2013 Sassicaia

Tenuta San Guido has made some gorgeous wines over the last few years, but there was not much that could have been done in 2014, a year that saw heavy rainfall with little heat and virtually no sun. As a result, the 2014s are decidedly delicate, light to medium-bodied wines, a theme that runs from Le Difese up to Sassicaia. The 2013 Sassicaia, from a year with wide diurnal shifts and a late harvest, is also a bit hushed, at least today. In addition to these new releases, I also tasted two barrel samples of the 2014 Sassicaia, which is promising for the year. Two thousand fifteen brought its own set of challenges, the most significant of which was elevated sugars that resulted in very long fermentations and a subsequent desire for the estate to develop its own yeast strains. Lastly, a new winery is in the works that will be dedicated exclusively to Guidalberto, a wine that in the best years has its own distinct personality.

Tenuta San Guido fans will find much to admire in these new releases. The entry-level Le Difese and mid-tier Guidalberto are both strong (something that is not always the case), while the 2012 Sassicaia looks like it will drink well early relative to its historical track record. Sassicaia remains the most classic of the big Tuscan wines, with an emphasis on aromatic freshness and acidity that is the result of picking earlier than is common in most neighboring properties. I was quite impressed with the wines I tasted on my most recent visit a few months ago.