Sassicaia 西施佳雅 2009

Description

By James Suckling in 2017 (JS98)

An extremely rich and ripe wine with currant, cherry and balsamic aromas. Hints of leather. Follows through on the finish. Full body, round and velvety tannins that are reserved and beautiful. Sweet and sour. Savory, too. Drink or hold. This has a long life ahead of it.

By Doctorwine in 2016 (98pts)

A surprising wine considering how the vintage was initially so undervalued. And yet this is one of the greatest Sassicaia vintages, a classic like the ‘88, complex as a Pauillac Premier Cru. The color is an intense, dark ruby with almost bluish reflections. The aromas are spicy with scents of cinchona followed by notes of blackcurrant, blueberry and elegant mentholated accents. The mouthfeel is taut but already balanced with thick yet sweet tannins. A wine that distinctly stands out as the best vintage of the millennium’s first decade.

By Decanter in 2016 (JA97)

Some torrefied, caramel notes on the nose, this is a wine that vibrates with a beautifully held together crimson red colour. On the palate, there are signs of a hot vintage, with hints of exotic fig, yet it’s shot through with fresh crushed violet notes. Can feel some sun bleaching, although again a heady sweet spice fragrance takes over. This is grilled charcoal over a roasted blackcurrant Cabernet core. And then, just as you are wondering about the exoticism of the fruit, the sweet relief of fresh mint comes slipping in on the finish. What a beautiful wine. Elegant, but packs quite a punch.

By Wine Advocate in 2017 (WA96)

The 2009 Bolgheri Sassicaia is the richest and darkest edition in recent memory. This super-charged Sassicaia boasts enormous power and concentration thanks to its impressive phenolic foundation. Black currant and blackberry confit are followed by spice, leather, tar, road paving and black truffle. It shows preliminary tertiary signs with licorice and crushed mineral. The wine wraps thickly over the palate delivering tight textural firmness and integrated structure. You taste the sweetness of the fruit and the depth of the oak tannins. No matter how you approach it, this wine scores very high on the intensity meter.