3 magnums per lot
Details
SASSICAIA
As a student in Pisa, during the 1920's, the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta dreamed of creating a "noble" wine. Like most of the Italian aristocracy at the time, the Marchese's taste in wine ran strongly to fine Bordeaux. After settling with his wife into their two thousand acre Tenuta San Guido estate, he experimented with several French grape varieties and concluded that Cabernet, "the bouquet I was looking for," would thrive in central Italy. Distinct from the local, traditional Tuscan and Piedmontese varietals of Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, the use of Cabernet Sauvignon as the primary component of a wine represented a radical shift away from the traditional Tuscan varietals. The Marchese's decision to plant Cabernet was also influenced by the microclimate of Tenuta San Guido, which is similar to Graves in Bordeaux. Just as "Graves" means gravel in French, Sassicaia in Italian means "place of my stones." The Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta passed away in 1983. His son, Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta, now oversees all estate operations. The 75 hectares of vineyards are planted with 85 Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 Cabernet Franc.
Vintage 1985 *****
1984 provided the sparks; in 1985 the engine fired. A brilliantly successful and well-timed vintage. Producers rose to the occasion, merchants bought and their eager customers, me among them, fell for them. With the advice of Belfrage and Gleave, I explored a wide range of the best. Unquestionably my favourite Italian vintage.
MB, Vintage Wine
Sassicaia--Vintage 1985
Tuscany
In original wooden case
"I had this wine in a blind tasting - I have had it frequently, and have never failed to give it a perfect rating. At the same time, I have often mis-identified it in blind tastings as the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild. In this tasting, the wine was phenomenal. The color remains an opaque purple. The bouquet is beginning to develop secondary aromas of cedar and truffles to go along with its intense cassis, black-raspberry, blackberry, tarry, toasty personality. Exceptionally dense, concentrated, and full-bodied, this wine possesses layers of concentrated fruit that are beautifully balanced by the wine's sweet tannin and well-integrated acidity. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. A monumental Cabernet Sauvignon, it is one of the greatest wines made this century. Tasting after tasting continues to confirm this wine's surreal level of quality. Despite being 11 years old, it remains youthful. My best guess for when it will reach full maturity is between 2000-2025. What a wine!" Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (Feb 1997) (erobertparker.com)
3 magnums per lot
As a student in Pisa, during the 1920's, the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta dreamed of creating a "noble" wine. Like most of the Italian aristocracy at the time, the Marchese's taste in wine ran strongly to fine Bordeaux. After settling with his wife into their two thousand acre Tenuta San Guido estate, he experimented with several French grape varieties and concluded that Cabernet, "the bouquet I was looking for," would thrive in central Italy. Distinct from the local, traditional Tuscan and Piedmontese varietals of Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, the use of Cabernet Sauvignon as the primary component of a wine represented a radical shift away from the traditional Tuscan varietals. The Marchese's decision to plant Cabernet was also influenced by the microclimate of Tenuta San Guido, which is similar to Graves in Bordeaux. Just as "Graves" means gravel in French, Sassicaia in Italian means "place of my stones." The Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta passed away in 1983. His son, Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta, now oversees all estate operations. The 75 hectares of vineyards are planted with 85 Cabernet Sauvignon and 15 Cabernet Franc.
Vintage 1985 *****
1984 provided the sparks; in 1985 the engine fired. A brilliantly successful and well-timed vintage. Producers rose to the occasion, merchants bought and their eager customers, me among them, fell for them. With the advice of Belfrage and Gleave, I explored a wide range of the best. Unquestionably my favourite Italian vintage.
MB, Vintage Wine
Sassicaia--Vintage 1985
Tuscany
In original wooden case
"I had this wine in a blind tasting - I have had it frequently, and have never failed to give it a perfect rating. At the same time, I have often mis-identified it in blind tastings as the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild. In this tasting, the wine was phenomenal. The color remains an opaque purple. The bouquet is beginning to develop secondary aromas of cedar and truffles to go along with its intense cassis, black-raspberry, blackberry, tarry, toasty personality. Exceptionally dense, concentrated, and full-bodied, this wine possesses layers of concentrated fruit that are beautifully balanced by the wine's sweet tannin and well-integrated acidity. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. A monumental Cabernet Sauvignon, it is one of the greatest wines made this century. Tasting after tasting continues to confirm this wine's surreal level of quality. Despite being 11 years old, it remains youthful. My best guess for when it will reach full maturity is between 2000-2025. What a wine!" Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (Feb 1997) (erobertparker.com)
3 magnums per lot