Wine Advisor
Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia Bolgheri 1999
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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: Neal Martin
The ’99 Sassicaia is comparatively simple on the nose and like the 2001, very savoury with touches of mulberry, dark cherries, mint and truffle. One could describe it as ‘light but elegant’. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly coarse tannins, notes of dried herbs: thyme and rosemary, a niggling hardness towards the angular finish. This is quite Medocian in style, but it lacks the complexity and depth of flavour of the 1998. Tasted February 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Dense ruby-colored, with a tight personality, the 1999 Sassicaia offers up aromas of smoke, vanilla, and red as well as black currants. Medium-bodied, with high tannin and excellent purity, this elegant, restrained, moderately concentrated effort needs another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should keep for 12-15 years. The abundant tannin in addition to a certain austerity may prove troublesome in the future. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The 1999 Bolgheri Sassicaia steps forward with extra richness and darkness that sets a decisive tone. Compared to the neighboring vintages, this wine shows more succulence and textural thickness that is immediately apparent. It also reveals some heaviness and flatness that remind you of its age and its ongoing evolution. The bouquet delivers tones of dark fruit, black olive, cured meat and smoked tobacco. Reading between the lines, you are playfully reminded of the wine's important legacy and its territory-specific identity. But this vintage is more simplistic than the others. If you have a bottle, I wouldn't wait too much longer, although for now this wine is holding strong.
Reviewed by: Edward Beltrami
Saturated dark ruby. Sultry aroma of crushed blackberry complicated by a whiff of cinnamon. Layers of earthy, mouthfilling blackberry flavor are supported by gauzy tannins and a welcome core of acidity, followed by white pepper and graphite on the pliant finish. Supple and elegant.
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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