Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 1999

Complex aromas of minerals, berries, tobacco and shells. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a succulent, refined aftertaste. A pretty Sass.

Deep garnet and very little sign of age in the colour. Some cedary freshness and a touch of old polished furniture. Dark cherry and still has some cassis. Very slight touch of coffee. Rich, smooth chocolate texture but it lightens up to a refined finish. Still has great balance and length and finishes with that mouthwatering freshness that is, for me, Sassicaia’s hallmark. Lots of complexity.

Another excellent year, perhaps a bit warmer than the 2000. The ruby-garnet color has a good intensity and the aromas are ethereal and wrapping with notes of red fruit preserved in spirits, tamarind and a few hints of dried flowers. The tannins are a bit more pronounced and slightly bitter, a sign of aging, while the aftertaste is warm and the persistence good.

Dense ruby-colored, with a tight personality, the 1999 Sassicaia offers up aromas of smoke, vanilla, and red as well as black currants. Medium-bodied, with high tannin and excellent purity, this elegant, restrained, moderately concentrated effort needs another 2-3 years of cellaring. It should keep for 12-15 years. The abundant tannin in addition to a certain austerity may prove troublesome in the future.