2020 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri Tuscany 750 ml

Sassicaia is the granddaddy of all Super Tuscans, and the 2020 is still setting the pace in Bolgheri.

It earned 97 points from three publications—Decanter, Vinous, and James Suckling, with Antonio Galloni calling it a “bold, rapturous wine” in Vinous. This is the rare Super Tuscan that stands with the First Growths of Bordeaux. It’s an absolute must for collectors of the world’s iconic red wines. 

In the 1920s, noble families across Europe considered Bordeaux to be the source of the world’s finest wines. The Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, the man responsible for creating Sassicaia, was determined to see if he could match the First Growths of France on his native soil.

The dowry from his wife, a countess, had included 7,500 acres belonging to the Tenuta San Guido estate across the Tyrrhenian Coast. The resemblance of the stony soil to the Bordeaux appellation of Graves inspired him to plant cuttings of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Initially, the wine was derided in Italy, as its brusque power ran contrary to the light-bodied red wines in style at the time. But with aging, stunning nuances sprung to the fore—elegance and power married in a sumptuous package. The next leap in quality came with the help of the Marchese’s nephew, winemaker Piero Antinori, and the famous enologist Giacomo Tachis, who encouraged planting vineyards closer to the sea. Within years, Sassicaia was recognized as a king among peers, inspiring countless imitations.