“So wonderful I just lost myself in it rather than writing a tasting note” was Jancis Robinson’s description of the legendary Sassicaia 1985, tasted earlier this year, as she awarded the wine full marks. Yet fans of Italian wine will be no doubt a little deterred by its price tag – a market price of £16,000–£21,150 per 12×75 (depending on whether you find one with a perfect original wooden case).
Looking at Antonio Galloni’s recent 2010 scores, it would seem that buyers do not have to dip too far into their wallets to purchase a truly super Tuscan. He described Sassicaia 2010 as “intensely saline, savory and energetic […] a vintage to follow,” awarding the wine 96 points. Currently it has a market price of £1,030 – interesting when compared with older vintages, as shown below. The 2006, scored one point higher by Galloni, is almost double the price at £1,976.
Galloni described 2010 as “one of the great all-time vintages in Tuscany”, yet it is currently the most affordable Sassicaia available. Equally promising is Sassicaia 2009, which was awarded 98 points by James Suckling and compared to the 1985 by Ian D’Agata, who called it “one of the two or three best Sassicaias” that he had tasted. The 2009 has a current market price of £1,078. When fellow great vintages are selling for upwards of £20,000 a case, buyers may do well to take note.
