Description
Sassicaia 2016
A lover of great wines, the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was seduced by the tasting of an Italian wine (Sassicaia) whose bouquet reminded him of that of an old Bordeaux wine. From then on, this aristocrat had the ambition to produce a Tuscan wine that could rival the biggest names in the Bordeaux vineyards.
Following his marriage in 1942 to Clarice della Gherardesca, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta settled on the Tyrrhenian coast within the superb region of Maremma in Tuscany. A pioneer, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta created the Tenuta San Guido between Grosseto and Livorno and decided to break with the traditional Tuscan Sangiovese by planting, when it had never been done here, Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape variety, which reveals the aromatic expression sought by Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, is planted on a stony terroir of Tuscany with many similarities to the typical gravel of Médoc soil.
Today it is the Marquis Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta and his daughter Priscilla who perpetuate the tradition of this estate whose vineyard covers 75 hectares. Passionate and visionary, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta thus gave birth to Sassicaia (“place of stones” in Italian), a wine that has become iconic and rivals the most prestigious wines in the world.
If from 1948 to 1967, the production of Sassicaia is reserved for the private consumption of the family, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta realizes that over time, this wine develops evolutionary notes giving it a structure and an aromatic palette of great finesse, guarantees of exceptional quality and aging potential. Wishing to refine the quality of his wine, Mario is advised by his cousin Piero Antinori, a descendant of the illustrious family of wine merchants, and by oenologist Giacomo Tachis. Its quest for excellence involves in particular the diversification of grape varieties, the control of yields and the evolution of breeding methods.
Thus Cabernet Franc is planted within the estate in addition to Cabernet Sauvignon and the vinification is carried out according to Bordeaux know-how. 1968 is the first vintage unveiled to the general public. This wine surprises as much as it fascinates and the reception of international critics is very enthusiastic. Since then, each release of a new vintage of Sassicaia is an event for lovers of great Italian wines. The Sassicaia vineyard is planted on a mosaic of soils with a varied typology which contributes to the signature of this exceptional wine. The significant presence of limestone, clay and stony soils promote deep rooting and sufficient water supply for the entire vineyard.
Facing west/south-west, the vines are located at an altitude of around 100 to 400 meters with a density of 3,600 to 5,550 feet for the oldest vines compared to around 6,200 feet for the youngest. In 1983, the Tenuta San Guido was the first estate in Italy to be given its own designation with the consecration of the D.O.C Bolgheri Sassicaia.
A pioneer since 1942 in its choice to plant a different grape variety than those used until then in the production of Tuscan wines, Tenuta San Guido is considered to be the estate that inspired what will give birth almost thirty years later to the “super Tuscans”. Indeed, in the 1970s, some Tuscan winegrowers decided to break with the specifications of Italian appellations, in order to magnify the expression of their terroirs through innovative cultivation and winemaking methods. Sassicaia is one of the most emblematic labels of Italian wines, recognized by critics for its quality and extreme finesse. The 2015 vintage was voted the best wine in the world by the Wine Spectator and the 2016 vintage was awarded a score of 100/100 by Robert Parker.
