Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco 2016
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The name Sammarco is in honor of Marco di Napoli, brother of Maurizia and Luca. Sammarco is the original biodynamic Super-Tuscan. Although we tend to position this Cabernet powerhouse after names like Sassicaia, Solaia, and Ornellaia, Sammarco actually predated Ornellaia (1980) and boasts the same winemaking talent behind that “aia” trio—Giacomo Tachis. This is one of the pioneering Tuscan blends that privileges craftsmanship and quality, establishing its credentials absent the instruments of media and marketing. Family owned and operated, Castello dei Rampolla pursues an artisanal approach that includes the practice of organic winemaking, hand selection of grapes, and cultivation of low yields.
Dense ruby-purple color. Intense, intriguing nose of high class cigar tobacco intermixed with smoke, minerals, black currants, and vanilla. The palate is dense, medium- to full-bodied, with superb richness, purity, and overall harmony.
Excellent with game, red meats and aged cheeses.
Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Sangiovese, 5% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, this opens with earthy aromas of truffle, leather, game, cassis and blue flower. Delicious and bursting with personality, the fullbodied palate doles out ripe black plum, fleshy black cherry, crushed black olive and licorice. Velvety, fine-grained tannins provide support. Cellar Selection
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James Suckling
Plenty of currant and blackberry with some coffee and toasted oak on the nose. It’s full-bodied with a dense palate and round, polished tannins that fold nicely into this young wine. It’s very drinkable, even though it’s structured and so serious. Cool in the end, Cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese and merlot. Unfiltered. This will age beautifully. Drink after 2023, but a beauty already.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese, the Castello dei Rampolla 2016 Sammarco was held back for an extra year of aging before its commercial release. In fact, I already reviewed the 2017 vintage last year because that wine is many times more accessible and immediate than this one. The issue at hand are the tannins, which remain very tight and grippy in this bottle. That extra year in bottle has helped them to integrate, but this wine still has a very long way to go. Keep that in mind if you collect Sammarco. Despite that slight astringency, this is a wine of courage and vision. It shows expertly measured fruit weight and lots of lively intensity on the bouquet.
Rating: 96(+)
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Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.