The 2017 Sassicaia was expertly built to withstand a long aging future. This fascinating wine magically captures the hallmarks of cool-temperature winemaking in one of the hottest vintages in recent years. Vintners, not vintage, won this round.

I found the aromas here to be authentically "Tuscan" in character, more so than other vintages, with balsamic and Mediterranean elements that borrow directly from the Sangiovese playbook. In terms of oak, Tenuta San Guido takes advantage of the softer tannins found in Allier and Tronçais oak.