James Suckling:  "This is the best young Sassicaia in years. It's the new 1988, which was great, and sometimes better than the legendary 1985. What incredible aromas here with blueberries, spices, licorice, plums. Graphite too. Subtle and complex. Full and silky with a beautiful texture of fine tannins and an ultra-fine finish. So beautiful now but will be much better in 2015. Owner Niccolo Incisa della Rocchetta says that Sassicaia is always great in years that end with eight: 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008." Jun 2011

Robert Parker, Jr.-The Wine Advocate:  Rated as An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.  "The 2008 Sassicaia is a rich, deep wine imbued with notable class in its black cherries, plums, grilled herbs, minerals and smoke. The 2008 is a decidedly buttoned-up, firm Sassicaia that is currently holding back much of its potential, unlike the 2006 and 2007, both of which were far more obvious wines. Readers who can afford to wait will be treated to a sublime wine once this settles down in bottle. Muscular, firm tannins frame the exquisite finish in this dark, implosive Sassicaia. The 2008 Sassicaia is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. The wine spent 24 months in French oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. Tenuta San Guido is on a roll these days. Over the last few years, the estate has released a number of hugely delicious wines. These new releases are nicely aligned with their respective vintages." Aug 2011

Winery:  "Sassicaia has an intense, concentrated and deep ruby color.  The elegant aroma is complex with notes of red fruits.  The flavor is powerful, concentrated and has great depth with sweet and balanced tannins.  In the mouth it is rich and dense, yet harmonious and elegant.  The wine has a decisively long finish with significant organoleptic depth and polyphenolic structure which ensures this wine's extraordinary longevity."

Wired For Wine:  Gather round, winelovers, because today you're in the presence of greatness.  The Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri is an Italian icon.  It is a world class, highly sought-after collectible which would be an amazing addition to any collection.  Because it has such extraordinary longevity, you can take your sweet time deciding when to enjoy it, what you'll eat with it, and who will be lucky enough to share it with you... We suggest that you muster any and all self control in your possession, and let this Italian rock star develop a while longer in the bottle.  Of course, we understand if that's too much to ask.  Either now or 10 years down the road, we are envisioning our first luscious glass with paper-thin slices of bresaola with orange-olive salsa and shaved Parmesan.  Indimenticabile. The myriad of flavors and impressive nuances are too many to enumerate again (see the gushing reviews above), so we will go straight to our other favorite part: the main course.  Leave your guests speechless with a rosemary-and-pepper standing rib roast with wild mushroom pan sauce.  If you're able, go the extra mile and do the spinach-poricini stuffing; you won't regret it.  This Sassicaia's spice, herb and smoke notes are fabulous with wild boar, so we say fettuccine with a wild boar ragù is another great option.  Unveil the lovely, fine tannins with grilled lamb with a mint-pine nut gremolata and curried vegetables.  Forget about anyone leaving; they'll want one more course.  A room temperature Bra Duro cheese from Italy ought to do it.  It has a lovely firm texture and tastes of nuts, herbs and hay.  Grazie. Posso avere un altro?

Size:  750ml; cork
Varietal:  85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol:  13.5%
Ageing:  24 months in French oak barriques (1/3 new); refined in bottle 6 months prior to release
Region:  Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy