Sassicaia is today one of the most sought-after fine wines in the world. This is largely because of the vision, energy and drive of proprietor Mario Incisa della Rocchetta.
The Sassicaia estate at Bolgheri came from Mario Incisa della Rocchetta’s wife’s family who had owned land there since 1800 – the name Sassicaia means,place of many stones, and the gravelly soil has been compared to those found in the Médoc. He planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and engaged the services of Piero Antinori`s winemaker, Giacomo Tachis.
Sassicaia’s first vintage was released to universal acclaim in 1968. Sassicaia is now widely accepted as one of the world`s greatest Cabernet Sauvignon wines and made history recently, being the first single wine to be granted its own DOC. The wines of Sassicaia combine intense notes of cassis and cedary elegance, with extraordinary power and length.
97 Points James Suckling
An extremely rich and ripe wine with currant, cherry and balsamic aromas. Hints of leather. Follows through on the finish. Full body, round and velvety tannins that are reserved and beautiful. Sweet and sour. Savory, too. Drink or hold. This has a long life ahead of it.
97 Points Decanter
Some torrefied, caramel notes on the nose, this is a wine that vibrates with a beautifully held together crimson red colour. On the palate, there are signs of a hot vintage, with hints of exotic fig, yet it’s shot through with fresh crushed violet notes. Can feel some sun bleaching, although again a heady sweet spice fragrance takes over. This is grilled charcoal over a roasted blackcurrant Cabernet core. And then, just as you are wondering about the exoticism of the fruit, the sweet relief of fresh mint comes slipping in on the finish. What a beautiful wine. Elegant, but packs quite a punch.
95 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Showing a heavier gait, the 2009 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a bold and determined wine that boasts rich extraction and a substantial phenolic base. I’m told that this is one of the richest expressions ever produced and it definitely shows. Brooding and muscular, this Sassicaia reveals broad shoulders and deep footprints. On the nose, it offers heavy aromas of dark fruit, plum, blackberry, leather, spice, tobacco and grilled herb. At the back are tarry notes of resin and smoke. This vintage saw a stunning set of ideal conditions ranging from a humid spring that built water reserves, a hot summer that kept ripening on track and a cool pre-harvest period with deep shifts between day and nighttime temperatures for pronounced aromas. The wine shows substantial richness and opulence with well-managed tannins and pretty bursts of freshness. There is still a lot of life left within to carry it forward throughout the years.