Tenuta San Guido 'Sassicaia' 2018

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 lively plummy fruit element enhanced by baker's chocolate, pepper spice, iron ore, caramel and pie crust. A green character also 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.

Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc

98 Points - James Suckling

Beautiful, serene aromas of sweet berries and wildflowers with light lavender and fresh sage. Aromatic. A firm, silky red with medium to full body and ultra-fine tannins that are polished and beautiful. Lots of blue fruit and blackberries follow through to a beautiful finish. Tight and polished. Bright acidity. It will be lovely to drink in a few years. The 2017 and 2016 were about power, but the 2018 is about finesse and subtlety. Try after 2024.

98 Points - Wine Enthusiast

All about radiance and finesse, this iconic Tuscan red has beguiling aromas of cedar, wild red berry, menthol and pipe tobacco that mingle with fragrant blue flowers. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, the focused, elegantly structured palate is vibrant and savoury, delivering cassis, orange zest, licorice and a hint of coffee framed in taut, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it energized and balanced. Drink through 2033.

97+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This classic vintage of an Italian icon celebrates 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.