Sassicaia 2022

Sassicaia 2022, the Bordeaux-inspired drive of Bolgheri

In this red from Tenuta San Guido, cabernet meets the landscape of the Maremma and a story that shifted the reference points of Tuscan wine. I recommend it for its assertive maturity, but also for its delicate freshness and its evolution: Sassicaia 2022 seems to open up gradually, without losing its elegance.

Bolgheri, a terroir and a singular vision

The estate lies in Bolgheri, in the Maremma, on soils where alluvial deposits, silt, clay, sand and gravel blend, with a marked presence of iron and manganese. The property covers 2,500 hectares, including 75 hectares of vineyards spread across plots on the hills behind Bolgheri. The old vines send their roots deep into the ground. At around 400 meters above sea level, they experience cool nights and hot, dry summers, conditions that give this wine a particular setting.

The story of Sassicaia begins with Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and his project to create an Italian wine inspired by the great principles of Bordeaux. Going against a local tradition more closely associated with sangiovese and nebbiolo, he chose cabernet sauvignon, which the estate's trials showed could develop a bouquet reminiscent of an aged Bordeaux. Sassicaia was kept private from 1948 to 1967, the time it took for this approach to find its place. The wine later gained international recognition and today has its own appellation, the DOC Bolgheri Sassicaia. The 2022 vintage blends 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. It is aged 24 months in French oak barrels, within a respectful agricultural approach.

On the nose, I find fresh blackberries and tart cherries, accompanied by notes of blue rosemary and lavender. The palate stands out for its silky texture and delicate freshness, while the ripe, generous character adds depth to the whole. The fruity impressions do not take up all the space: the aromatic nuances and the sensation of finesse make for a profile more complex than a simple expression of fruit. The wine evolves positively and opens with time. It is therefore a bottle to approach without haste, letting the glass reveal its facets, rather than seeking an immediate effect.

At the table, with patience and precision

I would imagine it alongside a dish of roast or braised meat, whose richness could complement its full body without masking its notes of black fruit, cherry and herbs. You can also save it for a meal you want to linger over, taking the time to follow it in the glass: its evolution is part of its appeal. Sassicaia 2022 is for those who love structured reds, but who also seek the finesse of a silky texture and a freshness that balances the maturity. An invitation to be patient, and then to savor.