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Arrivederci to SASSICAIA’s Third Wine Is A “Total Pleasure Bomb” and The Finest In 20 Years!

FINAL ALLOCATION: The “Wild Boars of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia” Are Back with a “Total Pleasure Bomb.” The Third Wine of Sassicaia Delivers Its Finest Expression In 20+ Years! It’s Sassicaia Pedigree at 1/8th the Price! The 2022 Le Difese Has Arrived and IWM Loves It! DELIZIOSO! 

 

“The 2022 Le Difese is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. This exuberant yet mid-weight coastal Tuscan red is a total pleasure bomb.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous

 

The “Wild Boars and teeth of Sassicaia” are back once last time! And that means the return of one of the great values in Super Tuscan and all of wine – Le Difese! Today marks the historic return of the younger sibling and third wine of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia with the 2022 Tenuta San Guido Le Difese. We believe it to be the finest Le Difese in 20+ years! We are not alone, for all you score keepers – it is the highest-rated since 2002. DELIZIOSO!

 

What we can tell you in tasting the new line-up with Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta, who now carries the torch at the fabled estate, it was not just the 100-point, legend-in-the-making 2021 Sassicaia that impressed us, but rather this younger sibling.  It is one of those wines where the nose on the Le Difese alone is worth the price of admission, as the aromatics pull you in and transport you to the Tuscan seaside and tiny hamlet of Bolgheri. I loved it – juicy, succulent, crowd pleasing – this is the kind of wine I want to share with friends and family this summer with a burger or more appropriately some pici with wild boar ragu!

 

If you are new to the third wine of Sassicaia, you should know that Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. It is worth noting that the Cabernet here derives from the younger vines of Tenuta San Guido and the Sangiovese once went into the production of Guidalberto– the beloved best-selling second wine of Sassicaia - that has become a more serious, age-worthy wine in its own right without the Sangiovese. As for the name and label, Le Difese comes from the large lower canine teeth and husks that the local wild boars (cinghiale) from the hills of Bolgheri use to defend from attackers.

 

Hands down, LE DIFESE is our MOST EXCITING little Italian value find this year and is simply part of the fabric of IWM. In 2022, the “Baby Sassicaia” star rises from the shadows of the older siblings with its finest release to date. Best of all, this huge crowd pleaser offers serious pedigree and a taste of Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia at $47.99.  We are including it with the last of the 2022 Guidalberto - our favorite expression to date! Back up the truck on this IWM favorite at some of the best pricing in the country and unrivaled depth!

 

FEATURED WINE: The Third Wine of Sassicaia - DELIZIOSO!

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:

2022 TENUTA SAN GUIDO LE DIFESE

Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: We had this wine with Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta and the 2021 Sassicaia and 2022 Guidalberto, and she asked, “what do you think?” I said that 2021 Sassicaia is tremendous, but Sassicaia always is, regardless of the vintage. I have to tell you the wine that shocked me is the Le Difese. It is one of those wines where the nose alone is worth the price of admission, as the aromatics pull you in and transport you to the Tuscan seaside and tiny hamlet of Bolgheri. You can expect nuances of red cherries, wild berries, crushed violets, dried herbs. Nice fruit and texture here, but it remains vibrant and alive here with nice acidity. I loved it – juicy, plump, succulent, crowd pleasing – this is the kind of wine I want to share with friends and family this summer with a burger or more appropriately some pici with wild boar ragu! DELIZIOSO! Buy by the case.”

 

Antonio Galloni, Vinous: “The 2022 Le Difese is plump, juicy and expressive, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, succulent red cherry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange all race across the palate. This exuberant yet mid-weight coastal Tuscan red is a total pleasure bomb. The 2022 is an especially fine edition. It benefits from a warm year - which can be a positive for entry-level wines - earlier bottling and selection. Le Difese is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (both estate and non-estate sites) and Sangiovese.”

2022 TENUTA SAN GUIDO GUIDALBERTO

Christopher Deas, Italian Wine Merchants: "What a privlege to taste this baby icon and share the table with Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta. This wine is absolutely delicious – dare we say this is an affordable and quaffable taste of Sassicaia, as it simply goes down too easy. In 2022, the wine wears an extra layer of fruit and texture when compared to 2018 and 2020; and what stands out from the elegance, charm, and approachability, is the underlying minerality and salinity that lets you know you are on the Tuscan seaside in Bolgheri. The Sassicaia DNA is here with its red and black fruit nuances, along with the signature herbaceous and briny undertones. On the palate, there is fresh, generous, almost creamy, soft fruit, yet the wine remains tremendously light on its feet - and begs the question, how do they keep doing it with all the variables Mother Nature throws at them - especially in 2022. Expect to find notes blackberries, macerated black cherry rind, plum, wild berries, currants, black olives, herbs, tar, and salinity. As we say in every vintage of this wine, if you like refined, classy, and understated Super Tuscans of finesse, like their owner, look no further. This is easily among the most drinkable young expressions in a near quarter of a century of Guidalberto – DELIZIOSO."

 

Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the Tenuta San Guido 2022 Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia, but it's offered in a more immediate style here (thanks to the addition of the Merlot). This warm vintage opens to medium-dark concentration and very plump aromas that take you immediately to blackberry and blackcurrant sitting out in the sun at your local farmers market. The wine shows a soft and gentle side with a pretty level of elegance transmitted through the fruit freshness and the light oak spice that is discernible here but delivered with grace."

 

James Suckling: "Lots of mint with sage and fresh rosemary to the currant and orange character on the nose, as well as some ripe raspberries. The palate is very refined with creamy and crunchy tannins that run the length of the wine. It shows a crunchy and energetic personality. Give it a year or two to come together, but it’s showing brightness for the vintage."

 

This is an email ONLY offer! If you would like to take advantage of this offer that is available until 11:59pm, Jan 8th, we are asking that you email orders to chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com connect with your portfolio manager or mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors.

 

All my best,

Chris

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San Guido (Tenuta) - Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2022 750ml (750)
San Guido (Tenuta) - Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2022 750ml (750ml)
Red Wine 
Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2020 Guidalberto is a gorgeous, classy wine. Less opulent than it can be, the 2020 impresses with its energy and drive. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, rose petal, cedar and pipe tobacco all take shape... Read More
 
Current price:  $79.99
 
6+ Bottle price:  $64.99 per btl
San Guido (Tenuta) - Tenuta San Guido Le Difese 2022 750ml (750)
San Guido (Tenuta) - Tenuta San Guido Le Difese 2022 750ml (750ml)
Red Wine 
Country: Italy
Region: Toscana
Varietal: Sangiovese Blend
 
Current price:  $54.99
 
6+ Bottle price:  $47.99 per btl
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