Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido 2011

Ripe black cherry and blackberry flavors pick up accents of rosemary, mineral and spice in this red. Concentrated and intense, fresh and focused, leaning toward black currant and cedar notes on the solid finish. Racy midpalate. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2017 through 2030.

The 2011 Bolgheri Sassicaia speaks to a broad, yet very distinct audience. I am absolutely charmed by this vintage. Soft cherry and blackberry confit emerge from the bouquet in thick, luscious waves. Leather, spice and tar play supporting roles. The wine offers a generous and expansive style. It also shows impressive balance and coherent inner integrity. This vintage certainly bears the hallmarks of a hot vintage, but it never feels overdone. It delivers volume, intensity and rich texture. This Sassicaia is a wine of enormous craftsmanship.

Wonderful aromas of freshly sliced coastal rosemary and currants follow through to a full body, with integrated tannins and a fine finish. This shows so much finesse and beauty. But there is a solid backbone of tannins and length. Reminds me of some of the underrated Sass of the 1980s such as 1982, 1983 or 1987. Try after 2018.

The 2011 Sassicaia Bolgheri Sassicaia does not reach the awe-inspiring heights of the two previous vintages (2009 and 2010) that are both iconic in their beauty and pedigree. Sassicaia always suffers when tasted young, which makes it a challenge to assess properly at release time. Even accounting for the wine's future evolution, there's no doubt that this vintage lacks the amazing sense of depth, energy and profound complexity that characterize the greatest editions of this landmark Italian wine. The winemaking quality is intact and the quality of fruit is beautiful indeed, albeit on the soft and ripe side. The bouquet is redolent of wild blackberry, cola, Mediterranean herb and blanched almond. In the mouth, it delivers a lingering sense of strength and firmness with ash, crushed rock and dried cherry. Perhaps the magic is still to come: Sassicaia should be aged for at least five to ten more years. Drink: 2018 - 2030