Tenuta San Guido - Sassicaia 2008 (750ml)
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
"The 2008 Bolgheri Sassicaia is a wine without a winemaker. The last vintage made by Giacomo Tachis was 2007 and incoming enologist Graziana Grassini claims 2009 as her first vintage. Within the context of this retrospective the 2008 vintage opens a new chapter because it is the first wine to show evident tertiary definition and complexity. In fact the wine performs beautifully with an exalted performance and ethereal aromas. They include cassis wild berry crushed mineral licorice petrol and grilled herb. This wine is really coming together now and is entering a very exciting moment in its drinking life. It boasts finesse elegance and grace. Yet it also shows unmistakable richness and structure that gives the wine an enormous presence in terms of mouthfeel. This was one of the top highlights of the retrospective." -Monica Larner
Wine Enthusiast: 97 Points
"Recently implemented winemaker and cellar changes make this one of the best Sassicaias ever. This Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc blend delivers thick concentration and sun-kissed aromas of black fruit prune dried bay leaf black olive and tobacco. The thick fertile soils that characterize the magical strip of coastal Tuscany at Bol-gheri help shape amazing richness and intensity."
James Suckling: 97 Points
"This is the best young Sassicaia in years. It's the new 1988 which was great and sometimes better than the legendary 1985. What incredible aromas here with blueberries spices licorice plums. Graphite too. Subtle and complex. Full and silky with a beautiful texture of fine tannins and an ultra-fine finish. So beautiful now but will be much better in 2015. Owner Niccolo Incisa della Rocchetta says that Sassicaia is always great in years that end with eight: 1958 1968 1978 1988 1998 and 2008."
Vinous: 96 Points
"The 2008 Sassicaia is a rich deep wine imbued with notable class in its black cherries plums grilled herbs minerals and smoke. The 2008 is a decidedly buttoned-up firm Sassicaia that is currently holding back much of its potential unlike the 2006 and 2007 both of which were far more obvious wines. Readers who can afford to wait will be treated to a sublime wine once this settles down in bottle. Muscular firm tannins frame the exquisite finish in this dark implosive Sassicaia. The 2008 Sassicaia is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 24 months in French oak barrels."
Wine Spectator: 94 Points
"Refined and elegant this is right in step with the reserve of the vintage. Blackberry plum cassis and mineral flavors play out with subtle oak spice notes on the finish where this flexes some muscle. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2014 through 2025. 9000 cases imported." ?BS
