Sassicaia Vertical Tasting
We recently hosted a ten vintage vertical tasting and dinner with Piero Incisa Della Rochetta of Sassicaia. This was a culmination of ten years of planning and a passion for one of my favorite wines. I’ve been a lover, collector and consumer of Sassicaia for over twenty years, this was a once in a lifetime event for Italian wine lovers.
I planned this event in the year 2001, a ten vintage vertical tasting of Sassicaia, 1996-2005. I’ve been collecting the wine and carefully storing it, with the anticipation of a child at Christmas. I personally have Sassicaia in my private cellar back to 1987, I love drinking it on special occasions and love sharing it with good friends over a great meal. The opportunity to have an event like this at our restaurant was exciting. Unfortunately, we never planned on the economy crashing and 14 people cancelling several weeks before the event. We’d been sold out for four months in advance.
I honestly feel bad for the people who had to cancel, the evening was a smashing success and our guests left with a sense of knowing they just experienced something they might never equal in their lifetime. Piero was a fabulous speaker, his passion for his family was evident, along with a pride we all felt. I felt as though we were in my house around my table having this event. The comfort level in the room was warm and inviting, all pretentiousness was gone, we were down to a level where everyone was included. Piero made everyone feel comfortable and welcome, forced everyone to ask questions and to formulate your own opinions of the wine. We all were educated, and for a few hours left Maine and were in Bolgheri experiencing Tuscany at it’s finest. Sometimes you envision something in your mind, and then the experience doesn’t measure up. I don’t think I could have imagined my special evening any better than it was.
Like all great events, you want to always have a little surprise for your guests. Our surprise was Jacopo Poli (the distiller of Sassicaia Grappa) was here as well. Just when you thought the evening couldn’t get any better, we had a fabulous dessert with Sassicaia Grappa served on the rocks. Jacopo shared the story with us of how Piero’s uncle Niccolo first had him serve grappa this way. Jacopo had never served any of his Grappa’s this way and was a little skeptical, needless to say, he tried it and fell in love with drinking Grappa this way. The amazing thing for me is that whenever I get a speaker from Italy for one of my dinners, The passion and pride that is so heartfelt. I always leave with the feeling I want to go to Italy, or somehow purchase a winery in Italy.
The euro is way down, now just might be the time to take that trip to Italy you’ve always dreamed of. I just booked my next trip for April 2009. See you in Italy.
Dick Varano
3 Comments to “Sassicaia Vertical Tasting”
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Hi Dick,
It must have been a wonderful evening. I am a Sassicaia lover myself. I have most of the vintages back to 95, except for 02. Maybe I skip the 05 vintage, because of my general dislike of many tuscan wines of this vintage.
Me and five friends visited Tenuta San Guido in 96 and were guided by Niccolo Incisa della Rocchetta himself. It was the day of my (wine) life. I have loved Sassicaia since my first sip of the wine in 1980.
Do you have any comments on the vintages you tasted?
None can doubt the voracity of this article.
I’m really into it, thanks for this great stuff!