Sassicaia

This is the famous Sassicaia, one of the first Supertuscans wines. The wine was first produced by Maio Incisa della Roche in 1948 using Cabernet Sauvignon (reputedly sourced from Lafite) for family consumption. Small quantities were released commercially in the 1970s after international consultants had been engaged to improve production. Initially only a Vino di Tavola because it did not conform to the wine laws of the time, it was then promoted to IGT before becoming the first estate to receive its own DOC (Bolgheri). Although it has now been somewhat overshadowed by Ornellaia and Solaia, incidentally produced by his cousins, Sassicaia remains an important Supertuscan, especially as it was one of the first to win international recognition, with the 1972 vintage coming first in a 1978 Decanter blind tasting of 33 "great clarets' from 11 countries.

What of this bottle? Acid and fruity on the nose, it was soft with less pronounced fruit (compared with the nose) on the palate. Acidity was abundant and of the type that makes the mouth water, appearing late in the palate but continuing to a nice long finish. Nice!