“Cepparello” Toscana IGT 2020 · METHUSALEM 6 liters in OWC

Isole e Olena | Tuscany
Isole e Olena S.r.l. | Loc. Isole 1 | IT 50021 Barberino Val d'Elsa

09463420 · 6 l · 224,83 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping1 unit available

Cepparello – named after the small stream that rises at the highest point of the Isole e Olena vineyards. This name has borne the revolutionary vision of Paolo De Marchi since 1980, when 100 per cent Sangiovese was still a taboo in Chianti Classico. With this wine, the Piedmontese visionary not only created one of the first Supertuscans, but also probably the most authentic portrait of the Sangiovese grape – pure, uncompromising, unadulterated. The Sangiovese vines grow on the characteristic Galestro soils from the estate's best sites, exposed to the south-west at an altitude of 400 to 480 metres. These slatey clay soils give the wine its unmistakable minerality and elegance. The 2020 embodies De Marchi's signature style in its purest form. A mild, dry winter and a drop in temperature in March, which required extreme vigilance against frost damage, was followed by a classic Tuscan summer. Dry and mild until the end of August, then scattered rainfall before the weather calmed down in September – ideal conditions for grapes of exceptional quality and quantity.

20 months in French barriques, a third of which are new, create a wine of impressive depth – intense ruby red colour with violet reflections is a sign of concentration. The bouquet unfolds a kaleidoscope of violets, roses, cherries, blackberries and raspberries, interwoven with sweet spices, eucalyptus and coffee notes. Hints of undergrowth and graphite complete the aromatic symphony. The true greatness is revealed on the palate: supple tannins envelop the ripe fruitiness, while a complex, savoury acidity gives the wine tension and length. A Sangiovese of rare purity. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, intense ruby colour with a slight violet hue. Opens with fine spicy notes, some cinnamon, then plums and chocolate. Lots of juicy fruit on the palate, crisp and fresh, fine tannins, very long-lasting, supple and juicy on the palate." Falstaff

"A smoky and austere wine with a restrained nose of dark cherries that combines with assertive bergamot and slightly chocolaty depth. Full-bodied with a gentle attack, then dense and velvety with a lively and energetic palate. Juicy and toasty in the aftertaste." James Suckling

"Expressive and lush from the start, this red wine displays aromas and flavours of cherries, strawberries, roses, orange peel, minerals and Tuscan herbs." Wine Spectator

"The Cepparello 2020 is soft and supple and elevates the Sangiovese in a way that only Paolo De Marchi can. This is his penultimate vintage before he retires and sells this historic winery. The wine opens with a medium to full concentration of dark plums and redcurrants. These segue into sweet spices, earth, crushed stone, rusty nails and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to develop in the cellar. It has a strong alcohol content of 15%." Wine Advocate

"The Cepparello 2020 is absolutely amazing, just like last year. Deeply coloured, multi-layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 has a striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum, spice and lavender all come through effortlessly. This wine has tremendous pedigree and stature. The Cepparello is certainly one of the wines of the year." Vinous