In the shadow of the cypress trees at Bolgheri lies a secret that only a lucky few ever taste: the pomace from Sassicaia itself, distilled into a grappa so rare it celebrates 30 years of one of Italy's most unlikely friendships.
The expert's description of Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario
It all began on a spring afternoon in 1993, when Jacopo Poli asked Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta for something no one had dared request before: permission to distil a grappa from the pomace of Sassicaia, Italy's most famous wine. The Marchese said yes, and ever since, the two families have collaborated on a product with few equals of its kind. This 30th anniversary release, "Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario", marks exactly those three decades of collaboration with a numbered, limited edition.
The grappa is distilled by Jacopo Poli at the family distillery in Schiavon, near Bassano del Grappa, where one of Italy's oldest alembic stills is still in operation. The copper boilers run on steam in a discontinuous cycle, gently distilling the pomace – the marc of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, Tuscany – in small batches. The grappa then matures in barrique for several years before being moved into oak casks that previously held the Sassicaia wine itself. It is this final finish that gives the bottle its distinctive depth and something of the wine's own structure.
The vintage on the label is 2020, and the bottle is part of the numbered anniversary edition, packaged in the iconic blue tube with gold print and the signatures of both Jacopo Poli and Marchese Incisa della Rocchetta.
Tasting notes
Nose
The nose opens softly and elegantly with vanilla and freshly toasted wood, quickly followed by cocoa, roasted coffee and a hint of liquorice. Beneath it all sits a fine trace of dark berries – blackcurrant and blueberry – that reminds you where this grappa really comes from.
Palate
On the palate it is full and almost vinous, with a warm sweetness of honey and ripe berries that glides into notes of dried fruit and a lightly spiced finish. The structure is dense and majestic without ever turning heavy.
Finish
Long and soft, with an aftertaste of roasted nuts, dark chocolate and a final touch of oak. The kind of finish you happily linger over.
Specifications
Name: Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario
Distillery: Jacopo Poli (Poli Distillerie)
Region/Country: Tuscany (Bolgheri), Italy
Type: Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 500 ML
Cask type: Barrique, followed by casks from the Sassicaia wine
Bottled: Vintage 2020
Edition: Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario (1993-2023)
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a tulip glass as a digestif after your meal – ideally with dark chocolate or a good cup of black coffee.
Flavour profile
Fruity · Creamy · Spicy · Sweet · Woody · Nutty
Did you know?
Sassicaia is the only vineyard in Italy to have been granted its very own appellation – Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, named after this single estate. That kind of special status is usually reserved for entire regions, not individual producers.
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