“Cepparello” Toscana IGT 2020

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

09462120 · 0,75 l · 145,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

Cepparello – named after the small stream that rises at the highest point of the Isole e Olena vineyards. Since 1980, this name has embodied Paolo De Marchis's revolutionary vision, at a time when 100% Sangiovese was still taboo in Chianti Classico. With this wine, the Piedmontese visionary not only created one of the first Super Tuscans, but also what is arguably the most authentic portrait of the Sangiovese grape – pure, uncompromising, unadulterated. The Sangiovese vines grow on the estate's finest plots, facing south-west at an altitude of 400 to 480 metres, on the characteristic Galestro soils. These schist-rich clay soils lend the wine its unmistakable minerality and elegance. The 2020 vintage embodies De Marchi's signature style in its purest form. Following a mild, dry winter and a sudden drop in temperature in March – which required the utmost vigilance against frost damage – a classic Tuscan summer ensued. Dry and mild until the end of August, followed by scattered showers before the weather settled in September – ideal conditions for grapes of exceptional quality and quantity.

Twenty months in French barriques, a third of which are new, produce a wine of impressive depth – an intense ruby red with violet highlights speaks to its concentration. The bouquet unfolds a kaleidoscope of violets, roses, cherries, blackberries and raspberries, interwoven with sweet spices, eucalyptus and hints of coffee. Hints of undergrowth and graphite round off this aromatic symphony. Its true greatness is revealed on the palate: supple tannins envelop the ripe fruitiness, whilst a complex, spicy acidity lends the wine tension and length. A Sangiovese of rare purity. SUPERIORE.DE

"A bright, intense ruby red with a slight violet tinge. Opens with delicate spicy notes, a hint of cinnamon, followed by plums and chocolate. Plenty of juicy fruit on the palate, crisp and fresh, with finely textured tannins; it has a very long finish, smooth and juicy on the palate." Falstaff

"A promising bouquet of fresh wild berries and blossoms with a subtle hint of chocolate and spices; an elegant palate, with youthful, tightly woven tannins that coat the palate velvety, combining power and finesse, and finishing on notes of black cherries and hot stone. A timeless, crisp style." Vinum

"A smoky and robust wine with a subtle nose of dark cherries, blending with assertive bergamot and a hint of chocolatey depth. Full-bodied with a gentle attack, then dense and velvety with a lively and energetic palate. Juicy and toasty on the finish." James Suckling

"Expressive and full-bodied from the very 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, bringing out the best in Sangiovese in a way that only Paolo De Marchi can. This is his penultimate vintage before he retires and sells this historic estate. The wine opens with a medium to full concentration of dark plums and redcurrants. These give way to sweet spices, earth, gravel, rusty nails and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to develop in the cellar. It has a robust alcohol content of 15 per cent." Wine Advocate

"The Cepparello 2020 is absolutely stunning, just like last year's. Deep in colour, complex and explosive in the glass, the 2020 vintage possesses a striking richness of texture and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum, spices and lavender come through effortlessly. This wine has an immense pedigree and stature. The Cepparello is certainly one of the wines of the year." Vinous