The 2021 Sassicaia is one of the best young Sassicaias I can remember tasting, certainly on par with anything in recent memory. The preference here is picking on the earlier side relative to many neighboring properties, which is one of the reasons Sassicaia is always a wine of refinement more than opulence. At the same time, Sassicaia can be light. Not in 2021. All the elements came together during a long growing season to produce a rich, deep wine that marries textural intensity with classicism. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather, menthol, licorice and spice all race across the palate. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural intensity and sheer power. The 2021 is one of the most concentrated Sassicaias on record. That allowed for long macerations, as long as 20 days for some Cabernets. Aging was 25 months in French oak barrels (95% French, 5% a mix of Hungarian and Slavonian wood), 40% new, 40% once-used barrels and 20% in twice-used barrels. One of the recent developments here is some bâtonnage in aging, which is used to build texture. That approach worked well in 2021. In a word: magnificent. Feb 2024

2021 is one of Sassicaia's legendary vintages, and it's just gorgeous. The grapes are hand harvested, before eight to 10 separate vinifications with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, followed by ageing in barriques, which are mostly used. The final blend is micro-oxygenated in stainless steel tanks before bottling. The result? A tapestry of softly unveiling flavours: blackberry, bay leaf, cedar and fruity blueberry dance together, underpinned by graphite minerality. It exudes aristocratic elegance through perfectly ripened tannins and vibrant acidity, with notes of eucalyptus, plums, pomegranate and undergrowth extending out. Its extraordinary finish oscillates, wave-like, with tangy fruits carrying through. The 2021 comprises 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc from vineyards at 100m-300m on diverse soils.

The 2021 Sassicaia is remarkable for being simultaneously complex yet transparent. In the glass, it displays a bright jeweled ruby red hue. On my second tasting of this wine, the nose was much more expressive than in my initial tasting the previous day, offering pure aromas of raspberry, pretty lifted spices and lavender, dusty earth, and fresh Mediterranean herbs, and as it opens, it develops notes of rhubarb, incense, and sandalwood. The palate is pure and expressive, with well-defined, ripe tannins, seamless acidity, and refreshing saltiness, but its shining pure fruit is what stands out and will shine for decades to come.

Cabernet Sauvignon with 1 5% Cabernet Franc. Lustrous crimson. Lifted and with a core of red fruit still to come out on the nose. Noble austerity! Only hints of cardamon and red fruit, but with aeration the oak comes out more. Only hints of cassis. Cool-climate character on the palate with raspberry and redcurrant and vibrancy. The acidity is much less upfront than in 2022 and the fine, persistent tannins perfectly in line with the fruit but holding it in their grip. (WS)

San Guido rarely if ever makes a bad wine: in those years where the weather really doesn’t cooperate much, a lighter, more politely-styled wine might be made (see the delicious 2020 Sassicaia) but one that is still heads and shoulders above in quality compared to most other red wines made in Bolgheri and the rest of Italy.
Then in vintages were all the wine stars align, such as for example the 1985, 1988, and 2016, the outcome is truly magical, and this is precisely the case of the 2021 Sassicaia. To be clear, the 2021 Sassicaia is one of the best young wines at a similar stage of development the estate has made in years. It is a paragon of balance and freshness. What it lacks in the brute power of the memorable 2016, it makes up for with a ballerina-like gracefulness and a balance that is enchanting. Clearly all those weaned on behemoths will be less impressed by this wine compared to many liquid sledgehammers, but the point is that refinement and balance do not have to take a back seat to more obvious, even somewhat vulgar, attributes. About the only bad news with this wine is the small volumes produced, given the very large crop reduction (the result of early season weather adversity: frost hit on March 18 when the buds were already out in full force) and barrels having to be eliminated because of traces of gaminess in a few of them. But hunt it down and cellar it away for a good twelve years before even thinking of opening a bottle, then get ready to enjoy one of the more graceful, elegant Sassicaia wines in year (and that’s saying quite something, given that this wine essentially has defined elegance in Italian wine circles for the past forty years).
Bright, medium deep red-ruby. Fresh aromas of balsamic oils, then more minty eucalyptus, lavender and juniper complicate the lively, perfumed blackcurrant and mineral aromas on the enticing nose. Then extremely vibrant and lively, but boasting remarkable balance with a near-perfect fruit/tannin/acidity ratio and an inviting saline note that rises like the froth of waves smashing against the docks on a cold winter seaside morning. Very precise, penetrating flavours of red and dark berries, honey, coffee, toast and bergamot linger nicely on the extremely long, refreshing finish. This famous Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wine blend is undoubtedly rich and dense but has a vitality and a lift that is truly uncommon for the best red wines made with these two grape varieties. Deceptively easy to drink already now, this will age far better than most people I know. Drinking window: 2029-2065. Ian D'Agata Feb 2024 - Terroirsense.com

Another great vintage in Tuscany, following a run of exceptional years, and as you might exect from this estate, we are here right at the top of what the vintage has produced. Expect to find softly grilled and smoked campfire notes on the opening, unrolling over ripe brambled berries, overlaid with incense, tobacco, sweetened red pepper, orange zest, liqourice and lavender. Sassicaia is a wine with a slow, gentle reveal, with a slate texture that highlights the subtle minerality and drawn out finish. My tastebuds are totally fired up, mouth watering, this is an active experience, you are engaged and wanting to lean in what happens next. Such clever winemaking, reflecting an exceptional terroir. Carlo Paoli director, 40% new oak for ageing.

Here it is: A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia offers impeccable balance, excellent freshness and absolutely no signs of over-ripeness. The fruit balance is ideal with a hint of crunch and lasting tension from pulp and skins. The tannins are deftly managed with firm grip and enough velvetiness to add volume and length. There is no greenness on the bouquet that instead offers mulled herbs and spice, with cinnamon and clove, layered delicately between mostly red and some purple berry fruits. Redcurrant, blueberry, sweet pomegranate and Rainier cherry run strong in this vintage. A fragrant hint of heritage rose emerges with time. The oak tones are geared toward gingerbread, hazelnut, cigar, sandalwood and something like a grilled sweet red pepper. To the palate, it offers nice weight with no heavy glycerin, and a rinse of acidity that adds to the wine’s natural energy, brightness and viscosity. That marked freshness opens the wine up to long aging potential, but you still need to give it more time in bottle.