Really just wonderful. You'd never guess this was 35 years old, still so much fruit, red on the nose, dark on the palate alongside some good tertiary flavours. A long life ahead, but drinking magnificently now.
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A few years back, this vintage was like an uncut gem—still rough around the edges, its aromas shy and reserved, craving a generous breath of air to truly shine. I speculated it was at least a decade away from hitting its stride. Fast forward four years, and it's as if the wine found its voice, bursting into a symphony of flavor. It has entered its prime drinking window, presenting an intricate tapestry of mature aromas, balanced with an exquisite sweetness and vibrant fruitiness. Its robust structure promises decades of drinking pleasure ahead. This is the best Sassicaia I’ve ever had, very much old-school left bank Bordeaux in its style and feel. 96/97pts.
TN: Intense, dark fruit nose with menthol notes, tobacco, herbs. The same on the palate, lots of fresh dark berries, minerality, tobacco, some truffles, menthol notes, some red and blue fruits underneath that become more pronounced with time. Some caramel sweetness on the back, which balances the earthy and tertiary aromas beautifully. Superb precision, every flavor is in HD. There are plenty of well-integrated tannins that are fine but still noticeable, plenty of freshness and a fine velvety texture. This can go on for several more decades. Lots of stuffing, lots of poise, superb!
Decanting: This needs at least an hour to fully open up. Better two.
Tasted blind. Herbal notes of green bell pepper, defined and precise basket of red and blue fruit including cherry, cranberry and blueberry. Aging notes of wet earth, pipe tobacco and leather. Also cedar wood, dark chocolate, mineral notes of graphite and just a hint of liquorice. Juicy and fresh palate with a tight structure. This felt like a stereotypical, classic Bordeaux. I placed this in Péssac as it didn’t quite fit the muscular shape of a Paulliac or St Julien nor the feminine elegance of a Margaux. Amazing testament to the aging potential of Sassicaia and no doubt one of the best Sassicaias I’ve had.
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During a Matter of Taste dinner, only brief impressions. In very good shape, complex aromas of dark fruit, mushrooms, forest floor. Elegant mouth feel.
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Medium red with brown tint. Very earthy, brothy, black fruit with developing roasted meat and singed green herbs. Great earthy black cherry, cassis and bell pepper flavours. The finish is long and textured but balanced.
Served next to an 88 Margaux that seemed a bit simple in comparison. Always thrilling to drink this wine. The 1988 Sassicaia is a great wine.
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3/26/2024 - tufcspike@yahoo.co.uk Likes this wine: 97 Points
Really just wonderful. You'd never guess this was 35 years old, still so much fruit, red on the nose, dark on the palate alongside some good tertiary flavours. A long life ahead, but drinking magnificently now.
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3/18/2024 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
A few years back, this vintage was like an uncut gem—still rough around the edges, its aromas shy and reserved, craving a generous breath of air to truly shine. I speculated it was at least a decade away from hitting its stride. Fast forward four years, and it's as if the wine found its voice, bursting into a symphony of flavor. It has entered its prime drinking window, presenting an intricate tapestry of mature aromas, balanced with an exquisite sweetness and vibrant fruitiness. Its robust structure promises decades of drinking pleasure ahead. This is the best Sassicaia I’ve ever had, very much old-school left bank Bordeaux in its style and feel. 96/97pts.
TN: Intense, dark fruit nose with menthol notes, tobacco, herbs. The same on the palate, lots of fresh dark berries, minerality, tobacco, some truffles, menthol notes, some red and blue fruits underneath that become more pronounced with time. Some caramel sweetness on the back, which balances the earthy and tertiary aromas beautifully. Superb precision, every flavor is in HD. There are plenty of well-integrated tannins that are fine but still noticeable, plenty of freshness and a fine velvety texture. This can go on for several more decades. Lots of stuffing, lots of poise, superb!
Decanting: This needs at least an hour to fully open up. Better two.
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3/8/2024 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted blind. Herbal notes of green bell pepper, defined and precise basket of red and blue fruit including cherry, cranberry and blueberry. Aging notes of wet earth, pipe tobacco and leather. Also cedar wood, dark chocolate, mineral notes of graphite and just a hint of liquorice. Juicy and fresh palate with a tight structure. This felt like a stereotypical, classic Bordeaux. I placed this in Péssac as it didn’t quite fit the muscular shape of a Paulliac or St Julien nor the feminine elegance of a Margaux. Amazing testament to the aging potential of Sassicaia and no doubt one of the best Sassicaias I’ve had.
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3/3/2024 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
During a Matter of Taste dinner, only brief impressions. In very good shape, complex aromas of dark fruit, mushrooms, forest floor. Elegant mouth feel.
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12/7/2023 - David J Cooper wrote: 97 Points
Medium red with brown tint. Very earthy, brothy, black fruit with developing roasted meat and singed green herbs. Great earthy black cherry, cassis and bell pepper flavours. The finish is long and textured but balanced.
Served next to an 88 Margaux that seemed a bit simple in comparison. Always thrilling to drink this wine. The 1988 Sassicaia is a great wine.
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