Tenuta San Guido - Sassicaia Bolgheri 2020 (750ml)

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Producer	Tenuta San Guido
Country	Italy
Region	Tuscany
Subregion	Bolgheri DOC Sassicaia
Varietal	Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage	2020
Sku	38360
Size	750ml

   

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96

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18

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97

The 2020 vintage in Bolgheri experienced a humid autumn with abundant rains from mid-October to the end of December. Temperatures were mild, sometimes above the seasonal average. February brought intense cold, with temperatures dropping close to 0°C. March began with strong sea winds, rains, and mild temperatures, contributing to the enlargement of buds, especially in early varieties like Merlot. A late March cold front from Russia caused a marked drop in temperatures, with north winds and some freezing at night. This did not damage the Cabernet Sauvignon vines, but some Cabernet Franc plants experienced bud selection, causing vegetative development on the secondary buds.

April and May were mild with alternating sunny days, average seasonal temperatures, and rainy, cooler days. This unusual spring led to increased vegetation and production, requiring extra attention from agronomists to reduce excess plant production. From mid-June onwards, the climate improved, bringing sunny and warm days until harvest time, with some interruptions due to precipitation in July and August. The grapes ripened about 7-8 days earlier than normal, reaching full ripeness quickly while maintaining health and excellent quality.

The Bolgheri Sassicaia 2020, crafted from these meticulously selected grapes, presents a captivating bouquet of ripe black fruits, dried herbs, cedar, and minerality on the nose. The palate is full-bodied and elegantly structured, with rich, concentrated flavors of dark fruits, dark chocolate, espresso, and a hint of graphite. The oak aging contributes subtle vanilla and toasty notes, perfectly balanced with the fruit and earthy nuances.

The wine boasts remarkable balance between power and finesse, with vibrant acidity and well-integrated tannins. The finish is long and persistent, reflecting the unique terroir of Bolgheri. The Sassicaia 2020 has excellent aging potential and will continue to evolve and improve over the next 15-20 years, showcasing the exceptional quality and style that has made this wine an icon in the world of Italian viticulture.

A very perfumed Sassicaia on the nose with forest floor, citrus and deep dark fruits. Blackcurrants. Cedar and black tea. Some balsamic. Pine needles. Full and very succulent. Really long, structured and complete. Tangy and energetic with a linear line of fresh tannins and acidity. Very Sassicaia throughout. 85% cabernet sauvignon and the rest is cabernet franc. Very attractive now in a youthful and vibrant way, but this will be better in three to four years. Try after 2027.

The Tenuta San Guido 2020 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to those who seek a more voluptuous, opulent and, ultimately, more accessible wine. This vintage is a precise reflection of Coastal Tuscany, as opposed to a more generic "Tuscan" wine from elsewhere in this large central Italian region. You taste the ripeness and soft fruit weight that comes from a coastal appellation with especially bright luminosity and warm Mediterranean offshore breezes. Sassicaia from the cool vintages is a famously reticent or withholding wine in its earliest years, requiring a long lead time before it eases into an ideal drinking window. That's definitely not the case here. This wine is beautiful and compelling straight out of the gate, showing a lovely mix of dark fruit, oak spice, balanced freshness, textural richness, soft tannins and an expertly contained 14% alcohol content. The wine's immediate character is what distinguishes this vintage, and I wouldn't get too fussed by exaggerated cellar-aging ambitions. The wine awards sheer pleasure in its current form, with dazzling primary fruit and soaring intensity over the near and medium term.  Monica Larner

Full bottle 1,370 g. The prototype Maremma bordeaux blend, Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc in this case. Canopy was especially vigorous in spring and needed trimming, followed by a warm summer with occasional showers that meant the grapes ripened more than a week earlier than usual and, to retain Sassicaia's trademark freshness, harvest started in the first week of September and ended in the last week of September with vines on the hills at over 300 m (Vigna di Castiglioncello and Vigna del Quercione). The wine was matured for 25 months in 45% new French oak barrels before going into tank for selection and blending.
Mid crimson; easy to see the bottom of the glass. Intense nose with a hint of iodine. Great tanginess that seems more Tuscan than bordelais. Long and really builds towards its ample finish. Bone dry. Embryonic but convincing that a fine future lies ahead. Subtle rather than flashy. I wouldn't guess it was as much as 14%. I aerated it and gave it an hour in a young-wine decanter, and it was already a delight to drink. With more immediate appeal than many earlier vintages.