Castello dei Rampolla

Maurizia di Napoli Rampolla and her brother Luca refer to their strategy of natural viticulture as "gentle agriculture". The very successful Chianti Classico with a clean fruity bouquet, precise taste and firm tannin is a strictly limited high pleasure every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rampolla's 2017 Chianti Classico is a powerful, dense wine that shows all of the natural richness of the year. Super-ripe dark cherry, spice, licorice, new leather and lavender give the 2017 its decidedly flamboyant personality. I would prefer to give the 2017 a few years in bottle, but there is plenty to look forward to. Today, the Chianti Classico is youthfully exuberant and full of promise. Sadly, production is down by 50% because of frost in May, hail in August and then dehydration on the vine later that month." Vinous

Trebianco is a golden yellow and in the amphora developed so-called "orange wine" from Malvasia, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer. In the bouquet hints of sweet tobacco, nutmeg, leather, orange peel and spicy herbs. On the palate fresh with a vibrant acidity. Note: The wine is unsulphurated, unfiltered and fascinatingly special. An oxidative note and also cloudy substances in the wine do not represent a quality defect. SUPERIORE.DE

This Sangiovese rarity, bottled without added sulphite, is produced only in the best vintages and matures for 16 months in the terracotta amphora. Compact colour, fruity, slightly animal bouquet of strawberry, cherry, caramel and black bread. Very juicy on the palate, with sufficient aeration a puristic and at the same time extremely tasty pleasure. The production quantity is just 2,400 bottles. SUPERIORE.DE

With the 2018 vintage, Rampolla for the first time vinified a small amount of Merlot separately. Named after the mother Donna Liù ... Text will follow shortly. SUPERIORE.DE

Top-class red wine from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with unmistakable Tuscan roots shines with ripe fruit bouquet and aromas of green pepper, leather and a hint of herbal spice. The taste is solid, in which the crunchy tannin is excellently integrated into the powerful structure. A grandiose pleasure that spreads far and wide and increases into the long finale. SUPERIORE.DE

"The violet, blackberry and sandalwood character is impressive. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Linear and structured." James Suckling

"The 2014 Sammarco is distinctly savory and nervous in this vintage, both reflections of the cool growing season that favored Cabernet Sauvignon over the other varieties in the blend. Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, red cherry, menthol and dried flowers struggle to fully emerge, as the 2014 remains a touch compact today. Hints of rose petal and mint add a touch of freshness to this mid-weight, yet deeply expressive Sammarco. The 2014 is going to need time to fully emerge, but I expect it will always be a relatively understated Sammarco." Antonio Galloni

"The 2014 Sammarco was bottled in August and will be released in January 2019. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese. At this young stage, the wine already offers an impressive array of complex aromas with dark berry, spice and grilled herb neatly overlapping. Those tones are delivered with perfume-like grace and intensity. This vintage is streamlined and compact in terms of mouthfeel, and those youthful tannins remind us that this wine will award the best results to those who have the patience to wait." Robert Parker

Top-class red wine made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon with unmistakable Tuscan roots, shines with a ripe fruit bouquet and aromas of green pepper, leather and a touch of herbal spice. The taste is solid, with the crisp tannin perfectly integrated into the powerful structure. Grandiose enjoyment, which spreads far and wide and increases until the long final. SUPERIORE.DE

Top-class red wine from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with unmistakable Tuscan roots shines with ripe fruit bouquet and aromas of green pepper, leather and a hint of herbal spice. The taste is solid, in which the crunchy tannin is excellently integrated into the powerful structure. A grandiose pleasure that spreads far and wide and increases into the long finale. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2012 Sammarco is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. Like with the d'Alceo, this hot vintage does not deliver the same soaring intensity and complexity as seen in past years. It shows added softness and succulence instead. The bouquet is driven by sweet fruit and dried berry aromas that underline the warm vintage. Allspice, clove and more sweet fruit appear on the close." Robert Parker

"Very perfumed with black currant and cassis bush character. Medium to full body, fine and chewy tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Still a little tight but fun to taste now." James Suckling

With the 2018 vintage, Rampolla for the first time vinified a small amount of Merlot separately. Named after the mother Donna Liù ... Text will follow shortly. SUPERIORE.DE

Vigna d'Alceo '09 is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a low proportion of Petit Verdot of the extra class. The bouquet is rich, clean and fruity. Impressive its harmony, powerful and yet with a lot of elegance. A perfectly shaped drop with the potential to increase in value! SUPERIORE.DE

"A super generous red with spices, meat and berry character. Full body with round and velvety tannins. Rich and generous. Gorgeous wine. A blend of cabernet sauvignon and petite verdot." James Suckling

"Bright, rich ruby violet. Opened in the nose with smoky-mineral notes, then plenty of plump fruit, inviting for elderberries and blackberries. It shows itself polished on the palate, opens with a lot of finely woven, rich tannin, builds up for a long time, a lot of juicy fruit, rich pressure in the finale." Falstaff

"The 2009 D'Alceo is quite a bit firmer and more structured than the Sammarco. An exotic melange of dark cherries, plums, grilled herbs, cassis and new leather emerges from the glass, backed up by tons of structure. Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics and brighter shades of fruit. This is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo. The 2009 will drink well with minimum cellaring within the context of prior vintages. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Judging by this effort, I would say Rampolla nailed the vintage." Antonio Galloni

One of the top wines of the region, which has been undisputed for decades. With its French elegance and international flair, it convincingly represents above all its Chianti terroir. Concentrated colour, wide, complex scent that changes from sweet berry aromas to delicate spicy clove and cinnamon nuances and finally to very fresh menthol accents. Almost creamy in its soft nature, the full-bodied, excessive taste. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2011 D'Alceo is a stunning blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Petit Verdot. The bouquet is perfumed and enticing with dark rose, cherry fruit, spice, leather, cola, grilled herb and so much more. Fruit comes from a six-hectare single vineyard (whereas fruit for the Sanmarco represents a special selection from various vineyards.) The intensity and purity is what sets this wine part. Both are impeccable. In the mouth, D'Alceo feels long, linear and meaningful. Castello dei Rampolla practices biodynamic farming." Robert Parker

"The 2011 d'Alceo is fascinating to taste next to the Sammarco, as it is much more open-knit, silky and expressive. Cherry jam, pomegranate, spice and new leather flesh out in the glass. The integration of fruit, tannin and acidity is further along than in the Sammarco. The 2011 d'Alceo should open up pretty early, which should be welcome news to readers cellaring some of the more tannic vintages. I expect the 2011 will provide readers with a long drinking window of pure pleasure." Antonio Galloni

"This is very firm and dense with fantastic structure and a superb depth of fruit and silky tannins. Full body showing a core of ripe fruit featuring currants and blackberries. Minerals and fresh mushrooms to add." James Suckling

Every year, D'Alceo is a stunningly attractive wine that represents its Chianti terroir with French elegance and international flair. Concentrated colour, wide, complex scent that changes from sweet berry aromas to delicate spicy clove and cinnamon nuances and finally to very fresh menthol accents. Almost creamy in its soft nature, the full-bodied, excessive taste. SUPERIORE.DE

"Fruit for this wine always comes from the same vineyard site, and production was heavily reduced in this difficult vintage. If an average year sees 13,000 bottles made, only 6,200 bottles were made of the 2014 d'Alceo. This wine shows beautiful brightness and linearity with a polished, almost glossy texture that feels like silk on the palate. The wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a smaller part Petit Verdot. It offers a mid-weight texture with balanced tannins and acidity to seal the deal." Robert Parker

"Wonderful aromas of crushed raspberries, blueberries and violets follow through to a full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Joyful 2014!" James Suckling

"The 2014 d'Alceo is more in line with previous years than Sammarco. Deep, unctuous and super-powerful, the 2014 exudes richness and textural intensity from the very first taste. Readers will have to give the 2014 at least a few years in bottle to help some of the baby fat meld away. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, sage, mint and lavender are some of the many notes that start to emerge as the wine sits in the glass. This is a terrific effort for the vintage." Antonio Galloni

Concentrated colour, wide, complex fragrance that changes from sweet berry aromas to delicately spicy clove and cinnamon nuances and finally to very fresh menthol accents. Almost creamy in its soft nature, the rich, voluptuous taste. Every year D'Alceo is a dazzlingly attractive wine, which with French elegance and international flair convincingly represents above all its Chianti terroir. SUPERIORE.DE