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IWM
e-Letter: April 1, 2004
Sassicaia: The Pride
of Toscana |
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In
this Issue:
• The
One That Started It All...
• Sassicaia
2001
• Guidalberto
2001 |
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and
more:
• The
Super Tuscan Pioneer
• IWM
Seminars: New Events!
• Monthly
Wine Club Highlights |
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The
One That Started It All...
You’ve
heard it before, Sassicaia is the most collectible
Italian
wine to come out of the Boot. The now historic
wine is single-handedly responsible for launching
the Super Tuscan movement and remains one
of the most sought-after wines in the world.
Marchese Nicolo Incisa della Rochetta continues
the 36 year old tradition at the Tenuta San
Guido estate, which is considered by many
to be the birthplace of Tuscan Cabernet.
He is NOT influenced by the international
demand to create a super-extracted, monster
red wine; instead, he continues to produce
the most elegant Super Tuscan there is! And
staying true its style, the 2001 barrel samples
showcase the same complexity and balance
that made Sassicaia great.
IWM is pleased to feature the wines of the
Tenuta San Guido estate by offering the future
arrival of Sassicaia 2001 and the second-coming
of Guidalberto from the same vintage. To
reserve your allocation or to speak personally
with a Portfolio Manager, please contact
Perry
Porricelli at 212.473.2323.
*Please note the allocation of Sassicaia
futures is limited, so make your reservations
promptly.
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Sassicaia 2001
Perhaps the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon
and Cabernet Franc blend ever produced. Sassicaia
is a masterful cuvee of the best grapes from
the vineyards of Tenuta San Guido, situated
on the hilly slopes in a subzone of Bolgheri.
In 1994 this magical spot was crowned with
its own DOC status, the first time an Italian
wine was granted this honor.
For the 2001 vintage, we can expect great
things. The grapes were picked prior to arrival
of the late rains, which will create a wine
of greater elegance and perfume than say
the 1998, and of less density than that of
1997.
Tasting Notes:
A deep red color fills the glass, highlighted
by streaks of purple. The nose displays
an elegant floral fragrance with touches
of cassis, black wild berries and cherries.
Even in its youth this wine exhibits complex,
dry and sapid flavor, wrapped in a wooly
blanket of tannin that tickles the palate
with a slightly peppery quality; lingering
and persistent aftertaste.
2001 Sassicaia $147.00 750 ml
Click here to reserve your allocation of
Sassicaia!
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Guidalberto
2001
The 2000 vintage was the first release
of a new wine created by the mastermind
of Sassicaia, Nicoló Incisa della
Rocchetta, and his stepson, Sebastiano
Rosa, former manager at Argiano who collaborated
in the creation of the Super-Tuscan Solengo.
Named for Guidalberto della Gherardesca,
a maternal ancestor of Incisa who cultivated
vines in Bolgheri in the 19th century,
the wine is based on a different idea than
Sassicaia, though undoubtedly shaped by
the same soil and climate. The vinification facility for Guidalberto
takes place in a converted olive oil
mill at Tenuta San Guido. Fermentation
takes place separately for each of the
three varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Sangiovese. Oak aging occurs
over twelve months in 225 liter French
and American oak barrels (a.k.a. barriques).
Tasting Notes:
The 2001 is a beautifully balanced, dark
ruby wine strongly marked by sweet
black fruit, ripe, forest berries and
restrained notes of cigar wrap, nutmeg,
violet and vanilla. The supple palate
is exuberant with fresh, ripe fruit
contained by silky tannins. The finish
is long and satisfying.
2001 Guidalberto $69.00 750 ml
Click here to purchase Tenuta San Guido
2001 Guidalberto
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The Super Tuscan Pioneer
The term "Super Tuscan" conjures
up words like creativity, freedom, spirit,
and defiance. In the time pre-dating
the Sixties, no one considered making
a wine crafted along Bordeaux lines on
Italian soil, much less in a region not
yet established viticulturally. The theory
back then was that vines exposed to the
sea winds and salty air of Bolgheri would
produce poor results. More importantly,
the viticultural regulations set forth
by the DOC and DOCG limited creativity,
expression, and the qualitative potential
of terroir.
It
was the drive and foresight of Mario Incisa
della Rocchetta, along
with guidance
from Giacomo Tachis (Piero Antinori's winemaker)
that made enological history and created
the Super Tuscan movement. Mario believed
in the evolution of Tuscany's viticulture
and planted a small vineyard of Cabernet
Sauvignon in the Bolgheri hills in 1944.
The estate, Tenuta San Guido, was influenced
by the location’s similarity to Graves
in Bordeaux. “Graves” means “gravel” in
French, and similarly, the earth at Tenuta
San Guido gave Sassicaia its name, which
in the Tuscan dialect means “stony
ground.” After 25 years of experimentation
and relentless energy, Sassicaia entered
the world stage in 1968 to critical acclaim
with its first international release and
thus the Super Tuscan Pioneer was born...
Click
for Podere Forte, "Where
Sassicaia left off..."
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IWM
Seminar Series: Two New Events!
Italian Pairings: Vino e la Cucina
Saturday, April 17, 2004 (1:00 - 2:30 pm), $75
Join
IWM's Director of Tastings, Anne Burrell,
for Wine and Food Italian Style! Be sure to
catch her April 24th at 10:00 PM EST on the
Food Television Network's "Iron Chef," as
she supports Mario Batali in his efforts to
capture the title.
More Events at IWM:
A Winemaker in Montalcino
Saturday, April 24, 2004 (1:00 -2:30 pm), $75
Italy's flying winemaker stops in at IWM to
discuss his wines from different corners of
Italy. His resume includes Ciacci Piccolomini
and Redigaffi. Learn how wines are crafted,
then taste the results.
To reserve your seat(s) today, call Derrick
Mize at 212.473.2323
Click here to register for all IWM Seminars!
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Monthly Wine Club Highlights
March marked the first full scale shipment
of IWMs Patron Wine Club. Take a peek into
each of the three clubs and learn about the
nine featured wines Sergio hand selected
for IWM Passport Members. Additionally, benefits
included wines delivered below market value,
wine books, glasses, tasting notes, and more...
Exploration Passport:
Meroi 1998 Ross di Buri (Friuli)
Laila 2001 Montepulciano (Le Marche)
Elena Fuci 2001 Aglianico (Basilicata)
Big Guns Passport:
Poggio Scalette 2000 Il Carbonaione (Toscana)
Braida 2000 Ai Suma (Piemonte)
Mustiola 1998 Poggio ai Chiari (Toscana)
Sergio's Cellar:
La Castellada 1998 Rosso (Friuli)
Montevertine 2000 Pergole Torte (Toscana)
Scavino 1997 Barolo Bric Fiasc (Piemonte)
Click here to view Wine Club Tasting Notes
and More!
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