TENUTA SAN GUIDO 'Sassicaia' - Bolgheri, Tuscany 2019 Bottle

Description

The 2019 Sassicaia exemplifies elegance and sophistication, showcasing the potential of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Decanter awarded it 100 points, praising its graceful aromas of lavender, bramble fruits, and intense minerality, alongside integrated velvety tannins and vibrant acidity. James Suckling rated it 99 points, highlighting its exceptional purity and balance, with notes of currants, cedar, and mint. Wine Enthusiast also gave it 99 points, noting enticing aromas of blue flower and cassis, with bright acidity ensuring a focused palate. This vintage represents perfection, promising longevity and refinement, making it one of the standout releases from this iconic winery.

*****

THE 2019 SASSICAIA
Sassicaia 2019 is the epitome of elegance: at once succulent yet suptle; ripe but refined, it reveals a lightness of touch which even at this early stage is beguiling. Our recent tasting comfirmed our impression of the 2019 vintage as outstanding, and indeed Sassicaia as one of Italy's truly iconic wines.

"The 2019 is one of the prettiest and most balanced editions of Sassicaia we've seen this past decade, along with the back-to-back duo of 2016 and 2015. The 2019 marries the precision of the 2016 with the rich fruit weight of the 2015." Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

DECANTER 100 points!!!
Tasted by: Aldo Fiordelli
Part of Aldo Fiordelli: My top wines of 2022
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2050
Sassicaia 2019 spent 25 months in oak (one-third new). ‘We are going longer in oak in the past few years,’ said Carlo Paoli, managing director of Tenuta San Guido. Quite pale in the glass, the nose is extremely graceful and intense with a lavender note enhanced by restrained bramble fruits, fermented citrus peel, an intense violet aroma and graphite minerality in depth. The attack is soft and full, the flavor savoury and cedary through to the finish, with integrated velvety tannins and lifted acidity. A perfectly woven structure is bound with signature freshness and fruit vibrancy, making this one for the long haul.

JAMES SUCKLING 99 points
The purity of cabernet sauvignon fruit is exceptional here, with character and sensibility that’s reminiscent of some of the great Sassicaias from the 1980s, such as 1982 or 1988. But this is much more precise and clean. Aromas and flavors of currants and berries with cedar and earth. Sage and minty character, too. It’s full-bodied yet there’s so much polish and balance, together with structure, elegance, and refinement. Hard not to drink at this stage, yet give it time and respect. This will be a classic Sass and reminds me why I love this wine. Try after 2026.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 99 points
Enticing aromas of blue flower, cassis, camphor and spice are front and center in this stunning red. The lithe, savory palate features black currant, red plum and star anise while tobacco notes linger on the long finish. Elegant, polished tannins and bright acidity keep it beautifully balanced and focused. Drink 2025–2044. — Kerin O’Keefe

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98 points
Drink Date 2025 - 2055
Reviewed by Monica Larner
Issue Date 13th Jan 2022
Source January 2022 Week 2, The Wine Advocate
The latest release from Tenuta San Guido is the 2019 Bolgheri Sassicaia. The bouquet is up front and very expressive from the get-go. It offers a generous display of crunchy, dark cherry that hints at the extra concentration and fruit weight obtained in the 2019 growing season. This vintage will be remembered for the crisp richness of the fruit and its important textural imprint. It also shows fine elegance, bordering on the ethereal, with berry aromas, tarry earth and brushes of balsam herb or grilled rosemary. Sassicaia always shows an almost-glossy finely knit quality to the polished mouthfeel, and I find it again here next to fresh acidity and firm tannins. Mouthfeel in 2019 is the wine's strongest suit. The 2019 is one of the prettiest and most balanced editions of Sassicaia we've seen this past decade, along with the back-to-back duo of 2016 and 2015. The 2019 marries the precision of the 2016 with the rich fruit weight of the 2015.

VINOUS 94+ points
Drinking Window 2027 - 2049
From: Tuscany: New Releases from the Coast (Jul 2022)
The 2019 Sassicaia is restrained and also a bit reticent in its first impression. Rose petal, dried herbs, blood orange, mint, sweet pipe tobacco and cinnamon give the 2019 striking aromatic presence. The 2019 is a mid-weight, very classic feeling Sassicaia that is going to need a number of years to open. There's good fruit depth, but the tannins are not as polished as they usually are. That could be a result of lingering stress from frost that year or recent bottling. The 2019 saw 18-20 days on the skins with natural ferments. Malos followed in tank. Aging was 25 months in barrel (1/3rd new), a longer elevage than normal. The 2019 shows beautifully with a few hours of aeration, so I am optimistic for the future. Let's see what happens. (Originally Published in March 2022) - By Antonio Galloni on February 2022

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
Lustrous mid ruby. More classic, if you like, than the 2022, 2021 or 2020 with brooding, contained richness. Raspberry and hints of cassis with a touch of cigar box and the merest suggestion of eucalyptus, but overall still a little closed. Slow to emerge but layered. Sleek yet concentrated but still quite subdued on the palate. A near-perfect balance between firm, polished tannins clinging to the juicy, elegant fruit and streamlined by energetic acidity. You could decant this and enjoy it but it will take some time to get to its peak. (WS)