Sassicaia is perhaps Italy’s single most famous fine wine and among the most recognisable labels on the planet. A First Growth in all but name, it has a lofty reputation and is a mainstay of top restaurant wine lists and serious private collections across the world.
From Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, Sassicaia unlocked the stunning potential of its terroir by ignoring the rules of the local DOC to use international grape varieties.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc make up the cuvee, rather than the Sangiovese-dominated blend that was usual in the region. Because of this, for many years, Sassicaia was officially classified as a simple IGT, a table wine. Obviously, it is much, much more than that.
This was when Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, inspired by wines tasted in France, planted some Cabernet Sauvignon vines on his estate in Bolgheri. He named the wine Sassicaia – after the stony ground in the vineyard – and kept it for his own consumption and for his friends. It was released commercially for the first time in 1968 and has gone on to be a global phenomenon.
It is a wine that is both powerful and elegant, complex and intellectual, yet accessible and easy to enjoy. In many ways, it is the perfect fine wine.
While it is yet to be sampled by most of the critics. Jane Anson has already tasted it from barrel, gives it an eye-catching 96 points and notes how “The tannins are gentle and integrated even now” and “The frame is in place, and the density offset by a soft textural caress.”
The release is scheduled for the 14th of February, and demand, as with every Sassicaia release, is likely to be huge. Look out for an offer then, and if you would like any further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]
