Sassicaia lovers are going to find the 2012 a wonderful surprise for the famous super Tuscan red of Itlay. The 2012 is a classic styled Sassicaia with wonderful freshness, firmness and finesse. I loved the floral and currant aromas as well as the dense and compacted palate of dark fruits and fine tannins. It shows a beautiful suppleness that reminds me of the excellent 1997, 2001 or 2004. And it develops wonderfully growing in texture and in flavor with every minute in the glass. It is the best Sassicaia since 2009.
I tasted the 2012 blind today against the 2011 Sassicaia and had to give the edge to the 2012. I thought the richness and ripe round tannic texture of the 2011 was clearly outstanding quality as was the ripe fruits and nectarine undertones as well as the velvety, slightly chewy tannins. But the 2012 simply shows more freshness and class in the glass than the 2011. And it has as a more precise mouthfeel and complexity.
A lot of this was due to the cooler nights of the grape growing season that summer in Tuscany in 2012 that gave a small edge to cabernet sauvignon grown at Tenuta San Guido, the wine estate on Tuscany’s coast where Sassicaia is made. The 2012 is about 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. But may be it’s just down to style and I like the gentler, finer impression that the 2012 Sassicaia gives.
Below are my tasting notes on the two vintages of Sassicaia was well as its sister wine of Guidalberto. Click for notes and scores.
Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2012
Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri-Sassicaia Sassicaia 2011
Tenuta San Guido Toscana Guidalberto 2013
