"Best Vintage of My Life" – Why Everyone's Freaking Out About 2021
Okay, so Renzo Cotarella from Antinori just dropped a bombshell. This guy's been making wine for decades, and he's calling 2021 "the best vintage I've ever overseen." That's... huge. And he's not the only one losing his mind – practically every major Super Tuscan scored 100 points this year. Sassicaia, Masseto, Solaia – they're all hitting perfection like it's nothing.
The prices though? That's where things get wild. Sassicaia 2021 started around three hundred bucks, now it's $325. Masseto? Don't even ask – we're talking $975 a bottle. But here's the thing wine folks keep telling me: this is actually still cheap. They think we'll look back in ten years and kick ourselves for not buying more. I've been watching wine markets from Seoul for a while now, and honestly, they might be right. Same thing happened with Burgundy here – early birds always win.
Mother Nature Basically Showed Off in 2021
So what made 2021 so special? The weather was basically perfect – and I mean weirdly perfect. Cold winter let the vines properly hibernate, then spring showed up all warm and friendly. Summer was hot but not crazy hot, and then – this is the key part – August brought just enough rain to keep things interesting without diluting anything.
One winemaker told me it felt like "1997 and 2007 had a baby." The grapes took their sweet time ripening, which is exactly what you want. Everything finished around 14-15% alcohol, which is strong but not knock-you-over strong. It's that Goldilocks zone where everything just works.
What a 100-Point Wine Actually Tastes Like (Spoiler: Pretty Amazing)
I talked to someone who tried the Sassicaia 2021, and they got all poetic about it. "Vertical yet saline," they said, which sounds pretentious but actually makes sense when you taste it. Think blackcurrant and blueberry, but then there's this Mediterranean herb thing happening – apparently it's like walking along the Tuscan coast. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc, and somehow that ratio just nails it.
Masseto's even more interesting. They'd been messing around with adding Cabernet Franc for a couple years, but for 2021 they went back to straight Merlot. Good call, apparently. Critics are saying it's less about showing off with power and more about this refined energy thing. Plus it's the first wine from their fancy new winery, and you can supposedly taste the difference. Here in Seoul, the serious collectors went nuts for this one – they practically cleaned out the allocation.
The Wines Nobody Talks About (But Should)
Look, not everything needs to cost a mortgage payment. Tignanello 2021 is "only" $195, which for a 100-pointer is actually pretty reasonable. Ornellaia 2021 at $279? That's solid value in this market.
But want to know the real secret? The second wines. Sassicaia's little brother Guidalberto costs like $65. Ornellaia's Le Serre Nuove is around $72. You're basically getting 70-80% of the main wine experience for a fraction of the cost. And Massetino – Masseto's second wine – is the ultimate hack. Nearly the same scores, half the price. I was at a wine bar in Gangnam last week, and the sommelier told me that's what they actually drink when they're off duty. Smart.
2022: The Year That Should've Sucked (But Didn't)
2022 was supposed to be a disaster. Record heat, barely any rain – winemakers were sweating bullets. But then they got creative. Picked early, cut back on oak time, shortened skin contact – basically threw out the rulebook to avoid making wine jam.
And damn if it didn't work. Sassicaia 2022 came in at just 13.5% alcohol, and people are calling it "elegant restraint from a hot vintage." Solaia 2022? James Suckling gave it 98 points and basically said they chose finesse over muscle. These aren't your typical fruit bombs – they're actually pretty sophisticated.
Should You Buy Now? (The Answer Might Surprise You)
The investment guys are all saying the same thing about those 2021 hundred-pointers: it's basically now or never. Yeah, prices already went up, but think long-term. The 1985 Sassicaia that cost twelve bucks at release? It's $2,530 now. That's not a typo.
But if you want to actually drink something soon, different story. The 2017-2019 wines are perfect right now and they're 20-30% cheaper than the 2021s. That 2019 Ornellaia? Chef's kiss. The 2018 Tignanello? Singing beautifully. In Asia's wine scene, these "drink now" vintages actually cost more sometimes because nobody wants to wait. We're not exactly known for our patience here.
That Insane Auction in London
Christie's just had this crazy auction in November where a Tignanello collection sold for $190,000. But the really bonkers part? Someone paid sixty grand for a barrel of 2024 Tignanello that isn't even bottled yet. That's some serious faith in a wine.
The experts say these 2021s won't really peak until 2027-2045, which is a hell of a long time to wait. But that's also why they're investment-grade. Sassicaia's proven this works – their '85 went up 21,000% over forty years. Not saying that'll happen again, but... maybe?
Here's the Deal
Super Tuscans really aren't as scary as they seem. You don't need to drop a grand to get something amazing. Second labels are fantastic, older vintages are drinking beautifully, and honestly, even the "cheaper" producers are making killer wines these days. Just figure out what you want – investment piece, Tuesday night wine, or something to impress your boss – and buy accordingly. These bottles have Tuscany's whole soul crammed inside, and trust me, they're worth exploring.
Disclaimer: This article contains no sponsored content or paid promotions. Wine prices and values fluctuate based on market conditions, vintage, and individual circumstances. All information provided is for reference only. Purchase, storage, and investment decisions remain the sole responsibility of the reader.