This is fantastic. Intense and super long on the palate. It's insanely complex yet subtle with so much going on, with a beautiful balance and tension. It is full and powerful with a big juicy character that goes on for minutes. Muscular yet covered with pretty fruit. Elegance with force. Hard not to drink. But better in 2016.

Some torrefied, caramel notes on the nose, this is a wine that vibrates with a beautifully held together crimson red colour. On the palate, there are signs of a hot vintage, with hints of exotic fig, yet it’s shot through with fresh crushed violet notes. Can feel some sun bleaching, although again a heady sweet spice fragrance takes over. This is grilled charcoal over a roasted blackcurrant Cabernet core. And then, just as you are wondering about the exoticism of the fruit, the sweet relief of fresh mint comes slipping in on the finish. What a beautiful wine. Elegant, but packs quite a punch. Read more at https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/italy/tuscany/tenuta-san-guido-sassicaia-bolgheri-tuscany-italy-2009-17982#mx1jZy2w3I7DoYRj.99

97 The Tenuta San Guido 2009 Bolgheri Sassicaia showed marked concentration upon its initial release and was widely regarded as one of the richest expressions in the estate’s modern history. Today, the wine is in a beautiful place, offering intense fruit with blackcurrant, tobacco and savory notes that follow the classic Sassicaia blueprint but place greater emphasis on volume and texture, a profile that invites comparison with the 2023 vintage. The 2009 remains full and generous on the palate, yet what sets it apart is the striking freshness of the vintage, outpacing both 2012 and 2011 in terms of energy and lasting liveliness. This wine continues to get better every time I've been lucky enough to taste it. - Monica Larner

Sassicaia has been showing amazing results in recent years, and the 2009 vintage opens with all the intensity and beauty you should expect of Italy's flagship super Tuscan. Notes of blackberry, soft spice, chocolate, espresso and a touch of rosemary oil make for a beautiful bouquet. The mouthfeel is long, supple and rich. Drink after 2020.

This tightly knit dense red is full of black currant cherry herb and spice flavors. The tannins are aggressive now but this is long and detailed with an herb and spice aftertaste. A classy wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2014 through 2028. -BS

From the famed estate in Bolgheri, where the Marchese Mario Incisa della Rochetta first planted cabernet sauvignon in the 1940s, this is a grand vintage of Sassacaia that will need years to fully evolve. Plentiful spring rains prepared the vines for the hot summer of 2009, sustaining them with plenty of moisture in the stony, limestone-inflected soils. A portion of cabernet franc (15 percent) emphasizes the fresh tobacco and green herb scents in the blend, while the black olive flavors of young cabernet sauvignon fill out a plush, rich texture. This is silken in the middle, with acidity keeping it bright even as oak builds up in the finish. Cellar this for ten years or more to capture the vineyard’s fullest expression.