Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario 50 cl 40%

A blue tube with gold print, two signatures and a marc that once was Sassicaia. It is rare for a friendship between a grappa producer and one of the world's most revered wine estates to get its own bottle, yet that is exactly what happened here.

Expert description

Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario is an Italian Grappa at 40% distilled by Poli Distillerie from the marc of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grown at Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri, Tuscany — the grapes behind the legendary wine Sassicaia.

The partnership between Jacopo Poli and Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta began in 1993, and ever since Poli Distillerie has been allowed to collect marc straight from the cellars in Bolgheri. This release marks 30 years of that partnership and is bottled as a numbered anniversary edition from the 2020 vintage.

After gentle distillation in copper stills, the spirit rests for around four years in the oak barrels that previously aged the Sassicaia wine itself, before being bottled in the slim 50 cl bottle and packaged in a blue gift tube with gold print and the signatures of Jacopo Poli and Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta.

Tasting notes

Nose

Toasted hazelnuts and peanuts meet dark chocolate, with a whisper of dried Tuscan herbs in the background.

Palate

Full and warm, mirroring the nutty chocolate character of the nose, carried by the soft sweetness drawn from the oak.

Finish

Long and gently smoky, with a lingering toasted-nut note that slowly gives way to a dry, mineral close.

Specifications

Name: Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario
Distillery: Poli Distillerie
Region/Country: Veneto, Italy
Type: Italian Grappa
ABV: 40%
Size: 50 cl
Cask type: Sassicaia oak barrels
Distillation method: Copper pot still
Edition: 30° Anniversario, 2020 vintage
Serving suggestion: 18-20°C in a tulip-shaped glass

Flavour profile

Toasted nuts · Dark chocolate · Tuscan herbs · Round sweetness · Gently smoky

Did you know?

When Poli Distillerie first sent its driver Bruno to Bolgheri to collect marc, he asked the cellar master to fill two large 54-litre demijohns with the Sassicaia wine itself for his own use — a request the cellar master had to turn down, since the estate did not sell retail.

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Frequently asked questions about Grappa di Sassicaia Jacopo Poli Edizione Speciale 30° Anniversario

Is it worth it?

Yes, it comes from a numbered anniversary edition made from marc that only Poli Distillerie is permitted to use, which makes it a genuinely rare bottle in its category.

What is Sassicaia?

Sassicaia is one of Tuscany's most celebrated wines, produced by Tenuta San Guido in Bolgheri from Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes.

How should the grappa be served?

Best at 18-20°C in a tulip-shaped glass, which lets the toasted-nut and chocolate aromas unfold properly.

Why is it aged in Sassicaia barrels?

The barrels previously matured the Sassicaia wine itself, lending the grappa a rounder, more complex character than an unaged grappa.

Who is behind the collaboration?

Grappa maker Jacopo Poli and Marchese Nicolò Incisa della Rocchetta of Tenuta San Guido, whose signatures both appear on the gift tube.

Can the grappa be used in cooking?

It is best enjoyed neat after a meal, though it also works well drizzled into a dessert sauce or added to an espresso corretto.