Sassicaia 2021
Tax included.
Winery: Tenuta San Guido
Vintage: 2021
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc
Drinking window: 2030 - 2055
Region: Bolgheri, Tuscany
Production: 150.000 bottles
THE ITALIAN GRAPE (99)
2021 was a fantastic year in Maremma and especially in Bolgheri. The Sassicaia 2021 is incredibly complex, with lots of blackberries and tobacco on the nose. Typical earthy notes with an endless finish that continues to develop. A wine that should not be missing from a beautiful wine collection. The 2021 has received the amazing 100 Parker points. I can agree with this, but for me it is just not that perfect. I miss the freshness that the wine should bring, which means there is a little too much power in the foreground. Obviously this is not disturbing, which is why I give it 98 points for a reason, but it is something I miss for a 100 pointer.
ROBERT PARKER (100)
Here it is: A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia offers impeccable balance, excellent freshness and absolutely no signs of over-ripeness. The fruit balance is ideal with a hint of crunch and lasting tension from pulp and skins. The tannins are deftly managed with firm grip and enough velvetiness to add volume and length. There is no greenness on the bouquet that instead offers mulled herbs and spice, with cinnamon and clove, layered delicately between mostly red and some purple berry fruits. Redcurrant, blueberry, sweet pomegranate and Rainier cherry run strong in this vintage. A fragrant hint of heritage rose emerges with time. The oak tones are geared toward gingerbread, hazelnut, cigar, sandalwood and something like a grilled sweet red pepper. To the palate, it offers nice weight with no heavy glycerin, and a rinse of acidity that adds to the wine’s natural energy, brightness and viscosity. That marked freshness opens the wine up to long aging potential, but you still need to give it more time in bottle.
VINOUS (98)
The 2021 Sassicaia is one of the best young Sassicaia’s I can remember tasting, certainly on par with anything in recent memory. The preference here is picking on the earlier side relative to many neighboring properties, which is one of the reasons Sassicaia is always a wine of refinement more than opulence. At the same time, Sassicaia can be light. Not in 2021. All the elements came together during a long growing season to produce a rich, deep wine that marries textural intensity with classicism. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and spice all race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural intensity and sheer power. The 2021 is one of the most concentrated Sassicaias on record. That allowed for long macerations, as long as 20 days for some Cabernets. Aging was 25 months in French oak barrels (95% French, 5% a mix of Hungarian and Slavonian wood), 40% new, 40% once-used barrels and 20% in twice-used barrels. One of the recent developments here is some bâtonnage in aging, which is used to build texture. That approach worked well in 2021. In a word: magnificent.
About the wine
Sassicaia's journey began in 1945 when its first batch was bottled, but it didn't taste quite like it does today. Mario Incisa, the man behind Sassicaia, spent several years experimenting with different techniques to improve the wine's flavor. Eventually, he realized he needed the help of an expert oenologist. Turning to his relatives, the Antinori family, Mario sought out Giacomo Tachis, an experienced oenologist. Together, Mario and Giacomo decided to try something new: using Bordeaux grapes and applying modern winemaking methods to Sassicaia's production.
Their collaboration bore fruit in 1968 when they released Sassicaia's first commercial batch. It wasn't long before their efforts garnered international recognition. In 1972, at a blind tasting competition hosted by Decanter Magazine, Sassicaia outshone 33 wines from 11 different countries to claim its first major award. This success marked a turning point for Sassicaia, propelling it onto the global stage as a wine of exceptional quality. The name "Sassicaia" itself holds significance, derived from the stony soil ("sassi" in Italian) where the grapes are grown.
The 2021 vintage saw a favorable climate, with a rainy autumn and cold winter, followed by cooler spring temperatures, which slowed vine growth but did not negatively affect the plants. Summer brought warm, dry conditions, resulting in smaller bunches and berries, leading to lower yields but excellent grape quality. This balance between technical and phenolic ripeness produced healthy grapes with well-developed seeds and stems. Sassicaia 2021 aged for 24 months in wood, followed by blending in steel tanks and further bottle refinement before its release.
