The Wine
Sassicaia means “the place of many stones,” and refers to the region’s gravel soil. The original vineyards have a southwest exposure with extensive sun and maritime breezes that create robust vegetation. Grapes are handpicked, destemmed and crushed before fermenting with natural yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged in French oak barriques, then refined in bottle before release. Sassicaia’s success prompted the Italian government to grant the wine its own appellation, Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, beginning with the 1994 vintage.
Winemaking
GRAPES: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Cabernet Franc
APPELLATION: Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC
PH: 3.47 ACIDITY: 6.05 g/l
ABV: 14%
AGING: At the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine is placed in French oak barrels, (2/3rds new wood and the rest, first and second passage) where it spent a period of aging of 24 months.
Tasting notes
The palate is lifted and bright, the finish is polished and long, and the wine skips over any heaviness on the mid-palate. The bouquet is especially intriguing with a very lively plummy fruit element that is enhanced by baker's chocolate, pepper spice, iron ore, caramel and pie crust. There is also a green character that adds positively to the bouquet with aniseed, tea leaf, soya, menthol rub and black olive. The fruit maturity is spot-on with no elements that feel over or underripe.