Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2023 (750ml)
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Description
A Bolgheri red built mostly from Cabernet Sauvignon with roughly 13% Cabernet Franc, this is the 2023 vintage of Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido, the wine that first made this coastal corner of Tuscany a name for Bordeaux varietals. The 2023 growing season was not an easy one, marked by a cold winter, heavy rainfall and a serious bout of downy mildew that forced severe fruit selection and cut yields by around a fifth. What survived that sacrifice is a wine of unusual openness for a Sassicaia in its youth, since this label is normally reserved and slow to reveal itself. The Cabernet Franc component pulls real weight here, sharpening the wine's linearity and lift.
Expect aromatics that lean cool and fragrant: wild sage and rosemary, dark currant and plum, then a turn toward crushed stone, rose petal and a spice rack of pink peppercorn, nutmeg, anise, cardamom, bergamot and blood orange, with a soft minty herbal note. The palate is supple and finely drawn rather than muscular, its chalky tannins polished and velvety, its acidity bright and tensioned in a way that promises long life in the cellar. Some will find it lighter and more floral than the classic Bolgheri mold; those who follow the estate closely will read that finesse as the vintage speaking honestly. It keeps shifting in the glass, showing new facets as it opens, and it will reward patience.
Expert Reviews
Very few vintages of this legendary Tuscan wine deliver the immediate joy, richness and complexity found in the Tenuta San Guido 2023 Bolgheri Sassicaia. Tasted both before and after its January 2026 bottling, this is a wine that feels uncannily open and generous in its youth, a rare trait for Sassicaia, which is famously inscrutable at this stage. The 2023 vintage was marked by a cold winter and above-average rainfall followed by a severe outbreak of downy mildew that damaged leaves, forcing brutal fruit selection and resulting in a 20% reduction in yields. Only the estates willing to make these sacrifices succeeded, and the best wines rank among the most compelling and elusive of recent years. The blend includes 13% to 14% Cabernet Franc alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, with the Franc playing a decisive phenolic role that reinforces elegance, linearity and brightness. Aromas unfold with wild sage, rosemary and dark fruit before moving into crushed stone minerality, rose petal and a finely spiced spectrum of pink peppercorn, nutmeg, anise, cardamom, bergamot and blood orange, joined by a delicate note of mentuccia romana, sweeter and gentler than classic mint. The palate shows beautiful softness framed by chalky tannins and mineral tension. Its acidity shines bright and guarantees long cellar aging potential. The wine remains fluid and flexible in the glass as different facets of the bouquet emerge. Like the legendary 1985, 2023 was a difficult and stressful vintage shaped by a cold winter, yet it stands as proof that great pressure can indeed give birth to diamonds. (Wine Advocate, January 2026)
Very cool, complex and pretty aromas of black currants, fresh herbs such as sage and rosemary, with lavender and violet undertones. Medium- to full-bodied with crunchy and layered fruit delivering currant, plum, spice, cedar and bark flavors as well as polished and velvety tannins. A very clear and distinctive Sassicaia with true character of the estate. Drink in two or three years and beyond. (James Suckling)
Sassicaia 2023 will divide drinkers. While its quality is without question, it takes the idea of finesse and elegance to another level. In truth, this is more a reflection of the vintage conditions than a winemaking decision – but that's what all great wineries aim to show in the glass, isn't it? For some, this will be too light, too floral, and too far removed from ‘classic’ Bolgheri. For others, especially those who have been following this estate for several years, it's a dream come true; a true-to-life model for the future of Italian reds. Me? I'm on the fence. It almost pales in comparison to the depth of fruit and chewy tannins of 2022, while the 2019 tasted alongside emphasises juiciness and silkiness. Supple, lifted and fragrant, 2023's pure, crunchy bramble fruits, succulent, sapid mid-palate and prolonged freshness make you think differently...in a very good way. 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Cabernet Franc. (Decanter, February 2026)