Gambero Rosso, Vitae, Veronelli, Vivenda, Dr. Wine, and Luca Maroni are among the most influential Italian wine review magazines. Gentleman magazine's top 100 red wines for 2021 have been announced, which summarizes the ratings of these six magazines and gives an overall score. “Sassicaia 2017” took the prestigious first place!
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia [2017] 750ml Red
What is Sassicaia?
Sassicaia is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine produced byTenuta San Guido. Sassicaia is also called the "original Super Tuscan." For those who know the name but not the history or terroir, let me introduce you to Sassicaia.
Sassicaia Terroir Bolgheri
Sassicaia is built in the Bolgheri area of the Maremma region of Tuscany, Italy. When it comes to Tuscan red wine, Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino are famous, both of which are located in the interior of Tuscany. Bolgheri, on the other hand, is located on the Tuscan coast. As a result, Bolgheri has a strong Mediterranean climate, with warm days and cool nights. This difference in temperature between day and night allows the grapes to produce fruit that is both acidic and concentrated. In addition, the low rainfall also reduces the causes of grape failure. It receives a lot of sunlight and is harvested earlier than Chianti Classico or Montalcino.
Bolgheri was once a wetland area, and in the mid-19th century, large-scale land reclamation was carried out to prevent malaria. The soil is a mixture of sandy, calcareous, and clayey, and is rich in minerals due to its proximity to the sea.
This Bolgheri terroir is what makes the wine different from Chianti Classico and Montalcino.
History of Sassicaia
The history of Sassicaia begins with the prestigious Incisa della Rocchetta family. The daughter of the Marquis Gherardesca family, who ruled the Bolgheri area, marries the Incisa della Rocchetta family. The Gherardesca family's vast land was distributed to the Incisa della Rocchetta family, who were winemakers. Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was a big fan of Bordeaux wine, and in 1944 he planted Cabernet Sauvignon seedlings sent from Bordeaux's Château Lafitte in Tenuta San Guido. This is the beginning of Sassicaia.
The name Sassicaia comes from the word sassi (meaning stone). Bolgheri's well-drained geology is similar to that of Bordeaux, making it an ideal location for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sassicaia was originally made as a home wine. After that, Mario's son Nicolo took over and brought in the genius brewer Giacomo Takis, and in 1968, Sassicaia was introduced to the world. At that time, Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines could not be labeled with DOCG or DOC designations of origin, so they were released under the designation of table wine. Despite not having a designation of origin, Sassicaia's outstanding quality surprised the world, and its reputation quickly spread, earning it the nickname "Super Tuscan." Super Tuscan, which means ``excellent Tuscan wine that pursues quality without being bound by the designation of origin,'' became a worldwide boom in the 1980s. Following Sassicaia, producers producing Super Tuscan appeared one after another.
In 1994, the designation of origin ``Bolgheri-Sassicaia DOC'' was created. Sassicaia can be said to have changed the history of wine, being the only time a single wine has become a DOC.
Taste of Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Dark in color, with the firm fruit flavors and tannins characteristic of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has an elegant taste that reminds you of the brightness of Tuscany, although it resembles a Bordeaux red wine. The microclimate (microclimate) caused by Bolgheri's topography and Bolgheri's terroir produce wines that are typical of Tuscany. A very elegant and magnificent wine with well-balanced acidity, minerality and power.
Although it can be enjoyed immediately after release, it is also known as a wine that shows even more potential when aged for a long time.
Sassicaia 2017 Vintage
- Sassicaia 2017
- 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
The 2017 vintage of Sassicaia, which won first place in "Gentleman" magazine. 2017 was a hot and dry year. Temperatures have already exceeded the average for the year since March, and the flowering and fruiting periods have gone well, with small grains and clusters becoming smaller. Therefore, yields were reduced by 18-20%, resulting in higher quality grapes. Growth was uninterrupted, stress-free, and always smooth. There was little rain until the end of July, and the days were hot. A few days of rain in mid-August brought temperatures down slightly, creating ideal conditions for ripening the grapes. The difference in temperature between day and night from mid-August to the end of September created beautiful acidity.
The Cabernet Franc harvest began on August 30th, eight days earlier than usual, followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon harvest (all hand-picked). Harvesting was carried out from fields at low altitudes, and from late September to early October, the fields located on hills at an altitude of 360 meters were harvested.
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at 28 to 30 degrees, and the brewing period is 11 to 12 days for Cabernet Franc and 13 to 14 days for Cabernet Sauvignon. During alcoholic fermentation, repeated remontage and dérestage processes create elegance, skeletal structure, and aroma.
A subsequent malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks until the end of November, after which the wine was aged for 24 months in French oak (one-third new) and blended a month and a half before bottling.
The aroma is full of black berry fruits such as blueberry and blackcurrant, with hints of wild herbs and forest undergrowth. Next, you can also feel the scent of cacao, vanilla, tobacco-like spices, and dried fruits. The scent is layered and deep. When you taste it, it has a good balance of concentration and minerality. Tannins are silky. It has a strong, yet graceful and elegant taste. A rich aftertaste lingers in the mouth.
Sassicaia 2017 Vintage World Review
The 2017 vintage of Sassicaia ranked top in the Italian wine evaluation magazine. It received high scores worldwide.
- Sassicaia 2017 vintage evaluation
- James Suckling 96 points
- Wine Spectator 95 points
- Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) 94 points
A successful year for Sassicaia
Among Sassicaia's back vintages, the following are considered to be successful years.
- A successful year for Sassicaia
- 2016、2009、2007、2006、2004、2003、2001
- 1999、1998、1996、1995、1990
- 1988、1985、1982
- 1978、1975
The 2017 vintage has a flavor that can be enjoyed even when young. There are also structures whose potential is brought out through long-term aging over several decades.
Back vintages of Italian wine are hard to come by, so the 2017 vintage is difficult to obtain and you should get your hands on it before prices skyrocket.
