Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2023

From the ruins of Castiglioncello, the macchia spread out like a carpet over the hills of Bolgheri. Running through it, the famous avenue of cypress trees leads towards the sea. Hidden amongst holm oaks, rosemary and myrtle lies a clearing of light-coloured pebbles. It was here that Mario Incisa della Rocchetta cleared one hectare for Cabernet in 1944. The stones gave the wine its name. In 2023, downy mildew cost the vineyard about 20% of the harvest. What remains is pure concentration and clarity. On the nose: blackcurrant, lavender, sage and graphite, with an unmistakable salty coastal note underlying it all. On the palate, chalky tannins, plenty of bite and an endlessly long finish. 100 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate – only the third Sassicaia ever to achieve this – and, for us, quite simply the icon of Bolgheri.