Sassicaia Wines

Tuscany is known for its rich heritage and its multi-generational traditions that give voice to tried-and-true methods for various aspects of life and cuisine. This cultural backdrop can be enriching, but it can also be stagnant, even stubborn, to those within looking for a different path or alternate voice. The Super Tuscan Movement of the 1960s and 70s was a response to such, a protest against a bureaucratic system with rules too stifling in their alignment with winemaking traditions. It was a multi-decade counter-culture statement, a local wine revolution with international reverberations, and the first domino to tip was the 1968 Sassicaia.

Sassicaia History: Tenuta San Guido & Mario Rochetta

For decades beforehand, Mario Rochetta had been making wine for private family consumption from cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc cuttings (rumored to be from Lafite-Rothschild) he had planted in the picturesque seaside estate of Bolgheri. Rochetta had lofty goals to make great wine, but was never taken seriously, especially not by the critics early on. Upon the realization that his wines were capable of incredible aging-power, Rochetta released his wines under the Tenuta San Guido banner as Vino da Tavola (“table wine”), the lowest tiered appellation in the Italian wine hierarchy, below DOC and DOCG, and the only one his wines could qualify for considering the grapes he was working with. The dam had broken, and an outpouring of similarly high-quality, yet categorically “lesser” wines started to appear on the market as simply Vino da Tavola.

Sparking the Super Tuscan movement, Sassicaia quickly gained an exceptional reputation around the world, breaking the barriers of what many believe Italian wine could be. After producing several legendary wines, Sassicaia stumbled upon what is arguably Italian wine's greatest release ever - the 1985 Sassicaia. It swiftly became one of the first Italian wines to receive a 100-point score from Robert Parker, who, years later, claimed it topped the list of his personal favorites. As such, Sassicaia cemented its name in the history books and forever changed the country's outlook on fine winemaking, paving the way for Masseto, Ornellaia, and more to join the Super Tuscan charge. 

The DOC Sassicaia Bolgheri

In 1994, Sassicaia was granted its own DOC, Sassicaia Bolgheri, becoming the only Italian estate to receive such an honor. Renowned for the stone gravel soils, extensive sun, and maritime breeze, Sassicaia contains the perfect terroir. The vineyards receive a healthy amount of rainfall in the late autumn and early winter, setting up a beautiful springtime filled with sufficient sunshine for budding grapes. The cool breeze from the nearby Atlantic Ocean balances the intense heat of the summer months, ensuring the vines do not run dry and minimizing any extreme sun exposure. 

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia: Bordeaux Wines in Tuscany

Today, these wines still represent some of the finest Tuscan styles, intense in varietal character, expressive of terroir, and alive with Italian gusto. Despite the rather unconventional history, there are remarkable parallels between Sassicaia and the famous wines of Left Bank Bordeaux. These cabernet sauvignon blends see generous time in French barrique, and even vineyard’s stony soils (“Sassicaia” meaning “the place of many stones”) are reminiscent of the gravelly landscape found in Médoc, the ideal terrain for cabernet to thrive in. The final wines are energetic and structured, and surprisingly elegant for their power. When youthful, Sassicaia is taut and intense, but with time, it can unfurl and show a lavish bouquet of vibrant florals, green pepper, and cacao. 

What Is The Best Sassicaia Vintage?

With so many excellent wines produced, choosing Sassicaia's greatest-ever vintage is a difficult choice. Frankly, there is no wrong answer, though many critics and enthusiasts would point to the 1985 vintage, famed for being an era-defining, mold-breaking wine. Others may point to the double 100-point 2016 vintage, which was described as "a wine of soaring achievement" by The Wine Advocate, while Decanter Magazine added additional praise stating, "this is built for the long haul and is possibly the best of this decade."

Outside of these two vintages, numerous Sassicaia wines have been lauded, including: 1968, 1972, 2006, 2010, 2015, and 2019 vintages. As the benchmark of Italian wine, Sassicaia is necessary for any wine collector to acquire. Savor the elegant, full-bodied wines from the Bolgheri.