Professional Ratings

• 100 Decanter
  One of the secret of Bolgheri’s mediterranean and windy climate is to turn pyrazines from the Cabernets into extra-dimensional scents of citron and leafy aromas. Sassicaia has been producing Cabernet-based wines here since 1968, which are typically marked by this fresh character on the nose. There's a note of kiwi peel that's particularly intense in this 2016, along with some cedar. In this vintage, its character is - if possible - more restrained than usual and definitely more so than the exceptional 2015. Small dark fruits lurk in the depth of the super-youthful nose, while on the palate the wine is not completely ready to drink - despite the good integration of oak, the tannins are still crunchy, perfectly ripe yet chewy, pushed by a lively acidity. An extremely elegant Sassicaia with a refined finish, this is built for the long haul and is possibly the best of this decade.
• 98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  Tenuta San Guido’s 2016 Bolgheri Sassicaia, a wine that earned a three-digit score upon release, is more closed at the moment, showing an intriguing evolution in the glass as it moves from timid to briefly expressive before settling back into a quieter phase. The bouquet reveals beautiful savory tones with an almost ferrous edge, gaining complexity with elegant citrus accents of bergamot and blood orange that give the wine added articulation. The palate is defined by a delicate touch of fruit sweetness followed by lasting freshness, delivering both poise and power. Produced in a classic, structured vintage on the estate’s coastal Bolgheri vineyards, this is unquestionably an epic wine, though tasted alongside the 2021 and 2023 in this vertical, it yielded a narrow edge to those later vintages on this occasion.

• 98 Wine Enthusiast

  Aromas of cedar, tobacco, blue flower and spiced plum fuse together in this elegantly structured, stunning red. One of Italy’s most iconic wines, the smooth, compelling palate delivers flavors of black cherry, cassis, licorice and a hint of wild herb. Taut, polished tannins provide seamless support while fresh acidity lends impeccable balance. A savory saline note lingers on the finish. 

• 97 James Suckling
  Subtle and complex aromas of blackcurrants, fresh herbs, lavender, rosemary and oyster shell. Some moss, too. Very perfumed. Full-bodied yet integrated with refined tannins that melt into the palate. Extremely classy and polished. Hard not to drink now. Try after 2021, when the tannins will have integrated even better in the wine.
• 97 Wine Spectator
  A rich, black cherry– and black currant–flavored red, accented by cedar, wild herb and spice notes, this is supple and vibrant, with a lingering aftertaste of fruit and an emerging mineral element. Firms up nicely on the finish. Hard to keep from enjoying this now, but it will develop nicely with age. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2043.
• 95 Jeb Dunnuck

  Coming from a long, hot, even growing season, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated 2016 Sassicaia sports a deep purple color as well as a beautiful bouquet of black and blue fruits, tobacco lead, lead pencil, and plenty of minerality. This carries to a medium to full-bodied wine that has good concentration, nicely integrated acidity, a notable sense of purity and elegance, and plenty of grainy tannins. This elegant, focused Sassicaia will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and drink nicely over the following two decades or more.