019 through 2028. 17,200 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
93 Pointz Decanter
Relatively pale and limpid, this has a hauntingly beautiful aromatic quality of lilies, violet, cassis, and cherry, which in sum is utterly beguiling. In the mouth it is demure and delicious with bright succulent acidity and an almost Burgundian sweetness and structure, replete with filigree tannins. Here the fruit is youthful raspberries and red berries with a hint of savoury graphite and violet. In comparison to other, more broad shouldered, Sassicaia vintages such as the 2012, this is altogether more delicate and lacy, yet still retains great length and precision. This is not a Sassicaia for the ultra long haul and is so precociously good and drinkable now that it will take some resistance not to pull the cork sooner rather than later. That said, it would easily repay another decade in bottle..”
17.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“A difficult vintage that required more green harvest than normal and leaf plucking round the fruit in June because of disease pressure. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc. Fermented in tank with indigenous yeasts. 11-15 days' vatting (longer than usual). Aged 24 months in French oak. Bottled in the last week. I had the impression that owner Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta and importer Armit were being a little bit defensive about this vintage - pre-empting suggestions that it was a poor vintage. But I don't think they needed to be. Deep garnet. Smoky, dark, and restrained on the nose. Lots of cassis but also a lightly savoury/meaty Italianate quality. Rounded and just a little chewy. Very approachable on the palate but not very expressive on the nose. Lively, elegant, and long. Firm but not resistant tannins, finely textured. Rich fruit on the finish. Moderate length. Very fresh. Coming back to this after tasting the 2002 from magnum (the winemaker thought it was a good comparison to show the way a vintage similar to 2014 had aged), this seemed refined and elegant. Juicy and still dry on the finish. Very mouth-watering and makes you want to drink more. It may be a less powerful style than in some years but a significant achievement in 2014 in an attractive, balanced style.”
2013 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
98 Pointz James Suckling
“Fabulous structure for a Sassicaia with powerful, polished, chewy tannins and ripe, subtle fruit. Aromas of blueberry, black currant, rosemary, and lavender. Full body, bright acidity, and a savory finish. Juicy and lively. Better to drink this beginning in 2020 but so impressive now.”
98 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
Red berry, cedar, and light spice aromas lead the way on this dazzling red. The vibrant palate is loaded with finesse, delivering bright red currant, red raspberry, white pepper, and chopped herb alongside bright acidity and firm, polished tannins. Impeccably balanced, it's loaded with elegance, energy, and intensity but it's still young, so give it time to fully develop. Drink 2020–2038.”
97 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2013 Bolgheri Sassicaia is released 30 years after the death of Tenuta San Guido founder, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, and in the same year that his son Nicolò celebrated his 80th birthday. This is a wine of excellent execution, beautiful balance, and seamless intensity. The bouquet opens slowly to reveal delicate aromas of dark fruit and integrated spice that build in steady strength. That forward momentum, which is so specific to Sassicaia, is what ultimately brings us confidence in the wine's remarkable ageing potential. The mouthfeel delivers freshness and power, but in measured doses, with long and silky persistence. The 2013 vintage should be set aside for ten more years.”
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectibles
“A racy, tightly wound style, this red features violet, black currant, cherry, wild herb, spice, and mineral flavors matched to a dense, smooth texture. Shows finesse and intensity in a seemingly effortless manner. The aftertaste is long and focused. Should provide years of pleasure. Best from 2019 through 2035.”
92 Pointz Vinous
“The 2013 Sassicaia is a wine of grace and understatement. Silky, perfumed, and medium in body, the 2013 is one of the most delicate young Sassicaias I can remember tasting. At times, the 2013 does not taste much like a wine from Bolgheri at all. That is not positive nor negative, but simply an observation. Scents of lavender, sage, and menthol wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
99 Pointz Decanter
The Sassicaia 2013 is just beautiful, and it takes a leap forward in quality. There is even greater precision and transparency with the aromas and flavours, there is a wonderful harmony and ease on the palate and there are even finer, and more seamless tannins on this wine. According to my co-host, Priscilla Incisa Della Rocchetta 2013 was a 'record vintage for Sassicaia'. Carlo Paoli adds spring arrived early but without excess, summer started slowly and was only hot for 20 days and they started harvest mid-September for Cabernet Sauvignon. Everything was slow, calm, and beautiful.' The 2013 is at the beginning of its drinking window and drinking beautifully now, but it still has a long time to go.”
2012 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
99 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
One of Italy’s most iconic bottlings, the 2012 Sassicaia is drop-dead gorgeous. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, it boasts sensations of blue flowers, cedar, juicy red currants, ripe raspberries, white pepper, and a balsamic note. Structured, radiant, and loaded with finesse, it delivers everything you’d expect from a world-class wine and more. Drink 2018–2032.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
“Lots of lavender, minerals, and black currants on the nose. Turns to blackberries. Full body, ultra-refined tannins, and an exquisite finish. This is all about delicacy, finesse, and grace. Yet there is a solid core of ripe tannins giving it backbone and outstanding form. Just opening now. Very pretty.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“The 2012 Sassicaia is dark and immediate, with gorgeous up-front richness, density, and power. Black cherry jam, cloves, and new leather are some of the many signatures that take shape in the glass. The 2012 is an unusually deep, concentrated Sassicaia that is going to need time in bottle to develop the full breadth of its aromas and flavors. Today, it is a bit monolithic, so readers need to be patient.”
94 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“The summer of 2012 in Bolgheri was long and hot, but the cooler evening temperatures allowed Sassicaia to pull in a wine that shows plenty of ripeness while retaining vibrancy and freshness. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 15 percent Cabernet Franc, it shows a quiet confidence in the way it melds flavors of black currant and red raspberry with fresh thyme, toasted nuts, and the black spice it picked up from two years in French oak barrels. The texture is velvety, balanced by a streak of graphite and finely etched tannins robust enough to take on a seared steak.”
93 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Tenuta San Guido's newest release is the 2012 Bolgheri Sassicaia. This was a warm vintage, especially during summer months that saw hot winds and little rain. Thankfully, winter months delivered ample precipitation. Vines had good access to moisture underground. Production of the lower-tier wines was reduced: Le Difese was cut by 40% and Guidalberto by 30%. But Sassicaia’s production numbers remained stable at 200,000 bottles because all the estate’s best fruit was directed toward this product. Fruit was harvested a bit early to avoid problems with over ripeness. The wine presents a soft, velvety mouthfeel with plump cherry, fruity berry, blue flower, and spice. Perhaps it shows more simplicity overall, but it does so with an impressive sense of harmony and confidence. This is not one of the great vintages of Sassicaia, but the wine flaunts its considerable pedigree nonetheless. It should age gracefully for twenty years or more.”
93 Pointz Wine Spectator
“A rich and intense style, this exhibits flavors of vanilla, toast, and black cherry wrapped in stern tannins. A bit gruff overall, showing just a hint of the elegance and finesse on the lengthy finish. Needs some time.”
2011 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectibles
“Ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors pick up rosemary, mineral, and spice accents in this red, which is concentrated and intense, fresh and focused. Racy midpalate, this leans toward black currant and cedar notes on the solid finish.”
94 Pointz James Suckling
“Dark chocolate and supple red berry fruits on the nose with plenty of raspberry and cassis. The palate’s quite fine, juicy, and lithe with good balance, good drive, and great depth. Toasty oak builds through the finish, showing a strong earthy thread and a core of crisp tannin.”
94 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2011 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to a broad, yet very distinct audience. I am absolutely charmed by this vintage. Soft cherry and blackberry confit emerge from the bouquet in thick, luscious waves. Leather, spice, and tar play supporting roles. The wine offers a generous and expansive style. It also shows impressive balance and coherent inner integrity. This vintage certainly bears the hallmarks of a hot vintage, but it never feels overdone. It delivers volume, intensity, and rich texture. This Sassicaia is a wine of enormous craftsmanship.”
94 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Aromas suggest blackberry, cedar, and Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, notes of tobacco, licorice, exotic spice, and cranberry accent the juicy black-cherry core. It's well balanced and elegant, with silky tannins.”
93 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s
International Wine Cellar
“Full saturated ruby. Very pure, floral aromas of red cherry, blackberry, cassis, minerals, and minty herbs. Juicy, sweetly spicy, and multilayered, with strong but well-integrated acidity giving the wine lovely early balance and intensifying its dark fruit flavors. Broadens out impressively on the back half without losing its shape. This silky, very graceful Sassicaia might not be as long-lived as the most famous vintages of the past but is irresistible owing to its impeccable balance. 'Lovely' is the word that dominated my tasting note.”
93 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“Delicate floral aromas lead into sappy red and black cherry fruit flavors, with notes of caramelized orange, dark chocolate, and red licorice around the edges. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 15 percent Cabernet Franc, left for two years in French oak barriques, it’s polished and elegant, with vibrant acidity and refined tannins that promise this will age well.”
92 Pointz Vinous
“The 2011 Sassicaia is soft, round, and enveloping. The silky, textured style is a bit out of character for a wine that is usually a bit firmer and more energetic. Layers of expressive dark red fruit build to the open, caressing finish. There are no hard edges here.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
94 Pointz Decanter
“This wine has a more delicate, perfumed structure, much like the 2013 vintage, but it also has the excellent grip and colour extraction of 2012. A little constricted at first, this wine is in a closed phase at present. It takes a good 30 minutes to unfurl in the glass, and I would certainly recommend a long decanting period to reveal butterscotch, tar, and grilled herb notes. Once again the impression is of a wine that slowly but surely builds, demonstrating a careful climb in tannins, fruit, and acidity. It was an exceptionally hot year in Tuscany, where Sassicaia benefited from its oceanic location.”
19+/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“Juicy and sweet on the nose, full of the promise of youthful fruit. Fine spices with super definition – each is distinct, yet they integrate beautifully – vanilla, clove, allspice. And sumptuous but savoury fruit too.”
2010 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Reviews
This wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“This supremely elegant and age-worthy Sassicaia opens with an intense bouquet of black cherry, Mediterranean herbs, blue flower, cedar, and leather aromas. Powerful but graceful, the palate delivers a vibrant core of black cherry accented with white pepper, mineral, and balsamic notes alongside youthful but polished tannins and vibrant acidity. It’s not as exuberant as some of its counterparts, but it may outlive all the other Bolgheri 2010s. Drink 2018–2040.”
96 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2010 Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia brings back some of the brambly rosemary and wild Mediterranean brush that was missing in 2009. This will greatly appeal to enthusiasts of Sassicaia’s trademark elegance. The wine shows extreme purity that brings its many beautiful aromas into startling focus and clarity. Lingering tones of black fruit and Oriental spice add subtle shades at the back. The wine mostly certainly shows its pedigree in the exciting and beautifully balance manner it evolves in the glass: It tells a new story each time you return to observe the bouquet. This is the harbinger of cellar longevity. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2040.”
96 Pointz Vinous
“The 2010 Sassicaia is intensely saline, savory, and energetic. Rosemary, sage, plums, and black cherry notes meld into graphite, crushed rocks, and a host of other more mineral-inflected nuances. Beautifully persistent and chiseled in the glass, the 2010 is ultimately all about energy. This is going to be a fascinating vintage to follow.”
94 Pointz James Suckling
“The 2010 Sassicaia was just released and it's an outstanding bottle. I think that people are going to love this newest Sass. The red is very aromatic with currant, dried berry, cocoa bean, and hints of wood. It's full-bodied, with intense yet very polished tannins and a long finish. It's very refined and beautiful with a tangy finish. The Cabernet Franc comes through here at the finish. Lively. Hard not to drink now.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectibles
“Cedar, sandalwood, and spice notes lead off, with cherry, currant, and rhubarb flavors underneath. Linear in profile, with a firm base of tight-grained tannins, this lingers beautifully on the finish. Persistent from beginning to end, this just needs time to expand.”
93 Pointz Wine & Spirits
“This vintage of Sassicaia is unabashedly green, shooting like an arrow of youthful vigor through all the succulent fruit. That frisky tartness will convert to complexity as the wine ages. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of satisfaction in the wine right now, in its graceful weave of satin textures, cool sour cherry fruit, floral scents, and the flash of oak. There’s a reason Sassacaia is the benchmark against which all other Tuscan plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon are measured, as it presents those varieties in a distinctive, age-worthy, and deeply Tuscan way.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“Silky rich in colour, these wines speak of careful extraction, nothing impulsive or overdone. At six years it is just tipping over from its tight expression of youth to more open aromatics. This has a hauntingly exotic but restrained feel, with beautiful notes of leather, woodsmoke, undergrowth, still full of heady autumnal fruit. I am crunching through October leaves, with the promise of spring and of rising sage and rosemary. The lightness that comes in on the finish is striking, and yet with a persistency that hints at hidden power. Still many years ahead of it. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc.”