De Sassicaia, het vlaggenschip van de Bolgheri en misschien wel van heel Italië. Van de droom om een wijn op de Bordeaux-leest te maken, naar een absolute topwijn, die menig top-Bordeaux naar de kroon steekt. Geblend uit Cabernet Sauvignon en Cabernet Franc.
De Sassicaia is diep robijnrood van kleur. Een intense, rijke neus met pruimen, kersen, besfruit, specerijen en tabak. De smaak is krachtig en rijk, fruitig, harmonieus en met stevige maar zijdezachte tannines. De wijn kan met gemak 20 jaar rijpen.
De druiven worden vanaf begin september met de hand geplukt, te starten met de Cabernet Franc. De Cabernet Sauvignon wordt iets later geoogst. Na persing volgt gemiddeld 1,5 weken schilcontact en wordt de wijn vergist in roestvrijstalen vaten, op een gecontroleerde temperatuur. Hierbij wordt de most regelmaat overgepompt. Na de blend rijpt de wijn nog 24 maanden in Franse barriques en nog enkele maanden op fles.
De Sassicaia komt het best tot zijn recht bij stevige vleesgerechten, zoals gebakken en gegrild rood vlees met een mooie jus. Maar drink hem ook gerust als meditatiewijn!
Robert Parker, 94 punten:
“The 2017 Sassicaia is a fascinating wine that symbolizes a never-ending tug-of-war between vintner and vintage. The question is who comes out on top? In this case, my money is on the vintner. The 2017 vintage, characterized by scorching heat and drought across much of Italy, was not an easy one. You can absolutely taste those choices here thanks to the wine's aromatic profile that offers more variety-driven green highlights of wild berry, forest floor and bramble than I would have expected. With time, as the wine takes on more air in the glass, you get a hint of summer plum or cherry cough drop, and this, to my surprise, is the only subtle reminder of the hot vintage encountered. I found the aromas here to be authentically "Tuscan" in character, more so than other vintages, with balsamic and Mediterranean elements that borrow directly from the Sangiovese playbook. The 2017 Sassicaia was expertly built to withstand a long aging future, yet only time will tell if the beauty of the bouquet will evolve at the same pace. This fascinating wine magically captures the hallmarks of cool-temperature winemaking in one of the hottest vintages in recent years. Vintners, not vintage, won this round." (Monica Larner)
Vinous, 95 punten:
“The 2017 Sassicaia is dark, sensual and rich, which is a good thing, as the tannins - the result of a warm, dry year in which phenolic ripening was difficult to fully reach - are also quite powerful. I tasted the 2017 from an approximate blend from barrel, where the wines are still aging in separate lots. It will be interesting to see where things end up once the wine is in bottle.” (Antonio Galloni)
WineEnthusiast, 97 punten:
“Aromas of exotic spice, baked plum and French oak mingle with camphor and blue flower on the nose. This boasts extraordinary elegance and freshness despite the hot vintage, delivering flavors of juicy Marasca cherry, spiced blueberry, tobacco and licorice. Velvety, fine-grained tannins provide support while coffee and crushed mint linger on the finish.” (Kerin O’Keefe)