Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The blackberry and blueberry aromas with hints of orange peel and lavender are compelling here. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh finish. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, merlot and syrah. Drink after 2021.
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Wine Enthusiast
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah and Teroldego, this boasts aromas of red berry, Mediterranean herb and green peppercorn. The juicy bright palate offers raspberry, cinnamon and white pepper alongside lithe tannins and fresh acidity. Enjoy soon to capture the fruit and freshness.
Disenchanted with Italian winemaking laws in the 1970s, a few rebellious Tuscan winemakers decided to get creative. Instead of following tradition, to bottle Sangiovese by itself, they started blending it with international varieties, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah in differing proportions and with amazing success. However, some Tuscan Blends don’t even include Sangiovese. Somm Secret—The suffix –aia in Italian modifies a word in much the same way –y acts in English. For example, a place with many stones (sassi) becomes Sassicaia. While not all Super Tuscan producer names end in –aia, they all share a certain coy nomenclature.
An outstanding wine region made famous by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines for his own consumption in 1940s on his San Guido estate, and called the resulting wine, Sassicaia. Today the region’s Tuscan reds are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which can be made as single varietal wines or blends. The local Sangiovese can make up no more than 50% of the blends. Today Sassicaia has its own DOC designation within the Bogheri DOC appellation.