1997 Sassicaia

There are always surprises tasting wine ... good and bad ones. I had high hopes that 1997, a profound vintage, would produce the finest Sassicaia since the immortal 1985. A very good wine for sure, but much lighter and significantly less concentrated than anticipated, this dark ruby-colored Sassicaia exhibits moderate levels of ripeness, herbaceous black currant aromas and flavors, in addition to toasty new oak. Soft, with a surprisingly short, insubstantial finish, this wine looks to be on a rapid evolution track. Anticipated maturity: now-2012. Wine Advocate.August, 2000

Robert Parker    Score: 87/100