We are delighted to announce the new releases from Tenuta San Guido - 2015 Sassicaia, 2016 Guidalberto and 2016 Le Difese.
2018 is a landmark year for Sassicaia, being the 50th anniversary of their very first vintage that burst onto the global market back in 1968. To celebrate this milestone vintage, we were priviledged to welcome Tenuta San Guido’s Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta to lead an exclusive pre-release tasting in our London head office.
After a warm introduction from Armit Wines Managing Director Kirsten Kilby, Priscilla gave a compelling report of the 2015 vintage.
"It was actually an easy vintage, that came as a blessing after a difficult year in 2014. A mild winter was followed by heavy rain in the spring, and then a hot summer with a little rain in August that refreshed the vines. The conditions were actually quite similar to that of the legendary 1985 vintage."
2015 is an exceptional vintage, combining unparalleled terroir with the spoils of Mother Nature to produce masterpieces that stand the test of time. With comparisons to the 1985 vintage, and words such as ‘stunning’, ‘remarkable’ and ‘extraordinary' being bandied around by leading wine critics, it swiftly becomes apparent why anticipation for this release has reached fever pitch.
Guidalberto and Le Difese are one vintage ahead so we are offering the much-hyped 2016 vintage. Though these are yet to be scored, 2016 is shaping up to be truly stellar – with perhaps even better potential than 2015 - Monica Larner calls the vintage “a beauty, with evident precision, focus and equilibrium." Don’t overlook these wines, they tend to sell out just as quickly as the Grand Vin.
Sassicaia 2015
“Sassicaia seems to be on a roll at the moment. The 2015 could be potentially one of the best Sassicaias in decades, and underlines the fantastic grape-growing season in Europe last year.”
James Suckling
“Sassicaia is a wine of many milestones. Its status is legendary.”
Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia.
98 Points, James Suckling
The first Cabernet grapes were picked on September 10th under perfect conditions, with yields a little lower than average. As is usual at Tenuta San Guido, the fruit for Sassicaia was gently crushed and fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine spent two years in French oak prior to bottling. This is certainly an exceptional Sassicaia, with a sumptuous nose of ripe, creamy black and red fruit with cedar and spice notes. The colour is by no means dark (as is often the case with Sassicaia), and the impression on the palate is one of controlled power underpinned by gorgeous sweetness and flowering elegance. This is a very confident wine with real authority and presence, beginning with a magnificent attach of rich cassis and ripe griotte cherry followed by cigar box and leather notes, and a long finish of savoury bay leaf and minerals. It’s deceptively structured, the tannins wonderfully ripe, creamy and finely textured, while the juicy acidity also suggests that this wine has a very long life ahead of it. This 2015 exhibits everything that you’d want from Sassicaia – and more – because of its winning combination of winemaking savoir-faire, world-class terroir, old vine fruit, and an outstanding vintage. It is unarguably stunning. Drink 2022-2050.
98 Points, John Stimpfig, Decanter
Sassicaia 2015 is a beautifully integrated wine with lovely depth and great length. On the nose, expansive red cherry fruits and wild berries mingle with notes of savoury spice, Mediteranean herbs and a hint of lavender. The palate is refreshing and elegant with layers of complexity. Succulent red cherry and sweet plum fruits and a note of delicate spice lead to an incredibly long finish with a refined mineral character. Multi-layered and intensely flavoured, this is a vintage which will benefit from long ageing. Drink from 2023 – 2040.
Armit Wines
Guidalberto 2016
Guidalberto is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that carries the hallmark elegance and finesse that runs through Sassicaia, the sweet fruited Tuscan character of the Bolgheri area and the enticing aromas that Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are capable of creating together. Spending twenty months in one-third new oak barrels, this wine is irresistible two years from release yet has a proven track record of ageing well into a decade.
Armit Wines
Le Difese 2016
Le Difese is a nod towards the indigenous varieties of the region combining the appealing Mediterranean characteristics of Sangiovese with the depth of Cabernet Sauvignon to make a delicious wine that is ready to be enjoyed from release.
Armit Wines
Megan Parkinson
Marketing Executive