Sassicaia 1985 150cl

VI had this wine in a blind tasting - I have had it frequently, and have never failed to give it a perfect rating. At the same time, I have often mis-identified it in blind tastings as the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild. In this tasting, the wine was phenomenal. The color remains an opaque purple. The bouquet is beginning to develop secondary aromas of cedar and truffles to go along with its intense cassis, black-raspberry, blackberry, tarry, toasty personality. Exceptionally dense, concentrated, and full-bodied, this wine possesses layers of concentrated fruit that are beautifully balanced by the wine's sweet tannin and well-integrated acidity. The finish lasts for nearly a minute. A monumental Cabernet Sauvignon, it is one of the greatest wines made this century. Tasting after tasting continues to confirm this wine's surreal level of quality. Despite being 11 years old, it remains youthful. My best guess for when it will reach full maturity is between 2000-2025. What a wine!

Unreal for its sheer hedonistic quality. Oozes rich and ripe fruit and sweet wood character, but doesn't taste overripe. Loaded with cassis and mineral flavors backed by tar and spice. Much thicker and darker in color than the '88, which is more elegant. In its history the winery has made no other Sassicaia with such massive tannins, yet the texture of the wine is supple. Made from very small yields. Tempting now.--Sassicaia vertical. Best after 2004. PM