Sassicaia 2023

Sassicaia is made by Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast in the Maremma, and is regarded as the first Italian wine to win international acclaim. The dream of the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was a thoroughbred Italian red built on Bordeaux ideals, and the wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The vineyards lie on stony, gravel rich coastal soils tempered by sea breezes off the Tyrrhenian, a maritime climate that keeps the fruit fresh and the tannins ripe. After fermentation the wine ages for 24 months in 225 litre French oak barrels, the long maturation rounding the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adding cedar, tobacco and sweet spice. The colour is deep ruby. The nose combines ripe cherry, blackcurrant and plum with a Mediterranean lift of herbs, mint and graphite. The palate is structured and savoury, with fine grained tannins, bright acidity and a long, cedar tinged finish that calls to mind the Médoc rather than central Tuscany. It ages gracefully over many years. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It is a natural with roast and grilled red meats.