Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2021

Region and Vineyards

The Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC is one of Italy's most prestigious wine regions, situated along the Tuscan coast. The name Sassicaia means "the place of many stones," a reference to the region’s distinctive gravel soils, which are similar to those found in Bordeaux. These stony soils offer excellent drainage, forcing the vines to grow deep into the ground, which results in concentrated, mineral-driven fruit.

The vineyards of Tenuta San Guido are located at various altitudes, benefitting from extensive sun exposure and cooling maritime breezes. These unique conditions contribute to the wine’s fresh acidity, complex aromatics, and refined tannic structure. The 2021 vintage benefitted from a growing season that began with a rainy winter, followed by a warm summer and a perfectly timed harvest, resulting in small but highly concentrated berries.

Winemaking

The Sassicaia 2021 is produced with a meticulous winemaking process that emphasizes tradition and precision. The grapes are hand-harvested, followed by destemming and crushing. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using natural yeasts, ensuring the purity of the fruit and terroir.

After fermentation, the wine is aged for 24 months in a combination of French oak barriques from Tronçais, Allier, and Jupilles forests. About 40% of the barrels are new, while the rest are first and second passage. This careful use of oak enhances the wine's structure and complexity without overwhelming its delicate fruit character. Frequent bâtonnages and the addition of noble lees during aging add depth and texture. The wine is refined in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep, dark ruby with vibrant purple reflections.
• Aroma: The nose opens with intense aromas of fresh mint, lavender, and hints of citrus, followed by layers of sweet spices and a touch of graphite. A subtle saline quality emerges as the wine evolves in the glass.
• Palate: On the palate, the Sassicaia 2021 is rich and enveloping, with a luxurious mouthfeel that showcases flavors of dark berries, cassis, and a hint of tobacco. The saline and mineral notes carry through, giving the wine a refreshing lift and remarkable length.
• Finish: Long and persistent, with fine-grained tannins that promise further complexity with age.

Did You Know?

The 2021 Sassicaia continues the legacy of Italy’s first Super Tuscan, a wine so successful that it was granted its own DOC in 1994. The creation of Sassicaia dates back to the 1940s, when Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta first planted Bordeaux varietals in Tuscany, revolutionizing the region’s winemaking.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Florentine steak: The richness of the meat complements the wine’s bold fruit and tannic structure, while the wine’s minerality enhances the savory flavors of the steak.
• Wild boar ragù: The earthy, gamey notes of wild boar pair beautifully with Sassicaia’s depth and spicy character.
• Aged Parmesan: The salty, nutty flavors of aged Parmesan enhance the wine’s complexity, especially its saline and mineral qualities.
• Roast lamb with rosemary: The herbal notes of rosemary match the wine’s minty, floral aromas, while the lamb’s richness balances the wine’s tannins.

History of Tenuta San Guido

The history of Tenuta San Guido is deeply rooted in the Italian aristocracy and in the winemaking traditions of Bolgheri. The estate was founded by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who, in the 1940s, had the visionary idea of planting Bordeaux varietals, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, in the Tuscan hills, a region historically known for Sangiovese.

Inspired by the great wines of Bordeaux, particularly Château Lafite, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta experimented with the idea of creating a wine that would combine the character of Tuscan terroir with the structure of Bordeaux blends. His decision to plant vineyards in stony, gravelly soils similar to those of Bordeaux led to the creation of Sassicaia, a wine that became the first Italian Super Tuscan to gain international recognition.

The first commercial vintage of Sassicaia was released in 1968, and it quickly gained acclaim, leading to the creation of the Bolgheri DOC in 1994, which was specifically designed for Sassicaia and other wines of the region. The estate remains in the hands of the Incisa della Rocchetta family, who continue to produce world-class wines under the leadership of Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta, Mario’s son.

Region and Vineyards

Tenuta San Guido is located in the heart of the Bolgheri DOC, an area on the Tuscan coast that benefits from its proximity to the sea. The vineyards are planted at various altitudes, from sea level up to 400 meters, offering a wide range of microclimates and soil types, from gravel and limestone to clay.

The unique climate of Bolgheri, with its mild winters and warm, dry summers, is tempered by the cooling influence of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which helps preserve the acidity and balance in the grapes. This maritime climate is ideal for Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, which thrive in these conditions, producing wines of great structure, finesse, and aging potential.

Tenuta San Guido’s vineyards are divided into three main areas:

• Sassicaia: The estate's most iconic vineyard, producing the legendary Sassicaia wine from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes.
• Guidalberto: A vineyard named after Guidalberto della Gherardesca, producing wines such as Guidalberto, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Le Difese: A vineyard focusing on a more accessible wine, Le Difese, made with a higher proportion of Sangiovese blended with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Range

Tenuta San Guido produces three primary wines, each reflecting the estate’s philosophy of quality, innovation, and respect for tradition:

• Sassicaia: The flagship wine, made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc (15%). It is one of Italy’s most prestigious wines and has earned global acclaim for its elegance, structure, and aging potential.

• Guidalberto: A blend of Merlot (60%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), offering a more approachable style compared to Sassicaia, but still maintaining the estate's hallmark complexity and balance.

• Le Difese: A blend of Sangiovese (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), it is designed to be an early-drinking wine with vibrant fruit and smooth tannins, offering an introduction to the estate’s style at a more accessible price point.

Did You Know?

Sassicaia was so influential that in 1994, it became the only Italian wine to have its own DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), the Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, making it the first and only Italian wine region created for a single wine. This move recognized Sassicaia’s exceptional quality and its role in transforming the reputation of Italian wines globally.