Tenuta San Guido : Sassicaia 2020

The elegance and the freshness of an emblematic Tuscan wine

The estate

An unmissable name among the great wines of Tuscany located between Livourne and Grosseto, the Tenuta San Guido estate was created from the marriage between the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta and Clarice della Gherardesca.

The vineyard

The Sassicaia vineyard is planted on a mosaic of soils with a varied typology that contributes to the signature of this exceptional wine. The important presence of limestone, clay and stony soils favours deep rooting and a sufficient water supply for the whole vineyard.

The vines are located at an altitude of approximately 100 to 400 metres above sea level, facing west/southwest.

In 1983, Tenuta San Guido was the first estate in Italy to be granted its own appellation with the consecration of the D.O.C Bolgheri Sassicaia.

The wine

Sassicaia ("place of stones" in Italian) from Tenuta San Guido is one of the most iconic wines of Tuscany, both for its history and for its extreme quality.

A lover of great wines, Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was entranced by an Italian wine with a bouquet that reminded him of an old Bordeaux wine. From then on, this aristocrat's ambition was to produce a Tuscan wine that could compete with the greatest names in Bordeaux.

A pioneer, he decided to break with the traditional Tuscan grape varieties (Sangiovese and Nebbiolo) by planting Cabernet Sauvignon in 1942, which had never been done there, on a stony Tuscan terroir with many similarities to the gravelly soil of the Medoc.

Eager to refine the quality of his Bolgheri wine, Mario was advised by his cousin Piero Antinori, a descendant of the illustrious wine merchant family, and by oenologist Giacomo Tachis. His quest for excellence included diversification of the grape varieties, control of yields and changes in the methods of maturation. Cabernet Franc is planted on the estate in addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine-making process is carried out according to Bordeaux savoir-faire.

1968 was the first vintage to be unveiled to the general public. This surprising wine caused a stir and was received with great enthusiasm by international critics. Since then, each release of a new vintage of Sassicaia is an event for lovers of great Italian wines.

The vintage

Although the winter began with mild temperatures, February was marked by an intense cold spell. The conditions at the beginning of March, combining rainfall and mild temperatures, advanced rapid development in the vineyard. At the end of the month, the sudden drop in temperature, with recurring frost, led to uneven growth. Alternating sunny days with rainy and cool episodes, this atypical spring led to significant vegetative growth. From mid-June onwards, the mild weather saw scattered beneficial rains that ensured rapid and optimal ripening of the grapes. To avoid the risk of over-ripening, the grapes were harvested earlier than in previous years. Despite lower yields than in other years, the September harvest was healthy, concentrated and of high quality, revealing a very good balance at first tasting.

Winemaking and ageing

A meticulous sorting preceded gentle pressing and delicate destemming. Spontaneous alcoholic fermentation without the addition of external yeast, accompanied by delestage and pumping over to ensure optimal extraction. Malolactic fermentation in steel tanks. Frequent decanting before bottling. Aged for over 25 months in barrels (45% new wood, 45% one-wine barrels and 10% two-wine barrels). At the end of the ageing process, the juice was transferred to steel tanks for selection and final blending. After bottling, additional ageing is carried out before the wine was released on the market.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc.

Characteristics and tasting tips for Sassicaia 2020 from Tenuta San Guido

Tasting

A pure expression of the estate's characteristic elegance, this Sassicaia 2020 from Tenuta San Guido unveils during tasting its freshness, complexity and elevated, silky tannins.