In 2013 the estate achieved its own separate DOC (Bolgheri Sassicaia), after being a subzone in the Bolgheri DOC since 1994. This was the only wine Sassicaia for a long time, but in 2000 Tenuta San Guido added the Guidalberto (with 40% Merlot in the mix), and then in 2002 La Difese (370 000 bottles, 8 months in wood, with Cabernet Sauvignon from their vineyards and Sangiovese bought from Chianti Rufino and Chianti). The wine was well received by critics, including a 100 point score from Robert Parker for the 1985 vintage. He was helped by Antinori’s winemaker Giacomo Tachis. The first vintage of Sassicaia was the 1968, released in 1971. Niccolò’s son Piero Antinori encouraged Mario to make the wine a commercial proposition. So he got hold of cuttings (an Italian clone of Cabernet Sauvignon from Migliarino Pisano) and planted them in 1944 in Castiglioncello di Bolgheri, protected from the sea influence. This was a region used to making simple wines for early consumption, but he wanted to make wines like the fancy French ones he was enjoying at the time. Mario initially started making Sassicaia for family and friends in the 1940s. There are 1500 hectares of woodland, and 400 hectares of this is wildlife refuge. Mario built a flat-racing horse stud here, as well as planting vines, and the rest of the estate is used for traditional agriculture, as well as wildlife. The other half of the estate went to Clarice’s sister Carolotta, who married Marchese Niccolò Antinori. He married well (to Countess Clarice Della Gherardesca), and his wife inherited half the Sassicia estate, which gave him the freedom to follow his passions: horse racing and wine. Mario Incisa (full name – Marchese Mario Incisa Della Rocchetta), Prisiclla’s grandfather, is responsible for the way it is today. This is a large estate of 2500 hectares, with just 100 hectares used for production of wine. Sassicia is a modern classic: in the space of 50 years this wine estate, from a previously unheralded region, has found itself with a seat at the very top of fine wine production, along the leading classed growths of the Médoc and top right bank wines, on who it was initially modelled. She is part of the family, and has worked here since 2012, taking care of external relations. Priscilla Incisa presented the 2020 vintage of this famous Tuscan estate in London, along with some back vintages.
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