{"product_id":"sassicaia-tenuta-san-guido-2019","title":"Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 2019","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__top\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__product media\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tasting-notes-text\"\u003eThe Wine Advocate\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eRP \u003c\/span\u003e98\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mnmd-review__summary\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 col-sm-4\"\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eReviewed by:\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.robertparker.com\/author\/J5rTSgu2a5HCsxbTy\"\u003eMonica Larner\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 col-sm-4\"\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eRelease Price:\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003e$450\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"col-12 col-sm-4\"\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDrink Date:\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2027 - 2055\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTenuta San Guido’s 2019 Bolgheri Sassicaia remains somewhat reserved or \"behind\" aromatically, signaling that it still has a long road ahead before reaching its peak drinking window. It shows rich concentration with elegant fruit weight and a pretty mineral backline, supported by natural spiciness, freshness and energy. Phenolically rich and reminiscent of the slower-aging 2009 vintage, the bouquet is distinguished by a black petrol or campfire ash character that gradually gives way to plump, sweet fruit and bright accents of spice. The palate reveals texture through slowly resolving tannins, and while the 2019 can feel a touch more abrupt when tasted alongside the supremely fluid and supple 2023, it promises depth and longevity with further cellaring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sc-goWbiv loNZbm\"\u003eThere are great vintages that produce iconic wines, difficult vintages that yield compromised results and, on rare occasions, underdog vintages that exceed all expectations. The 2023 growing season at Tenuta San Guido is a case in point.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGiven all the bad news surrounding the 2023 season—the frost, the rain and the downy mildew—I approached the vintage with a healthy dose of skepticism. Those doubts, however, were emphatically dispelled during two visits to Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri: first in December 2025, before bottling, and again in January 2026, after bottling, to taste the 2023 Sassicaia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat I discovered was a magnificent wine that excels in intensity, focus and balance. Most importantly, it is profoundly delicious, drawing you in until the last drop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The vintage can be summed up in three key words: fruit, salinity and length,” said Tenuta San Guido General Manager Carlo Paoli during our December 2025 tasting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo one who works in viticulture will remember 2023 as an easy year. This complex and challenging growing season began with mild autumn temperatures following the 2022 harvest, only to be interrupted by a cold front on December 20 that brought rain and wind. The extended winter chill that followed through much of January and February ensured proper vine dormancy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarch then turned warmer and wetter, with the first signs of green appearing in the vineyards—not only for early varieties such as Merlot but also for Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn April 3 and 4, a severe frost event dropped temperatures to minus four degrees Celsius. Vines that had already experienced budbreak were damaged, with Merlot in particular suffering losses.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpring continued with frequent rain and below-average temperatures. Carlo Paoli recalls still wearing knit sweaters until June 12. Four days later, on June 16, more rain arrived.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This put us to the test,” he said. Rising humidity and temperatures created ideal conditions for downy mildew, which decimated vineyards in Chianti Classico, Montalcino and parts of Bolgheri.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJuly and August then brought scorching heat, with temperature spikes exceeding those of 2022. The difference, Carlo Paoli notes, was duration; in 2022, the heat persisted longer, whereas in 2023 it burned hotter and faster.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In 2022, we applied kaolin four times to protect the leaves from excessive solar radiation, but in 2023, we only used it once,” Carlo Paoli explained.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdditional rain fell on August 11, but these showers proved beneficial, relieving vine stress and allowing phenolic ripeness to develop alongside sugar ripeness. In this respect, the 2023 Sassicaia stands as a textbook example of the two, finding perfect alignment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClusters were compact yet loose and deeply colored. At Tenuta San Guido, harvest concluded on October 5, following a period marked by warm days and cool nights—conditions that sent Carlo Paoli back to his closet in search of those knit sweaters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“The berries were so crunchy, you could see them bounce off surfaces,” he recalled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGiven the many pitfalls of the 2023 season, the risk of error was high, yet the vineyard and winery teams navigated the vintage with skill and precision. The results can be tasted in this truly exceptional bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eJan 30, 2026\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"virtualcellardoor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53755688845605,"sku":null,"price":44000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0245\/9081\/1170\/files\/4mbySWkTQSGDnDvLiPQOAw_pb_x960_f015847d-b73b-41ea-a619-40e2e21d06e3.png?v=1788700375","url":"https:\/\/virtualcellardoor.myshopify.com\/products\/sassicaia-tenuta-san-guido-2019","provider":"virtualcellardoor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}