Sassicaia--Vintage 1976

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Sassicaia The first vintage of Sassicaia was produced at the Tenuta San Guido estate in 1968, and Sassicaia has subsequently become an international cult wine, one of the original 'Super Tuscans'. Sassicaia is almost single-handedly responsible for launching the Super Tuscan movement and is one of the most keenly sought after wines in the world. The Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was a big fan of French wines and therefore decided to experiment with the traditional Bordeaux varieties of grapes and planted a small vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Bolgheri hills in 1944. He discovered that Cabernet Sauvignon performed extremely well in their Tuscan estate, Tenuta San Guido. The Marquis had noted the estates' similarity to Graves in Bordeaux. In the same way as the "Graves" region in Bordeaux was named after the gravel soil, the earth at Tenuta San Guido gave Sassicaia its name, which in Tuscan dialect means "stony ground." In 1965, the Marquis planted two more vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Mario Incisa della Rochetta, assisted by Giacomo Tachis (Piero Antinori's winemaker) were the pioneers of modern Italian wine making and are widely credited with creating the Super Tuscan movement. The Marquis' son Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta continues the tradition started by his father. Today the vineyards cover 65 hectares and, produce about 5000 kg of grapes per hectare. The grape varieties are divided into 85 Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining 15 Cabernet Franc. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats of 35-110 hl with optional thermal conditioning of the fermentation process. Maceration lasts around 14 days. Sassicaia is aged in 33 new 225lt. French oak barrels for 24 months Sassicaia was revolutionary in using Cabernet grapes and ageing in oak barriques. These techniques soon spread throughout Italy. Sassicaia was the first Italian wine to successfully establish a reputation abroad, and was the first wine to be labelled a Super Tuscan and is considered one of the very best Cabernet Sauvignon wines in the world. Sassicaia combines intense notes of cassis and cedar, with incredible power and length. Sassicaia has achieved many notable successes. At a 1978 "Decanter Magazine" tasting in London, a panel including Hugh Johnson and Clive Coates declared the 1972 Sassicaia the best Cabernet Sauvignon in a field of 33 wines from 11 countries. In 1994 the vineyard of Tenuta San Guido was awarded its own DOC status, the first single wine to be awarded this status. Guidalberto, the second wine of Tenuta San Guido was first released in 2000 by Nicolo Incisa della Rocchetta, and his stepson, Sebastiano Rosa. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese.

12 bottles per lot

Details

Sassicaia--Vintage 1976
Tuscany. Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta
Six corroded capsules. Bin-soiled labels. Levels: five base of neck, two top-shoulder and five upper-shoulder
Tasting Note: Henceforth just referred to as Sassicaia. This seems to be my first note of this incredibly successful wine, the original super-Tuscan first released in 1968. I noted a 'good flavour, weight and balance'. At dinner, May 1994 ***
12 bottles per lot

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No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

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