Wine Advisor
Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia Bolgheri 2004
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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: Monica Larner
The 2004 Bolgheri Sassicaia is the proverbial time capsule wine that takes you back stylistically to a retro winemaking era. These were the years of big extraction, large fruit and power and I can’t help but feel some nostalgia for this era of Baroque winemaking. When I first tasted this wine in 2008, I had given it 97 points and I praised its primary tones of succulent cherry and blackcurrant. I also remarked on what I called its “little teaser” aromas of blue flower, cola and Mediterranean herb. All of those characteristics are happily intact today. In fact, they are remarkably well preserved with the same vigor, suppleness and continuity that I remember. This was a good vintage that saw high crop yields following the unforgettable heat of the previous 2003 summer. Over the years, this wine has fleshed out beautifully and it remains elegantly muscular and toned. The major difference is that the wine’s oak nuances have become more prominent with time. That's why I scored it less this time. The bouquet makes a strong showing of baking spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy tobacco. The tannins are smooth and plump and there is a point of cedar or rosewood sweetness on the finish. The style is full and generous and this wine will continue to hold steady for years to come.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2004 has a ripe, quite rich and rounded, plum, blackberry, liquorices tinged bouquet, a little dark chocolate and espresso with superb precision. The palate is full-bodied, rounded and supple on then entry with notes of blackberry, dark chocolate, a touch of spice and leather. Very smooth and lithe towards the sensuous, harmonious finish. The ’04 is elegant and suave, but deserves another 5-8 years in the cellar. Tasted February 2010.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Served blind by the mischievous Good Bishop Gill, although fortunately for me I guessed Solaia rather than the two MW’s who were miles away! A deep ruby/purple colour. The nose is very intense, reminding me slightly of a cool Napa Cabernet with blueberry, raspberry, a touch of liquorices and espresso. The palate is full-bodied, surprisingly approachable with an attractive supple texture, quite a sumptuous Sassicaia with the persistency on the finish to suggest long-term potential. Very fine. Drink 2014-2025. Tasted August 2007.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
This was an epic vintage in Tuscany, but our samples did not live up to that promise. The 2004 Bolgheri Sassicaia opened to ripe and slightly oxidized aromas of candied fruit, prune, apricot, dried tobacco leaf and bitter chocolate. When I last tasted this wine, I noted its "retro" stylistic philosophy with a strong emphasis on richness and opulence. I wonder if that loud approach has contributed to the wine's diminished intensity today? Or perhaps our samples were not perfect? The bottom line is that this proved a well-integrated wine, but a bit flat and downtrodden as well.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Sassicaia is a lovely, understated effort. Medium in body, it presents nuanced layers of sweet dark fruit, licorice, menthol and toasted oak that gradually open onto a finely-knit frame of notable length. Today it appears to be quite reticent and still holding back much of its potential. Both bottles I sampled showed less vibrancy and freshness in both color and flavors than the other top 2004s I tasted alongside it, suggesting that the wine is still suffering from bottle shock. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Sassicaia is a lovely, understated effort. Medium in body, it presents nuanced layers of sweet dark fruit, licorice, menthol and toasted oak that gradually open onto a finely-knit frame of notable length. Today it appears to be quite reticent and still holding back much of its potential. Both bottles I sampled showed less vibrancy and freshness in both color and flavors than the other top 2004s I tasted alongside it, suggesting that the wine is still suffering from bottle shock.
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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