Sassicaia and Tignanello gave Tuscan wine and, ultimately, Italian wine a new label that made the rest of the world pay attention. And, for the first time, The Brasserie will be hosting an exclusive 5-course wine dinner on Friday 19 April with these superstars as the main attraction.
Did you know that Meghan Markle used to run a blog called ‘The Tig’, named after Tignanello?
“It wasn’t just red or white – suddenly I understood what people meant by the body, legs, structure of wine. It was an ah-ha moment at its finest.
“For me, it became a ‘Tig’ moment – a moment of getting it. From that point on, any new awareness, any new discovery or ‘ohhhhh, I get it!’ moment was a ‘Tig’ moment,” said Markle in a Marie Claire interview.
Tignanello was first produced in the early 1970s (launching the Super Tuscan revolution) by Piero Antinori whose family began making wine in 1385.
This full-bodied red was the first Sangiovese to be aged in barriques, the first contemporary red wine blended with untraditional varieties (specifically Cabernet) and one of the first red wines in the Chianti Classico region that didn’t use white grapes. Sangiovese grapes add firm tannins to the wine giving it excellent aging potential. That’s why this Super Tuscan wine is one of the most sought-after collectibles among wine investors and collectors with a 15-27 per cent on average annual return. So, the 25,000-30,000 cases of Tignanello produced annually are usually sold out globally within days.
You can expect black cherries, chocolate, coffee, tobacco and leather notes as you enjoy this wine during our unique dinner led by The Brasserie’s Italian Master Sommelier Simone Ragusa.
Meanwhile, Megan Markle isn’t the only one to enjoy an Italian drop; Sassicaia is a firm favourite for celebrities including Rihanna, Duran Duran, and the Obama family. Even athletes like Lebron James and David Beckham can’t resist a glass.
Sassicaia is the only single estate in Italy with its own named denomination and the 1985 drop is Italy’s most expensive wine sold at over US$4000 a bottle.
Due to its popularity and high price, Sassicaia is often a target of counterfeiters. About 700 cases of fake Sassicaia bottles (filled with a lower-quality Sicilian wine) from the vintages 2010 to 2015 were produced every month. The bottles were exported to Russia, Hong Kong, and China.
Typically, a bottle of fine Sassicaia ages for about 10-20 years but some of the best vintages can last well over two decades.
Expect distinct flavours of juicy cherry, roasted herbs, and crisp minerality undertones. Pair with rich flavours like braised meats, osso bucco and aged, hard cheeses.
Find out more about these intriguing wines and reserve your ticket to our Tignanello vs. Sassicaia Wine Dinner. Join us for this exclusive five-course dinner led by our Italian Master Sommelier Simone Ragusa. Tickets are CI$280 per person (plus grats). This is a unique opportunity to taste these Super Tuscans, mingle with various wine enthusiasts and develop your own curiosities and palate.
To reserve, email us or call +1 345 945 1815.