(Castello dei Rampolla "Sammarco") This is Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese and has a great core of dark cherry fruit that gets brighter as the wine opens up. This an extremely earthy wine with the suave and silky tannins of a "made" wine but it is no way offensive and is actually quite enjoyable. Maybe too earthy for some but perfect for me. There is almost a dried mushroom element to the wine which adds wonderful complexity. Very rich but not overextracted or hot in any way. Really restrained considering the ripe quality of the vintage Quite nice wine and lasted open for two days with no signs of oxidation which is impressive as I find Sangiovese oxidizes quite easily. Nice stuff and I will not open my next bottle for 5-7 more years.
(Castello di Rampolla Sammarco) I am very glad I did not open one as this was very closed but has a very bright future ahead of it. Reticent nose at first but soon there were aromas of ripe black cherries, spicey oak, and some other non oak-associated spice. Subtle nose but very detailed. Very big on the palate but has an amazing roundness and precision. Pinpoint acidity with tremendous ripeness of fruit but still somewhat missing something in the middle due to it's shut down personality. Long finish with big noble tannins. This is a great wine. I would not touch this for at least five or six years.
By Lyle Fass
(Castello dei Rampolla "Sammarco") This is Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese and has a great core of dark cherry fruit that gets brighter as the wine opens up. This an extremely earthy wine with the suave and silky tannins of a "made" wine but it is no way offensive and is actually quite enjoyable. Maybe too earthy for some but perfect for me. There is almost a dried mushroom element to the wine which adds wonderful complexity. Very rich but not overextracted or hot in any way. Really restrained considering the ripe quality of the vintage Quite nice wine and lasted open for two days with no signs of oxidation which is impressive as I find Sangiovese oxidizes quite easily. Nice stuff and I will not open my next bottle for 5-7 more years.8/20/2007, (See more on Rockss and Fruit...)
By Lyle Fass
(Castello di Rampolla Sammarco) I am very glad I did not open one as this was very closed but has a very bright future ahead of it. Reticent nose at first but soon there were aromas of ripe black cherries, spicey oak, and some other non oak-associated spice. Subtle nose but very detailed. Very big on the palate but has an amazing roundness and precision. Pinpoint acidity with tremendous ripeness of fruit but still somewhat missing something in the middle due to it's shut down personality. Long finish with big noble tannins. This is a great wine. I would not touch this for at least five or six years.2/7/2005, (See more on Rockss and Fruit...)