Sassicaia: A Super Tuscan Icon in the Making

There aren’t many wines with quite the cachet of the Super Tuscan Sassicaia. Fêted by critics, adored by the Obamas, Beckhams and the Clooneys – and sought after by collectors – it changed the course of Italian winemaking when it launched its first commercial vintage more than 50 years ago, paving the way for a new generation of Bordeaux-style blends grown in a part of Tuscany only known for so-so Sangiovese. 

 

Translated to “the place of many stones”, the gravelly soil of Sassicaia mirrors that of the Graves region in Bordeaux. When Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta first inherited this land in 1930, he immediately saw the similarities between the terroirs and in 1944 he planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The wine made from these grapes was only consumed by the family, until the commercial release of Sassicaia in 1968.

 

This Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend sent the Italian wine world on tilt, an area known for its stringent regulations and rules. Today, it has its own single-estate DOC (Bolgheri Sassicaia) applied to its flagship label and is one of the most coveted wines in the world. We have a nice list of new vintages available to you below, and there are no wrong picks when drinking this producer. 

 

The wines are still on their way to us, but we are anticipating they will all be sold before they even arrive to our cellar. Sassicaia never sticks around for long, so don't sleep on these!

 

2003 Sassicaia -

The salinity comes through clearly at this point, which gives beautiful lift and grip. I just love how Sassicaia wines can play with tannins. They start so delicate and soft and yet close in beautifully. This has more grip and youth than the 2007. The rosemary and heat-baked herbs of Tuscany stand shoulder to shoulder with a concentrated blackberry richness and a salty tang that delivers freshness. This is the magic of Bolgheri — the coastal influence and the old vines. - DC95 

 

2004 Sassicaia -

The best Sassicaia of the last 10 years, the 2004 vintage is an outstanding achievement. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc highlight the beauty of Tuscany and portray the region in terms of thick chocolate fudge, succulent cherry and currant, exotic spice and vanilla seed. Beyond those big aromas are little teasers: blue flowers, Mediterranean herbs, cola and light mineral shadings. It’s lush and full in the mouth and will hold 20 or 30 years. - WE97 

 

2005 Sassicaia -

The 2005 Bolgheri Sassicaia is more of an extrovert and a fast-burner. It is a reflection of a warm vintage and a more pronounced stylistic signature in terms of its winemaking approach. The effect is very beautiful, indeed, with dried cherry, plum, spice, tobacco and grilled herb. Yet, the overall messaging is focused on power and volume. The background music is hard to hear. Despite its opulence, there's less dimension to behold. Brawn trumps finesse and dark fruit covers the ethereal aromas. It is well built, however, and should hold steady for the next ten years, if not more. - RP93

 

2008 Sassicaia -

The 2008 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a wine without a winemaker. The last vintage made by Giacomo Tachis was 2007 and incoming enologist Graziana Grassini claims 2009 as her first vintage. Within the context of this retrospective, the 2008 vintage opens a new chapter, because it is the first wine to show evident tertiary definition and complexity. In fact, the wine performs beautifully with an exalted performance and ethereal aromas. They include cassis, wild berry, crushed mineral, licorice, petrol and grilled herb. This wine is really coming together now and is entering a very exciting moment in its drinking life. It boasts finesse, elegance and grace. Yet, it also shows unmistakable richness and structure that gives the wine an enormous presence in terms of mouthfeel. - RP97