Castello dei Rampolla

Maurizia di Napoli Rampolla and her brother Luca describe their strategy of viticulture close to nature as "soft farming". The very successful Chianti Classico with its clean fruit bouquet, precise taste and firm tannin is a strictly limited 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

"The nose of this Chianti Classico is unique, with abundant fresh rose petals, orange zest and lemon peel. Medium-bodied and very lithe yet firm on the palate. Elegant and very taut and tangy on the finish. So well done in a challenging vintage." James Suckling

"Plum, fragrant blue flower, leather and ripe berry are just some of the aromas you'll find on this fragrant, delicious wine. It's chewy and enveloping but also boasts a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cranberry compote, licorice and tobacco while velvety fine-grained tannins offer polished support." Wine Enthusiast

Maurizia di Napoli Rampolla and her brother Luca call their strategy of viticulture close to nature "gentle agriculture". The very successful Chianti Classico with a clean fruit bouquet, precise taste and firm tannin is a treat that is strictly limited every year. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rich, sparkling ruby. Intense nose with lots of dark berry fruit, rich blackberry and black cherry, some black truffle in the background. Powerful and dense on the palate, builds richly, opens with hearty, dense tannin, lots of pressure on the final, a Chianti Classico to keep in storage." Falstaff

"The Castello dei Rampolla 2018 Chianti Classico shows some softness and extra ripeness with dark fruit and plum followed by savory smoke and spice. This wine is an expression of the one and only Panzano in Chianti, a promising subzone in the larger Chianti Classico appellation with panoramic views awash in soft golden light at the end of each glorious day. To the palate, the wine delivers rich, mid-weight intensity with more textured and succulent flavors to follow. This wine is just lovely, especially when tasted right out of the gate when those cherry and blackberry tones are at their brightest." Robert Parker

"A wonderful young Chianti Classico with aromas and flavors of black cherries, dark chocolate, wet earth and black truffle. It’s full-bodied with creamy and juicy tannins and a long, flavorful finish." James Suckling

"The 2018 Chianti Classico is fabulous. Deep, rich and super-expressive, the 2018 captures the essence of the house style, with a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon that adds both complexity and structural intensity. Black cherry, plum, licorice, lavender and dried herbs are kicked up a few notches. This is an especially rich style for the year, but it works so well." Vinous

"Black-skinned fruit, new leather, tilled earthy and blue flower aromas mingle with camphor on this fragrant, enticing red. Fresh and savory, the elegant, full-bodied palate doles out ripe black plum, juicy Morello cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside polished tannins that give it a velvety texture. Fresh acidity lends brightness and balance." Wine Enthusiast

Trebianco is a golden yellow and in the amphora matured so-called "orange wine" from Trebbiano, 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

"The Castello dei Rampolla 2019 Trebianco di S. Lucia (made without added sulfites) is a blend of Trebbiano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Traminer. This is a raw and authentic white that smells of the purity of the grapes, and the soils of Tuscany scooped up into your hands on a warm sunny day. The wine is redolent of orchard fruit, honey, dried apricot, saffron spice and waxy apple or pear. Background notes of baked terracotta, crushed rock and even a touch of brown sugar appear in moderation. This white wine has the texture and fiber to pair with fried chicken or filet di baccalà (codfish sticks)." Robert Parker

"A substantial white with salt, wood, lees-stir and cooked-apple character. Full-bodied. No sulfur added. Very cool and fun to taste with serious winemaking behind it. An unfiltered blend." James Suckling

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

"Rampolla's 2018 Sangiovese di Santa Lucia is 100% Sangiovese done in cocciopesto (a mix of clay and cement), which brings out the wine's intense aromatics and fruitiness. There is terrific immediacy to the 2018, but it is a wine I would prefer to drink sooner rather than later in order to enjoy its intense, explosive flavors. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and licorice builds into the boisterous finish." Vinous

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

"The 2019 Sangiovese di Santa Lucia is Rampolla's red done in amphora, with no SO2. Bright, punchy and full of character, the Sangiovese is a wine of notable personality, I would prefer to drink it sooner rather than later, while the fruit remains vibrant. Sweet floral, spice and game notes, along with that touch of reduction wines in amphora show, add to its personality." Vinous

"Flaunting its purity and unmistakable primary intensity, the Castello dei Rampolla 2019 Sangiovese di S. Lucia gives us all a little lesson in Sangiovese. If you look at the textbooks, this mighty Tuscan grape is often said to be redolent of wild berries, soil, rusty nail and blue flower. Low and behold, those are precisely the aromas you get. This vintage hits the nail squarely on the head and delivers a classic portrait. Earthy aromas of red brick and clay play a leading role. Indeed, the wine is fermented on the skins in amphorae." Robert Parker

"Fresh and delicious, this 100% Sangiovese has earthy aromas of sunbaked soil, truffle, leather and ripe plum. Made entirely in earthenware vessels of cocciopesto (a blend of stone, sand, marl and terra-cotta) and without added sulfites, the smooth, juicy palate doles out ripe black cherry, blackberry, baking spice and mineral alongside supple tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. It's made to be drunk young so enjoy soon." Wine Enthusiast

Since the 2018 vintage, a small amount of Merlot has been vinified separately for the first time at Rampolla, named after the mother Donna Liù. The unfiltered wine was aged for 12 months in terracotta amphora and is almost fermented through to 0 g/l residual sugar. Very elegant, fresh nose of sour cherry, bay and cassis. On the palate, fresh and without the sometimes exuberant opulence of some other Tuscan Merlots, with a precise cherry fruit and salty-minty component. A finely chiselled Merlot and hard to beat for freshness, clarity and personality. It beautifully bridges the gap between Chianti Classico and the house's two flagships, Sammarco and d'Alceo. Needs some more years of bottle ripening. 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 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

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

"The 2015 Sammarco is a wine of exquisite and total finesse. Understated and nuanced, as few wines are in 2015, Sammarco is sublime. Wild flowers, cedar, spice, leather and mint give the 2015 striking aromatic dimension. On the palate, the 2015 is subtle and classy. In 2015, the Merlot crop was a bit higher than normal as newer plantings entered production, and that is reflected in the blend here as well. Because of that, the 2015 is an unusually open, forthcoming Sammarco. In fact, I can't remember tasting a young Sammarco with this much early appeal. I can't wait to see how it ages." Vinous

"This is dense and muscular, revealing a tightly wound matrix of black cherry, blackberry, iron, earth and tobacco flavors. Balsamic elements of wild juniper and rosemary emerge as this extends on the finish. Though gripping, this is also very pure, fresh and balanced. Needs time." Wine Spectator

"The 2015 Sammarco (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese) shines the brightest spotlight onto the Cabernet Sauvignon element, and you can immediately make out the distinctive sharpness and structure of that variety. The bouquet offers notes of black fruit, toasted spice and grilled herb, along with wild flower, terracotta and tilled earth. There is some spice on the close, and the tannins do leave their mark with youthful astringency. Give the wine some time in the cellar, and one day it will be fantastic with a tagliatelle and porcini." Robert Parker

"I love the meatiness to this wine, but also the purity of fruit; think charcuterie, prosciutto, bay leaf, capsicum, blueberries, blackcurrants and crushed stones. You just can’t get over the way this manages to deliver a powerful, muscular package with stunning finesse and poise. The tapestry of intricate texture and detail is wrought in a flashy but sincere and heartwarming style. The balance takes your breath away. Best ever from here. Impossible to resist now, but better from 2025." James Suckling

"Sunbaked earth, mature black-plum, fragrant blue-flower and leather aromas mingle with balsamic whiffs of camphor on this full-bodied, delicious red. Made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, the creamy palate is earthy and full of flavor, boasting juicy blackberry, raspberry, dried mint, cocoa and licorice. Taut velvety tannins provide plenty of support and finesse." Wine Enthusiast

Sammarco from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with unmistakable Tuscan roots shines with a ripe fruit bouquet and aromas of green pepper, leather and a hint of herbal spice. The taste is solid, in which the crisp tannin is excellently integrated into the powerful structure. Grandiose pleasure, which spreads far and increases into the long final. SUPERIORE.DE

"Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a tiny part Sangiovese, the 2017 Sammarco is lush, generous and soft. This wine captures the spirit of generosity and richness that characterizes this sunny vintage. It reveals softer lines and more pliant contours compared to some of the cooler vintages of the past, and you get a generous down pouring of dark fruit, dried blackberry, cinnamon spice and cured leather or tobacco. The tannins are quite robust, but the wine also shows an immediate and accessible approach that distinguishes this growing season." Robert Parker

"The 2017 Sammarco is heady, exotic and totally beautiful. It is also not anywhere near ready to show all it's got. Iron, smoke, red cherry fruit, leather, blood orange and spice are some of the many notes that infuse the 2017 with layers of complexity. Firm, muscular tannins are going to need time to soften. Even so, the 2017 is a rare Sammarco that will require only minimal cellaring, which is why the estate decided to release it ahead of the 2016." Vinous

"Such beautiful balance and refinement to this legendary red with cherries, chocolate, walnuts, hazelnuts and autumn leaves. It’s medium to full-bodied with wonderful, creamy tannins and a persistent and complete finish. Needs three to four years to show all it has. Definitely one for the cellar." James Suckling

Since the 2018 vintage, a small amount of Merlot has been vinified separately for the first time at Rampolla, named after the mother Donna Liù. The unfiltered wine was aged for 12 months in terracotta amphora and is almost fermented through to 0 g/l residual sugar. Very elegant, fresh nose of sour cherry, bay and cassis. On the palate, fresh and without the sometimes exuberant opulence of some other Tuscan Merlots, with a precise cherry fruit and salty-minty component. A finely chiselled Merlot and hard to beat for freshness, clarity and personality. It beautifully bridges the gap between Chianti Classico and the house's two flagships, Sammarco and d'Alceo. Needs some more years of bottle ripening. 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