Sassicaia 2022

$447.99

From a previous vintage:

In the 1920s the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta dreamt of creating a ‘thoroughbred’ wine and for him, as for all the aristocracy of the time, the ideal was Bordeaux. This is how he described it in a letter to the esteemed wine critic, Luigi Veronelli dated 11 June 1974:

“…the origins of my experiment date back to the years between 1921 and 1925 when, as a student in Pisa and often a guest of the Salviati Dukes in Migliarino, I drank a wine produced from one of their vineyards…which had the same unmistakable “bouquet” as an aged Bordeaux….”

In the 1940s, having settled with his wife Clarice on the Tenuta San Guido on the Tyrrhenian coast, he experimented with several French grape varieties (whose cuttings he had recovered from the estate of the Dukes Salviati in Migliarino) and concluded that the Cabernet had "the bouquet I was looking for."

A wine made mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon was a fundamental change to the Tuscan and Piedmont tradition of Sangiovese and Nebbiolo, respectively. The innovative decision to plant this variety at Tenuta San Guido was partly due to the similarity Mario Incisa had noted between Tuscan terrain and that of Graves in Bordeaux.

‘Graves’, or ‘gravel’ in French refers to the rocky terrain which distinguishes the Bordeaux area; similarly, the gravely vineyard sites in Tuscany impart the same characteristics on Sassicaia, "stony ground", as its cherished French brother.

The Marchese's first vintages were not warmly received. Critics accustomed to light, local wines were not encouraging; it was not taken into consideration that wines made from the more complex Cabernet Sauvignon grape would need more time to mature and develop.

And thus from 1948 to 1967, Sassicaia remained a strictly private affair, only to be consumed at Tenuta San Guido.

Each year, a few cases were stored to age in the Castiglioncello di Bolgheri cellar. The Marchese soon realized that by ageing the wine it improved considerably.

Friends and relatives now urged Mario Incisa to experiment further with his project and perfect his revolutionary winemaking style. It was not until 1968 that Sassicaia was first commercially released – the welcome was worthy of a Bordeaux Premier Cru.

Over the next few years, the cellar was moved to a temperature-controlled location, steel fermentation vats replaced wooden vats, and French barriques were introduced to the aging process.

Tenuta San Guido's newest release is the 2021 Bolgheri Sassicaia.

"This is a classic vintage of an Italian icon now celebrating its 50th vintage. The Tenuta San Guido 2018 Bolgheri Sassicaia lays out a familiar blueprint that borrows from the proven track record of this landmark estate that extends into the hills just beyond the Tyrrhenian shores of Tuscany. This vintage is crystalline and pure in its delivery, and if you are familiar with previous editions, it is impossible to mistake this wine for anything but Sassicaia.

The growing season started off cool and wet but turned to warm and dry conditions comfortably before the harvest. Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc in a supporting role deliver a graceful mid-weight texture that holds back style-wise in terms of phenolic density. The wine's careful balance is achieved thanks to the nuanced character of the fruit, the present acidity, the well-managed structure and the contained alcohol. The palate is lifted and bright, the finish is polished and long, and the wine skips over any heaviness on the mid-palate. The bouquet is especially intriguing with a very lively plummy fruit element that is enhanced by baker's chocolate, pepper spice, iron ore, caramel and pie crust. There is also a green character that adds positively to the bouquet with aniseed, tea leaf, soya, menthol rub and black olive. The fruit maturity is spot-on with no elements that feel over or underripe. Overall, the 2018 Sassicaia weighs in with a svelte frame and long persistence. Moreover, it is distinguished by the archetypal elegance and pedigree of the classic vintages of the past. This new release gives you much pleasure to await."

- Robert Parker - 100 Points

Taittinger Nocturne

$119.99

This distinctively sweet “sec” Champagne (with 18 g/l residual sugar) is pale yellow in colour with shimmering highlights and bubbles that form a delicate ring of fine foam. On the nose, there are aromas of white flowers, yellow peach and dried apricots. The palate is smooth and creamy yet very crisp and gives way to flavours of raisins and fruit in syrup. This mature, rich and round wine culminates in a long, smooth finish. Nocturne is the perfect accompaniment to fruit desserts or lightly sweet pastry or cakes as well as rich pâtés with toasted brioche.

A blend of more than 35 different crus from a variety of harvests, this wine spends four years on the lees before being disgorged. An 18 g/l dosage of cane sugar combined with the slow cellar ageing creates a round, mellow, smooth Champagne that is perfect to enjoy with a dessert or late in the evening.

Pongracz Sparkling

$23.99

In 1973, Desidirius Pongrácz was appointed Chief Viticultural Adviser at Distillers Corporation. During his 20-odd years in viticulture at the Cape, Pongrácz helped shape the South African wine industry through his intellect, insight, knowledge, innovation, vision and above all, fearless tenacity to pursue what he believed to be right. Pongrácz died at the age of 61 in hospital after a tragic accident while transporting Chardonnay vines to Uitkyk Estate. He was cremated on 16 August and his ashes remain in the wall of the family cemetery on Meerlust Estate. In an obituary Nico Myburgh, owner of Meerlust at the time, referred to Pongrácz as “a true gentleman and good friend”.

Spottswoode Cabernet

$397.99

This is one of the classic California Cabs, and the 2016 vintage, the 35th, earned a perfect 100pt score from Wine Advocate. This Cabernet Sauvignon is big and rich without being overwrought. Lovely aromatic nuances give way to great mouthfeel and length with wonderful, dynamic energy. Aged 20 months in French oak barrel (60% new). The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.

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Inniskillin Vidal Icewine 375ml

$74.99

Originally developed in the cool wine regions of Germany in the mid-1700s, Icewine is ideally suited to the Niagara peninsula climatic conditions. Grapes are left on the vine well into the winter months. The resulting freezing and thawing dehydrates the fruit, and concentrates the sugars, acids, and extracts in the berries, thereby intensifying the flavors and adding complexity. Uniquely Canadian!

Herradura Anjeo

$84.99

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Cabo Wabo Reposado Tequila

$77.99

Sammy Hagar created this bang-up tequila while off-stage in Guadalajara and ultimately brought it back to serve at his nightclub, Cabo Wabo, in Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico. It's the genuine article, 100% weber blue agave, baked in wood-fired adobe ovens and double-pot distilled the old-fashioned way for a rich, soul-warming taste. If you can't get to Mexico this winter, bring some Mexico home!

Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

$35.99

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Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel

$99.99

An impressive 93 points from renowned wine critic Antonio Galloni at Vinous for the 2012 vintage! The review: "The 2012 Zinfandel Geyserville is quite exuberant in this vintage. Savory herbs, tobacco, smoke, menthol and dark red/blackish-toned fruit burst from the glass in an exotic, juicy Zinfandel-based field blend loaded with personality. The tannins could use another year to soften, but readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine. The brisk, energetic finish is incredibly appealing. The blend is 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (Mourvèdre)." Oh, and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave the 2012 vintage 91 points, too.