Sassicaia 2012

Deep dark, rich ruby with slight purple shimmer. Very intense and dense nose, opens with fine herbal notes, then lush blackcurrant to bite into, fine macchia notes in the background. Balanced and round, shows a lot of vivid fruit, unfolds with fine-meshed, supple tannin that builds in many layers, long finish.

Lots of lavender, minerals and black currants on the nose. Turns to black berries. Full body, ultra-refined tannins and an exquisite finish. This is all about delicacy, finesse and grace. Yet there is a solid core of ripe tannins giving it backbone and outstanding form. Better in 2017 but so delicious already. A wonderful surprise.

The 2012 Sassicaia is dark and immediate, with gorgeous up-front richness, density and power. Black cherry jam, cloves and new leather are some of the many signatures that take shape in the glass. The 2012 is an unusually deep, concentrated Sassicaia that is going to need time in bottle to develop the full breadth of its aromas and flavors. Today, it is a bit monolithic, so readers need to be patient.

A rich and intense style, this exhibits flavors of vanilla, toast and black cherry wrapped in stern tannins. A bit gruff overall, showing just a hint of the elegance and finesse on the lengthy finish. Needs some time. Best from 2019 through 2032. 18,000 cases made. 

One of Italy's most iconic bottlings, the 2012 Sassicaia is drop-dead gorgeous. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, it boasts sensations of blue flowers, cedar, juicy red currants, ripe raspberries, white pepper and a balsamic note. Structured, radiant and loaded with finesse, it delivers everything you'd expect from a world-class wine and more. Drink 2018–2032. 

Slightly less concentrated crimson than Ornellaia 2012 with a little shading towards the rim. Very obviously fine-boned claretty Cabernet – so much less ripe than Ornelllaia! More like San Leonardo.. Dry finish. Not at all sweet. Almost defiantly dry and many palates would reproach this for being lean. I like it but there would be some tasters I would not bother to serve it to.

The Tenuta San Guido 2012 Bolgheri Sassicaia stands as the outlier in this mini vertical, a wine that does not conform to the same constraints of precision and depth seen in the other vintages presented here. Shaped by a hot and dry growing season marked by scorching winds from Africa, the early-ripening 2012 benefited from sufficient winter rainfall that helped build underground moisture reserves, creating some parallels with the 2023 vintage now coming to market. The wine shows an open-knit and relaxed profile, evolved with hints of amber at the rim, yet it remains sturdy with a noticeable firmness to the tannins. This is likely the best outcome the winemaking team could hope for given the conditions, and the persistence of freshness is what continues to hold the wine together today.