TENUTA SAN GUIDO 'Sassicaia' - Bolgheri, Tuscany 1998 Bottle
Red Still Wine | Italy | Tuscany | Bolgheri | 75cl
£395.00 / £4,740.00 case
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: Italy
Region: Tuscany
Sub-Region: Bolgheri
Wine Style: Full Bodied
Grapes: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
Description
The 2018 Sassicaia impresses with elegance and depth, featuring ripe blackberries, cherries, and subtle hints of lavender and spice. Its refined tannins and lively acidity create a balanced structure, while notes of cedar and dark chocolate add complexity. James Suckling awarded it 98 points, describing it as the best Sassicaia since 1988, highlighting layers of dark fruit, cedar, and sweet tobacco, with full-bodied depth and ultra-fine tannins. Jancis Robinson rated it 19 points, praising its serious, savory, and vibrant character. Decanter scored it 94 points, noting its seductive nose and floral aspects, with tertiary notes of black truffles and olives that enhance its power and complexity. This age-worthy Italian red is a captivating choice.
*****
JAMES SUCKLING 98 points
I just drank this in Zurich today and it is clearly the best Sassicaia since 1988, and it gets better and better in the bottle. It really does remind me of the awesome 1988, which can be better than the legendary 1985. The 1998 shows so many layers of dark fruit, cedar and terra cotta on the nose. It's intense and powerful; stony with sweet tobacco and berry undertones plus currants and sultanas. It's full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins and great depth. It's not completely open yet. Decant two hours in advance before serving.
JANCIS ROBINSON 19 points
Magnum. Serious, savoury, dense. Sturdy. But so refreshing. Vibrant and top quality by any measure. Zing! (JR)
DECANTER 94 points
Seductive and greedy, the welcoming nose shows we are in full stride at this point. These wines are sharing their secrets, highlighting the floral aspects and the character of Sassicaia in a decade that had more challenging vintages than the 2000s. Aromatics still lively and even with tertiary notes we are in no way sacrificing power at nearly 20 years old. Tertiary notes of black truffles and black olives appear, yet they are so deft, so beautiful, we sink into their embrace. I love this. It hovers on the edge of exoticism and excess, and yet every time it pulls back.