Wine Advisor
Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia Bolgheri 1997
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Description
Sasssicaia have property that stretches over 2,500 hectares, chosen to select and plant vineyards exclusively on the most suitable lands, covering just a small area of the total surface. An area that is unique in terms of soil type, microclimate, and exposure that deserves its own appellation: DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia. The 1968 vintage saw the debut of Sassicaia, a courageous wine that at the time, broke away from the standard way of making Tuscan Wine. The wine is named after the stony soil which it comes from, and, by its nature, is destined to go far, to mark the boundaries between the different crops. Its ornamental value, with the tall cypresses running in double rows, came after that.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Daniel Thomases
More saturated ruby. Rather similar in aromas (blackcurrant and oak spices) but a bit weightier and fuller on the nose. More concentrated than the 1996, with attractive oak notes to complement the cassis. Still, this doesn't show the depth or complexity one might expect from an outstanding vintage. Finishes with a slight bitterness.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Now this is more like it. A very Bordeaux-like nose with cedar, cigar-box, autumn leaves and a touch of damp earth. With some aeration, more Morello evolves, a touch of raspberry. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh acidity, very crisp and quite backward: a wine that seems to have gone back into its shell. Again, it is utterly in the vein of a Bordeaux , Saint Julien to be more precise with a fairly austere, reserved finish. Good weight though, so I would give another 5 or 6-years before opening a bottle. Drink 2012-2020. Tasted March 2007.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
There are always surprises tasting wine ... good and bad ones. I had high hopes that 1997, a profound vintage, would produce the finest Sassicaia since the immortal 1985. A very good wine for sure, but much lighter and significantly less concentrated than anticipated, this dark ruby-colored Sassicaia exhibits moderate levels of ripeness, herbaceous black currant aromas and flavors, in addition to toasty new oak. Soft, with a surprisingly short, insubstantial finish, this wine looks to be on a rapid evolution track. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 1997 vintage was universally hailed as a true breakout year for icon wines from Tuscany. In fact, it spurred a quality revolution for Italian wine in general. Sadly, the 1997 Bolgheri Sassicaia does not live up to the hype. This is an offbeat effort with an intense sense of dryness and dustiness that ultimately diminishes the wine's pleasure factor. What little fiber there is to grab onto comes as quickly as it leaves. The effect is short and sudden. In all, this wine exhibits an advanced state of evolution. The fruit that may have still existed ten years ago is now replaced by a hollow dry oak tannin instead.
About the Producer
Tenuta San Guido is located in the seaside area of Bolgheri in Toscana, Italy. The Sassicaia wine produced by the winery is known as the king of wine in Italy and enjoys the reputation of "Italian Lafite". Marquis Mario (Mario Incisa della Rocchetta) is the founder of the San Guito winery. He loves fine wine, horse racing and environmental protection, and has always dreamed of making a wine of excellent quality, an Italian wine that can swept the upper class. Well, it's Bordeaux style. In the 1940s, Marquis Mario and his wife came to live in the winery of San Guito. The innovation of "the first person to eat crabs". Winery San Guito made Sicilian wines from 1948 until the mid-1960s, but it was only consumed in-house. 1968 was a year to remember. This year, the ever-improving Cissicaia was launched for the first time. In the international blind tasting competition that year, Cissicaia’s excellent performance shocked the entire wine world, and its popularity was comparable to that of the top wineries in Bordeaux. Sanguito Winery's vineyard covers an area of 173 acres (about 70 hectares), all located in the DOC production area of Siciia, and the garden is planted with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is 25-30 years, the planting density is 4,000-5,000 vines/ha, and the average yield is 1 kg/plant. Winemaking at San Guito Winery takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel barrels that hold between 3,500 liters and 11,000 liters. The dipping time is approximately 2 weeks. Aged for 2 years in 33% new French oak barrels with a capacity of 225 liters. The main wine produced by San Guito Winery is San Guito Winery Xishijiaya dry red wine. This wine is one of the most famous Italian wines, made with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Recent good years include: 2000, 1998, 1997, 1993, 1990, 1988, 1985, 1982, 1978 and 1975.
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