Sassicaia 西施佳雅 2004

Description

By Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar in 2011 (ST97)

Deep ruby-red. Captivatingly intense yet refined aromas of ripe red cherry, mint, smoke and black truffle, complicated by lovely mineral and floral elements. Ripe, rich and velvety on entry, then concentrated in the middle, with flavors of red cherry, cassis, spices, bay leaf, dark chocolate and espresso. Amazingly well balanced and fresh wine, with sound, bright acids supplying wonderful lift and precision and smooth, noble tannins adding considerable power and grace. The finish goes on for minutes, highlighted by an enchanting floral-mineral quality; in my experience, the appearance of this strong floral component (in the absence of herbal or peppery aromas and flavors more typical of lesser vintages) at this early stage of development is typical of the greatest versions of Sassicaia. One of the top dozen Sassicaia bottlings ever.

By Wine Enthusiast in 2008 (WE97)

The best Sassicaia of the last 10 years, the 2004 vintage is an outstanding achievement. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc highlight the beauty of Tuscany and portray the region in terms of thick chocolate fudge, succulent cherry and currant, exotic spice and vanilla seed. Beyond those big aromas are little teasers: blue flowers, Mediterranean herbs, cola and light mineral shadings. It’s lush and full in the mouth and will hold 20 or 30 years. *Cellar Selection*

By James Suckling in 2013 (JS94)

A wine with beautiful aromas of currants and light chocolate with hints of sweet tobacco. It’s full-bodied and very refined with integrated tannins. It still needs time to give its full potential, but it’s a beautiful wine with excellent length and class. Drink or hold.

By Wine Advocate in 2015 (WA93)

The 2004 Bolgheri Sassicaia is the proverbial time capsule wine that takes you back stylistically to a retro winemaking era. These were the years of big extraction, large fruit and power and I can’t help but feel some nostalgia for this era of Baroque winemaking. When I first tasted this wine in 2008, I had given it 97 points and I praised its primary tones of succulent cherry and blackcurrant. I also remarked on what I called its “little teaser” aromas of blue flower, cola and Mediterranean herb. All of those characteristics are happily intact today. In fact, they are remarkably well preserved with the same vigor, suppleness and continuity that I remember. This was a good vintage that saw high crop yields following the unforgettable heat of the previous 2003 summer. Over the years, this wine has fleshed out beautifully and it remains elegantly muscular and toned. The major difference is that the wine’s oak nuances have become more prominent with time. That’s why I scored it less this time. The bouquet makes a strong showing of baking spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy tobacco. The tannins are smooth and plump and there is a point of cedar or rosewood sweetness on the finish. The style is full and generous and this wine will continue to hold steady for years to come.

By Doctorwine in 2016 (92pts)

A good vintage, the product of a regular growing season. It has a nicely intense ruby color and classic, slightly balsamic aromas along with notes of blackcurrant, blueberry and violet along and hints of underbrush. The flavor is taut but has a nice acidity and the tannins are held in check by a balanced and elegant structure. The aftertaste is full and very persistent.