Sapaio: A 96 Point 'Truly Super' Super Tuscan!

"During my trip to Bolgheri last month, one of the standout wines was Sapaio of Podere Sapaio. I spent the day with owner Massimo Piccin, easily one of the nicest people you will ever meet, and one of the few people who can out-drink me in Champagne. I remember very well Massimo’s first vintage of Sapaio, in 2004, and how, at the time, it was wonderfully revolutionary. We were already seeing Sassicaia and Ornellaia, but few others from the region. Massimo had turned out, with his first release, a stunning wine that rivaled all others at a fraction of the price - a terroir-driven wine that spoke of the Tuscan coast while being Cabernet-based. Eleven vintages later, Massimo has produced Podere Sapaio’s finest wine yet, a wine that is a contender with all of the major players in the region. His production is small and we have just a limited amount of wine - this is a Super Tuscan that deserves the title Super Tuscan." – Lance Montalto, The Wine House

When picking up this wine, check out our expanded cheese and gourmet selection! Our cheesemonger Lorenzo recommends Bellweather Pepato, a raw sheep's milk cheese styled on the lines of the Italian Pecorino Toscano. It uses the same recipe as San Andreas but is studded with whole peppercorns.

"So much fresh pressed violet and blackberry character as well as iodine, quartz, slate and tile. Full body, grippy yet linear and polished tannins, fine acidity and a long, minerally finish. So refined. Drink in 2020." – James Suckling (August 2017)

"This wine was previously part of the Bolgheri Superiore appellation but is classified as an IGT Toscana wine in this vintage. The 2015 Sapaio represents a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc that ages in French oak for 16 months. The wine is dark and luscious with a thick and rich quality of dark fruit. Purple plum, blackberry and cherry emerge with fragrant intensity. The wine boats a beautiful texture that is soft and powerful at once. Give it a year or two to rest and relax in the bottle. The personality is still nervous and vinous at this young stage in its life." – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (October 2017)

FROM THE IMPORTER

THE PHILOSOPHY…
Podere Sapaio has an experimental and innovational philosophy: it aims at searching new expressions of Bordeaux grape varieties in the Bolgheri area, with the final goal of producing wines which put together power, elegance and longevity.

A NEW INTERPRETER OF THE BOLGHERI AREA…
The estate Podere Sapaio was founded in 1999. Its 40 hectars are spread between the Councils of Castagneto Carducci and Bibbona. Grape varieties of Bordeaux origin -Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot-, which in the last fifty years have imposed themselves in the area, are grown in lands of quaternary deposits. Other grape varieties are present in small quantities. There are also some hectares of land, which are part of the estate, where Frantoio, Moraiolo and Leccino cultivars of olive trees are grown.