Tenuta San Guido   Sassicaia

2017 Sassicaia

By Tenuta San Guido

2017 Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido, Italy

Hailing from the storied slopes of Italy's Bolgheri, the 2017 Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido is a masterclass in winemaking deserving of eager attention from any discerning wine investor. Tenuta San Guido has long been noted for its prowess in cultivating complex wines of exceptional order, and they are arguably most famous for their iconic Sassicaia.

 

A Ruby Revelation, The Gift of the Terroir.

The 2017 vintage is one for the books, a stirring testament to the artistry at work in the vineyards of Tenuta San Guido. Bolgheri's maritime climate and loamy soils underpin this exquisite release with a sumptuous structure presenting a harmonious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. The year was marked by warmer temperatures, and while challenging, it has rewarded us with a wine that radiates concentrated flavors and earthy profundity.

The resulting finesse of the 2017 Sassicaia has an operatic quality- rich, robust and resounding, painting intricate sonnets of blackcurrant, ripened cherry, laced with undertones of cedar and sweet spice. All reside over a bright acidity structure resonant of its maritime homeland.

 

Fine Wine Investment-worthy Vintage.

In the realm of fine wines from Italy, this 2017 Sassicaia truly transcends its peers. A masterpiece by Tenuta San Guido blending weather-induced challenge and adept viticulture skill. Aged in French oak barrels, their measured use never cloaks but gently amplifies the fruit's innate nobleness. An astute investor will indeed recognize the inherent potential in this vintage.

While not as opulent as some of its Sassicaia brethren, the 2017 release stands distinct for its ability to balance power and grace. This edition encapsulates a timelessness that makes it an alluring asset for serious wine collectors and investors.

When it comes to exceptional vintages, the 2017 Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido reminds us, vintage variation is not merely a challenge, but an opportunity for true brilliance to shine. A compelling investment, it promises an ebullient future, burgeoning profile and a stronghold in any notable wine portfolio.

Market price (GBP)

£2,110.00

12x75cl

Highest score

94

POP score

150.71

Scores and tasting notes

94

The 2017 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a fascinating wine that symbolizes a never-ending tug-of-war between vintner and vintage. The question is who comes out on top? In this case, my money is on the vintner. The 2017 vintage, characterized by scorching heat and drought across much of Italy, was not an easy one. However, vintners had ample time to prepare because those climatic challenges had already played out midway through the summer season. Vintners with experience such as that amassed at Tenuta San Guido (now on the eve of Sassicaia's 50th birthday celebration) knew exactly how to handle the tricky 2017 growing season. Fruit was harvested early to avoid any jammy sensations, and a strict selection process was employed in order to preserve the best clusters. This Sassicaia represents 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Cabernet Franc, with most of the fruit coming from the Tenuta's historic vineyards Castiglioncello, Quercione and Doccino. These plots are all located on the back hill of Bolgheri at slightly higher elevations where they enjoy cooler nighttime temperatures. Old vines also have a deeper root system that is key to braving dry and hot summers. You can absolutely taste those choices here thanks to the wine's aromatic profile that offers more variety-driven green highlights of wild berry, forest floor and bramble than I would have expected. With time, as the wine takes on more air in the glass, you get a hint of summer plum or cherry cough drop, and this, to my surprise, is the only subtle reminder of the hot vintage encountered. I found the aromas here to be authentically "Tuscan" in character, more so than other vintages, with balsamic and Mediterranean elements that borrow directly from the Sangiovese playbook. I left the wine in my glass over the course of a day, checking back periodically, to find a growing mineral profile of rust or metal that recalls the high concentration of iron and manganese found in these Bolgheri soils. Another vintage-specific adjustment made in 2017 was shorter overall maceration times in steel tanks (from 10 to 12 days for the Cabernet Sauvignon and eight to 10 days for the Cabernet Franc). However, pump-overs and délestages were almost doubled in order to introduce more oxygen to the yeasts during fermentations at lower temperatures. Based on my understanding of fermentation kinetics, this means the 2017 Sassicaia would have achieved the same amount of extraction in about half the time. This process champions the cool-temperature fermentations that are a hallmark of Tenuta San Guido, despite the heat of the vintage. This puts more emphasis on aromatic elegance and minerality, rather than mouthfeel texture or creaminess per se. In fact, the 2017 Sassicaia is much shorter in the mid-palate compared to 2015 or 2016. In terms of oak, Tenuta San Guido takes advantage of the softer tannins found in Allier and Tronçais oak. The 2017 vintage saw a greater percentage (from 20% to 30%) of third and fourth passage barrique during the first 10 months of aging. The decision to use more neutral oak favors the reduction of oxygen and softens the tannic profile. Although the wine does end with a hint of bitterness, it took on noticeably more volume and soft richness the longer I kept my sample in the glass. To recap my assessment, and with the memory of the 100-point 2016 vintage so fresh in my mind, I would give this wine a seven out of 10 in terms of aromas, a five out of 10 in terms of mid-palate, and an eight out of 10 in terms of structure. Another way to read those conclusions is as follows: The 2017 Sassicaia was expertly built to withstand a long aging future, yet only time will tell if the beauty of the bouquet will evolve at the same pace. This fascinating wine magically captures the hallmarks of cool-temperature winemaking in one of the hottest vintages in recent years. Vintners, not vintage, won this round.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate, 2 January 2020

Vintage performance