# Sassicaia (2023)

- **Producer:** Tenuta San Guido
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Toscana, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €320
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 18–20 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, violet, rose, lavender, herbaceous, mint, cedar, vanilla, smoke, charred wood, tobacco, leather

## About this wine

Created in 1944 by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta as an experiment with Bordeaux grape varieties on the Tuscan coast, Sassicaia is one of Italy's most iconic wines. Originally produced exclusively for private family consumption, its first commercial release occurred with the 1968 vintage. The estate's unique gravel-laden soils inspired the name Sassicaia, which means 'place of many stones'. In 2013, the Italian government recognized its status by granting it a dedicated single-estate DOC, Bolgheri Sassicaia.

## Interesting facts

- DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia is Italy's only single-estate appellation dedicated exclusively to one producer.
- The name 'Sassicaia' translates to 'place of many stones', referring to the stony terroir of the estate.
- Originally produced strictly for private consumption, its first commercial vintage was 1968.
- The 2023 vintage received a 100-point rating from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

## Food pairing

Sassicaia's firm tannin structure, vibrant acidity, and intense fruit concentration require savory, protein-rich dishes and rich fats. High-protein meats soften the tannins, while earthy elements like mushrooms and truffles harmonize with the wine's herbaceous and cedar nuances.

## Wine making process

Grapes are hand-harvested with strict double sorting to isolate pristine fruit. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using indigenous yeasts, with maceration lasting between 15 and 25 days. Malolactic fermentation occurs partly in steel and partly in oak. The wine is aged for 23 to 24 months in French oak barriques (40% new oak), drawn from forests such as Tronçais and Allier, before being bottled unfiltered.