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Ratings & Tasting Notes:
No professional critic score specific to this bottling and vintage was found at the time this listing was created. Wine-Searcher's aggregate for the 1996 is 88/100.
Cult Wines International Notes:
Castello del Terriccio sits along the Tuscan coast about ten miles north of Bolgheri, on an estate with an extraordinary history: Etruscan miners, bishops, counts of Pisa and a Polish prince have all held this land. Proprietor Gian Annibale Rossi di Medelana watched the rise of Sassicaia on the coast below and set out to make wines of that ambition from his own soils, in a maritime microclimate that few Tuscan estates can match. The house today makes a small, prestigious portfolio: the eponymous Castello del Terriccio, the Cabernet-based Lupicaia, and Tassinaia.
Tassinaia takes its name from a farmhouse on one of the estate's hills, Le Tassinaie — the place of the stones. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in almost equal proportion, grown on sandy soils with a subtle gravel texture, rich in trace elements. The wine spends sixteen months in French oak tonneaux before the varieties are blended, then rests at least a further twelve months in bottle before release. The two green lines on the label represent the estate's fields in springtime. The first Tassinaia was made in 1992, making this 1996 an early bottling from the wine's founding years.
1996 was a warm year on the Tuscan coast, September in particular. Three decades on, expect a solid ruby fading a little at the rim, with wild cherry, blackberry and mineral on the nose, good substance and texture on the palate, and a warm, blackberry-dominated flavour now settled into full maturity.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled condition.
Please note: The condition of the bottle you will receive is accurately reflected by the one shown in the images.
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To comply with the law, all customers must be at least 21 years of age to purchase wine. By placing an order, you certify that you are of legal age. We reserve the right to verify identification before shipping. A signature from an individual 21 years or older is mandatory for delivery. Note that we cannot fulfill orders addressed to PO Boxes.
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Returns, Cancellations & RefundsWe offer a 30-day return policy. Wines must be returned in their original condition. We do not refund opened or tampered bottles. Adult signature is required. If a package is returned after 3 failed delivery attempts, a $45 restocking/shipping fee will be deducted from your refund.
DisclaimerAt Cult Wines International, we take every precaution to store our wines in a temperature-controlled environment. However, once a package leaves our facility, we cannot control environmental factors. For this reason, we do not offer refunds for wine affected by transit temperatures.
Proactive Solutions:To protect your investment, we recommend utilizing our "Weather Hold" service during extreme seasons. For immediate shipping in summer, we offer cool packs and expedited services to minimize the risk of seepage. Please note that minor leakage caused by heat expansion is not considered damage and is not eligible for a refund.
Quality Guarantee:At Cult Wines International, we go to great lengths to ensure the quality of our portfolio, carefully vetting every bottle for provenance and condition. While we maintain a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled storage environment, wine is a living product that evolves uniquely over time. Due to this natural evolution, we cannot guarantee the condition of the cork or the flavor profile once the bottle is opened. Older vintages, in particular, carry an inherent risk; corks may become fragile or shrink, and the wine may be past its peak drinking window. We strive for total transparency. Any known condition issues are detailed in our descriptions and reflected in the price. Plainly put: There is always a risk with older wines. You may open one up and have one of the greatest experiences of your life. You may open a similar bottle and find its past its prime or oxidized. That is the inherent risk assumed by the buyer in the vintage wine world.
Regarding Vintage Wines (Over 20 Years Old)To ensure you have the best possible experience with your purchase, especially with bottles 20 years or older, we recommend following these 7 professional guidelines. Vintage wine is a unique, evolving product that requires specific care to show its best.
1. Understand Fill Levels (Ullage): The "fill level" is an indicator of the wine's condition. While not a definitive rule, a wine at the base neck or higher carries minimal risk of oxidation. As the level drops to mid-shoulder or below, the risk of oxidation increases (statistically 35-40% or higher). Please consider the fill level shown in our photos as part of your purchase decision.
2. Let the Bottle Rest (Sediment Management): Over decades, tannins precipitate out of the wine, creating natural sediment and changing the color of the wine. While harmless, this sediment is bitter and can cloud the wine.Stand the bottle upright in a cool, dark place for several days (or even weeks when possible) before opening.Never transport an old wine and open it immediately; the movement will stir up the sediment, making it impossible to decant properly.
3. Use the Right Tools: Standard corkscrews often shred fragile, aged corks. To remove an old cork intact, we highly recommend using an Ah-So or, ideally, a Durand. These specialized tools are designed to grip the cork from the sides, preventing it from crumbling into the wine.
4. Decant for Clarity: The primary goal of decanting an old wine is to separate the wine from its sediment. When removing the cork, be sure not to shake the bottle or disturb the contents within. Pour the wine slowly into a decanter in one continuous motion, stopping the moment you see sediment reach the shoulder of the bottle. YouTube has excellent visual guides on "decanting vintage wine" if you are new to the process.
5. Allow the Wine to Breathe: Aged wines have been "sleeping" in an anaerobic environment for years and may have a temporary "musty" aroma upon opening. Allow the wine to breathe in the decanter for 20-30 minutes. This allows the secondary and tertiary aromas to blossom while the "bottle funk" dissipates.
6. Manage Flavor Expectations: Vintage wine does not taste like a "better" version of a young wine. It tastes like a different wine.Young Wine: Bold, fruity, and high in tannin.Aged Wine: Earthy, savory, and delicate. You can expect notes of leather, forest floor, and dried spices rather than fresh fruit. The texture will be silkier and lighter on the palate.
7. Know Which Wines Age: Not every bottle is meant for the long haul. High-end reds (Cabernet, Nebbiolo, Syrah), complex whites (Riesling, White Burgundy), and dessert wines (Sauternes, Port) benefit most from decades of cellaring.
AI DisclaimerPlease Note: Cult Wines International sometimes uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to aid in creating the detailed history & vintage notes on our listings. While we strive for accuracy, occasional errors may exist.
