Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia, 2020

Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia, 2020, 14% abv.

TSG tasting at a local shop: Le Difese, Guidalberto, and Sassicaia. Finally, the main show! Supposedly 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak barrels (45% new) for 25 months. I know, young. Free tasting.

Nose: mild red fruits, mostly violet-scented celery, hint of corriander and dull lemongrass, hint of tumeric, somewhat floral but closer to certain vegetables than flowers. Seems to show some age aromatically… at least to me… for a 2020?!?!

Palate: light body, showing good red fruit, black currants, dried cherries and oranges, chalk, back palate focuses more on floral aspects with light potpourri, perfumed mushrooms, also getting some balsamic vinagrette mixed with meat sauce (yes…), diluted worchester sauce, toasted balsa. For a 2020, its showing some components I expect with more age. This tasting is free…. hmm… what's going on?

Finish: surprisingly short, slightly dry, red fruit oil, lightly toasted cedar and violets, supported by additional minor floral elements. Seems to be in a good place.

Vernacular: nose has a good balance between primary and secondary elements. Palate is light bodied, good moderate acidity, light minerality, supple tannins, and complex primary, secondary, and tertiary components. Finish is short, dry, reflecting the palate.

In the grand scheme of things, this underperformance might be attributed to… i have no idea. Some magical decanting method? Is 2020 Sassicaia supposed to taste like this? Obviously better than the 2021 Guidalberto and Le Difese. However, as a cabernet sauvignon based blend, it is surprisingly approachable at this young age. James Suckling gave this a 97, Monica Lorner from Wine Advocate gave this a 96, Bruce Sanderson from Wine Spectator gave this a 97, and Jancis Robinson gave this an 18/20 in 2023. Gonna be conservative in my evaluation.

Grade: B-