2011 - Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido - 6x75cl

Wine Advocate, Oct 2014, Score: 94

The 2011 Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia does not reach the awe-inspiring heights of the two previous vintages (2009 and 2010) that are both iconic in their beauty and pedigree. Sassicaia always suffers when tasted young, which makes it a challenge to assess properly at release time. Even accounting for the wine’s future evolution, there’s no doubt that this vintage lacks the amazing sense of depth, energy and profound complexity that characterize the greatest editions of this landmark Italian wine. The winemaking quality is intact and the quality of fruit is beautiful indeed, albeit on the soft and ripe side. The bouquet is redolent of wild blackberry, cola, Mediterranean herb and blanched almond. In the mouth, it delivers a lingering sense of strength and firmness with ash, crushed rock and dried cherry. Perhaps the magic is still to come: Sassicaia should be aged for at least five to ten more years. Introducing Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, the newest generation to personify Italy’s leading wine family. Under the guidance of her father, Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, Priscilla is taking an increasingly visible role at Tenuta San Guido. She flew to Kuala Lumpur (the same morning flight Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing) to attend the Robert Parker Grand World Tour in March 2014. This was one of her first major public appearances representing her family’s winery. Sassicaia 1985 was poured from magnums that night, and Priscilla timidly admitted that she had only tasted the wine two or three times previously. She said she was nervous that the wine would not show well. She had absolutely no reason to worry: The 1985 Sassicaia was by far the most memorable wine tasted during that leg of the World Tour. 94/100. Drink: 2018 - 2030