The first 50 years of the Italian myth in the world: Sassicaia.
The first vintage released on the market was 1968 while the last vintage is 2018.
I have been following this wine from the Tenuta San Guido company for many years and every year I have the opportunity to appreciate its typical aromas that distinguish it, such as in particular, the lavender soap and sea water, the clean one, characterized by hints of melon white in its internal white part close to the skin. I am pleased to remember that the 2015 vintage was perfect for everything, what about 2016 which had an edge over the first? The 2017 vintage was very difficult but the director of the company, Carlo Paoli, cut the production of about 50,000 bottles, still managing to make a great wine. The 2018 vintage was not easy, so much so that the production was lower than the normal one of about 70,000 bottles. It could not have been otherwise given the 50th anniversary and given the quality of the previous vintages. Carlo Paoli discarded those wines with somewhat dry tannins and kept the heart of the production.
As for the width of the tannin, it is important that you make the following clarifications so that it can be understood. I feel the tannin of the wine on the upper gum. The total width of the tannin is 6/6, i.e. the entire width of the upper gum. Obviously, if the tannin is less broad, it could be for example 5/6 and so on. The width of the tannin is important when the quality of the same is of good or high level. If the tannin is wider, the wine is more worthy of attention, but the tannin, as I have specified, must in any case be of good quality.
Let’s now pass to describe the wine tasted.
TENUTA SAN GUIDO
Bolgheri Doc, Sassicaia, vintage 2018
(Grapes: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc)
Purple-red dress.
From the glass rise various and pleasant aromas of plum, blackberry, cassis, mint, eucalyptus, light amber and woody, rosemary, bay leaf, sage, nutmeg. The olfactory walk continues with intense aromas of lavender soap that reminds me of the Atkinson soap, followed by sea water, the clean one (white melon and white inner part of the watermelon peel), leather saddle, oregano and tobacco cut from the cigar Tuscan.
The mouth is invaded by pleasant fruity sensations of plum, cassis and blueberry.
The body is medium and the flavor is rich. Well balanced wine with the alcoholic mass which is completely silenced thanks to the freshness, flavor and tannins. The latter are sweet, thick, wide (6 / 6–), initially velvety and then in the final dry, slightly, the upper gum.
Its gustative persistence is long with a fruity finish already felt initially.
Wealth, finesse and elegance characterize this vintage.
This 2018 reminds me in some respects of 1988. The tannins will improve with the stop in the bottle.
(98/100)
