Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC 2019
A$750.00
Vintages
Description
Tenuta San Guido is owned by the Incisa della Rocchetta family and located in Bolgheri. The estate is home to the world-class wine that started the Super Tuscan movement - Sassicaia. Mario Incisa della Rocchetta planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines on the land below the castle at Castilioncello in 1940, initially a personal affair the wine was consumed by the family, but the vineyard was expanded in 1965 and the first Sassacaia was released in 1968 to international acclaim. Today the estate has around 75 hectares of vines scattered around Bolgheri and their flagship wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc continues to impressive critics and wine-lovers. A second wine, Guidalberto, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, was released in 2000.
In the crafting of Sassicaia 2019, a patient journey of 25 months in oak, including a judicious one-third new oak, unfolded under the meticulous guidance of Carlo Paoli, the managing director of Tenuta San Guido. Embracing an extended oak aging approach in recent years, this vintage, though quite pale in the glass, unveils a nose of exceptional grace and intensity.
Lavender nuances gracefully intertwine with restrained bramble fruits, fermented citrus peel, an intense violet bouquet, and a profound undercurrent of graphite minerality. The wine's entrance onto the palate is a gentle and full embrace, where savory and cedary notes unfold seamlessly to the finish. Integrated velvety tannins and lifted acidity add depth to the flavor profile.
A masterfully woven structure, characterized by signature freshness and fruit vibrancy, defines Sassicaia 2019. This is not merely a wine for the moment but one destined for the long haul, a testament to its enduring elegance and the artistry of its creation.
Ratings
Score
100 points
Reviewer
Decanter
Review
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.
Score
99 points
Reviewer
James Suckling
Review
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.
