Castello dei Rampolla

Maurizia di Napoli Rampolla und ihr Bruder Luca bezeichnen ihre Strategie des naturnahen Weinbaus als "sanfte Landwirtschaft". Der sehr gelungene Chianti Classico mit sauberem Fruchtbouquet, präzisem Geschmack und festem Tannin ist ein jedes Jahr streng limitierter Hochgenuss. 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

Hochkarätiger Roter aus überwiegend Cabernet Sauvignon mit unverkennbar toskanischen Wurzeln glänzt mit reifem Fruchtbouquet und Aromen von grüner Paprika, Leder und einem Hauch Kräuterwürze. Solide wirkt der Geschmack, in dem das knackige Tannin hervorragend in die mächtige Struktur eingegliedert ist. Grandioser Genuss, der sich weit ausbreitet und bis in das lange Finale steigert. 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

Hochkarätiger Roter aus überwiegend Cabernet Sauvignon mit unverkennbar toskanischen Wurzeln glänzt mit reifem Fruchtbouquet und Aromen von grüner Paprika, Leder und einem Hauch Kräuterwürze. Solide wirkt der Geschmack, in dem das knackige Tannin hervorragend in die mächtige Struktur eingegliedert ist. Grandioser Genuss, der sich weit ausbreitet und bis in das lange Finale steigert. 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." VINOUS

"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

Vigna d'Alceo '09 ist ein Cabernet Sauvignon mit geringem Anteil Petit Verdot der Extraklasse. Im Bouquet üppige, saubere Fruchtaromen. Beeindruckend seine Harmonie, kraftstrotzend und doch mit viel Eleganz. Ein formvollendeter Tropfen mit Wertsteigerungspotenzial! 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

"Leuchtendes, sattes Rubinviolett. Eröffnet in der Nase mit rauchig-mineralischen Noten, dann viel pralle Frucht, nach Holunderbeeren und Brombeeren, einladend. Zeigt sich am Gaumens geschliffen, öffnet sich mit viel feinmaschigem, sattem Tannin, baut sich lange auf, viel saftige Frucht, satter Druck im 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." VINOUS

Einer der seit Jahrzehnten unumstrittenen Spitzenweine der Region, der mit französischer Eleganz und internationalem Flair vor allem sein Chianti-Terroir überzeugend vertritt. Konzentrierte Farbe, weiter, komplexer Duft, der von lieblichen Beerenaromen zu zart-würzigen Nelken- und Zimtnuancen und schließlich zu sehr frischen Mentholakzenten wechselt. Beinahe cremig in seiner weichen Art der gehaltvolle, ausschweifende Geschmack. 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." VINOUS

"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

D'Alceo ist jedes Jahr ein umwerfend attraktiver Wein, der mit französischer Eleganz und internationalem Flair vor allem sein Chianti-Terroir überzeugend vertritt. Konzentrierte Farbe, weiter, komplexer Duft, der von lieblichen Beerenaromen zu zart-würzigen Nelken- und Zimtnuancen und schließlich zu sehr frischen Mentholakzenten wechselt. Beinahe cremig in seiner weichen Art der gehaltvolle, ausschweifende Geschmack. 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." VINOUS

Einer der seit Jahrzehnten unumstrittenen Spitzenweine der Region, der mit französischer Eleganz und internationalem Flair vor allem sein Chianti-Terroir überzeugend vertritt. Konzentrierte Farbe, weiter, komplexer Duft, der von lieblichen Beerenaromen zu zart-würzigen Nelken- und Zimtnuancen und schließlich zu sehr frischen Mentholakzenten wechselt. Beinahe cremig in seiner weichen Art der gehaltvolle, ausschweifende Geschmack. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2012 d'Alceo is sweet, round and enveloping. Silky tannins give the 2012 much of its shape, while adding to the wine's appeal. Plum, black cherry, menthol, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the fleshy, succulent finish. Like the Sammarco, d'Alceo is a bit restrained in this vintage." VINOUS

"Fragrant and enticing with flower petal, dried black tea and berry aromas. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a fruity finish. Needs to come together still." James Suckling

"A focused, balanced style, evoking pure cherry, raspberry, mineral and floral aromas and flavors, this is elegant and fluid yet dense and well structured, ending with lively acidity and dusty tannins. The finish goes on and on." Wine Spectator

Dunkles, sattes Rubinviolett. In der Nase etwas Flieder, Holunderbeere und Cassis. Gut strukturiert mit opulenter Frucht, fein gewebtem Tannin und anschließend ein fast schon schwebender und nicht enden wollender Abgang. SUPERIORE.DE

"Readers should do whatever they can to get their hands on a few bottles of the 2013 d'Alceo. Seamless and voluptuous in the glass, it is an epic wine that embodies all the qualities that make these terraced vineyards in Panzano so special. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, plum, licorice and spice meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's textural intensity that elevates it into the realm of the profound. The 2013 has been nothing short of moving on the two occasions I tasted it recently." VINOUS

"Strawberry, plums, chocolate and green pepper frame this beautiful red. So much black currant too. Full-bodied with round, mouth-coating tannins. So much going on here." James Suckling

"Made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2013 d'Alceo shows an inky dark appearance with impenetrable color saturation. This is another gorgeous wine from an estate I admire deeply. The fruit intensity peels off this wine with elegance, power and intensity. With similar momentum, the wine glides clear over the palate with silky and long intensity. There are some pungent or volatile notes (similar to what you find in the other wines), but they are a plus, not a minus. They give support and intensity to the wine's persuasive aromatic performance. This wine needs more time to unwind in the cellar." Robert Parker

"Aromas of pine, wild rosemary, black currant, iron and tar hold court in this dense, inky red. The tannins run roughshod on the finish, so cellar or tame with grilled beef or lamb." Wine Spectator

Vigna d'Alceo '09 ist ein Cabernet Sauvignon mit geringem Anteil Petit Verdot der Extraklasse. Im Bouquet üppige, saubere Fruchtaromen. Beeindruckend seine Harmonie, kraftstrotzend und doch mit viel Eleganz. Ein formvollendeter Tropfen mit Wertsteigerungspotenzial! 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 sauivgnon and petite verdot. Much better in 2015 when the tannins come together." James Suckling

"Leuchtendes, sattes Rubinviolett. Eröffnet in der Nase mit rauchig-mineralischen Noten, dann viel pralle Frucht, nach Holunderbeeren und Brombeeren, einladend. Zeigt sich am Gaumens geschliffen, öffnet sich mit viel feinmaschigem, sattem Tannin, baut sich lange auf, viel saftige Frucht, satter Druck im 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." VINOUS

Dunkles, sattes Rubinviolett. In der Nase etwas Flieder, Holunderbeere und Cassis. Gut strukturiert mit opulenter Frucht, fein gewebtem Tannin und anschließend ein fast schon schwebender und nicht enden wollender Abgang. SUPERIORE.DE

"Readers should do whatever they can to get their hands on a few bottles of the 2013 d'Alceo. Seamless and voluptuous in the glass, it is an epic wine that embodies all the qualities that make these terraced vineyards in Panzano so special. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, plum, licorice and spice meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's textural intensity that elevates it into the realm of the profound. The 2013 has been nothing short of moving on the two occasions I tasted it recently." VINOUS

"Strawberry, plums, chocolate and green pepper frame this beautiful red. So much black currant too. Full-bodied with round, mouth-coating tannins. So much going on here." James Suckling

"Made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, the 2013 d'Alceo shows an inky dark appearance with impenetrable color saturation. This is another gorgeous wine from an estate I admire deeply. The fruit intensity peels off this wine with elegance, power and intensity. With similar momentum, the wine glides clear over the palate with silky and long intensity. There are some pungent or volatile notes (similar to what you find in the other wines), but they are a plus, not a minus. They give support and intensity to the wine's persuasive aromatic performance. This wine needs more time to unwind in the cellar." Robert Parker

"Aromas of pine, wild rosemary, black currant, iron and tar hold court in this dense, inky red. The tannins run roughshod on the finish, so cellar or tame with grilled beef or lamb." Wine Spectator