Sassicaia is not only a formidable wine but it is also a trailblazer for all quality Italian wines the world over. This should be clear to everyone, especially those who insist on arguing that it is an overrated wine.
My philosophy professor used to always say that value exists if there are those who can evaluate it and it is not something grabbed out of thin air and which had a life before this. And so in the world of wine the value of a wine is determined by the view of wine lovers, experts and professionals as well as, obviously, “normal” people.
I say this because every so often I run across those who go out of their way to criticize Sassicaia because, in their view, it is overrated and not worth what it costs. Ever since I began being involved in wine, now more than 40 years, this has been a recurring discussion. The reality is that when rankings of Italian wines are drawn up, both in Italy and abroad, Sassicaia is always among the top on the lists. This was the case recently with the ranking from the magazine Gentleman that was dedicated to the 100 Italian red wines and which was based on the ratings of the leading guides and more important international publications. Sassicaia came out on top, followed by all the other reds. The same was true with vintages 1972 and 1985 that in two separate contests, where it competed against the more famous Cabernet-based wines, Sassicaia beat all the rest, the great Bordeaux included.
Thus “those who evaluate” have more than often decreed that Sassicaia is an exceptional wine and its “value” is determined by all these tests and not some magic trick. The bottom line is that this is not an “overrated” wine, as some, who for reasons unknown to me, seek to argue. The reality is clear for all to see, smell and taste and that is that Sassicaia is not just a formidable wine, but also a trailblazer for all quality Italian wines the world over and thus plays a role that all should, at least, respect and perhaps even appreciate. And it is my hope that the Sassicaia star, which sits on its label, will continue to shine bright for many years to come.
