The 2011 Sassicaia is soft, round and enveloping. The silky, textured style is a bit out of character for a wine that is usually a bit firmer and more energetic. Layers of expressive dark red fruit build to the open, caressing finish. There are no hard edges here. The 2011 has always come across as a bit flat, from the time it was in barrel to the multiple times I have tasted it from bottle. Overall, the 2011 looks to be a relatively early-drinking Sassicaia.

he aromas of this Sassicaia shows a wet earth, ripe blackberry and black currant character. Some nectarines as well. Full body, with round and velvety tannins and a succulent juicy finish. Savory and delicious already. Needs a year or two to come together but already approachable.

The 2011 Sassicaia comes from a vintage with a cold winter, a mild spring with abundant rains and a very good difference in temperatures between night and day during the summer and there were sunny days during the harvest. You can feel this sunny bright personality in the wine. The nose is open and accessible with aromas of bright red fruit and cream. On the palate there are contrasting flavours which are a little green and firm but these are enveloped in a luxurious texture and weight.

Ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors pick up rosemary, mineral and spice accents in this red, which is concentrated and intense, fresh and focused. Racy midpalate, this leans toward black currant and cedar notes on the solid finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2030. 3,500 cases made. (Bruce Sanderson)

The 2011 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to a broad, yet very distinct audience. I am absolutely charmed by this vintage. Soft cherry and blackberry confit emerge from the bouquet in thick, luscious waves. Leather, spice and tar play supporting roles. The wine offers a generous and expansive style. It also shows impressive balance and coherent inner integrity. This vintage certainly bears the hallmarks of a hot vintage, but it never feels overdone. It delivers volume, intensity and rich texture. This Sassicaia is a wine of enormous craftsmanship.

This wine has a more delicate, perfumed structure, much like the 2013 vintage, but it also has the excellent grip and colour extraction of 2012. A little constricted at first, this wine is in a closed phase at present. It takes a good 30 minutes to unfurl in the glass, and I would certainly recommend a long decanting period to reveal butterscotch, tar and grilled herb notes. Once again the impression is of a wine that slowly but surely builds, demonstrating a careful climb in tannins, fruit and acidity. It was an exceptionally hot year in Tuscany, where Sassicaia benefited from its oceanic location.
Tasted by Jane Anson (at Rome, 27 Oct 2016)
Part of Sassicaia wines tasted: 1968 - 2015

The 2011 Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia does not reach the awe-inspiring heights of the two previous vintages (2009 and 2010) that are both iconic in their beauty and pedigree. Sassicaia always suffers when tasted young, which makes it a challenge to assess properly at release time. Even accounting for the wine’s future evolution, there’s no doubt that this vintage lacks the amazing sense of depth, energy and profound complexity that characterize the greatest editions of this landmark Italian wine. The winemaking quality is intact and the quality of fruit is beautiful indeed, albeit on the soft and ripe side. The bouquet is redolent of wild blackberry, cola, Mediterranean herb and blanched almond. In the mouth, it delivers a lingering sense of strength and firmness with ash, crushed rock and dried cherry. Perhaps the magic is still to come: Sassicaia should be aged for at least five to ten more years. (Monica Larner)

Quality 882 | Brand 997 | Economics 820 |

buzz brand, investment staple
Quality: Predicted life of 14 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 9 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 49 of the world's top wine lists, including Marea Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 815 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc. Mid glowing ruby. Complex, subtle nose. Really juicy and appetising – and still quite youthful! This one will run and run and at the moment is just coming out of its shell – with the odd iodine note. Not a blockbuster but very well judged. (JR)

Medicinal and stubborn nose but finely perfumed underneath. The oak is a little evident at this stage but melts completely into the ripe fruit on the finish. Ripe grainy tannins and elegant palate weight. Very long. (WS)