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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.4 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 108 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by liber on 9/19/2023 & rated 93 points: 16th of 18, opened 30 minutes, perfect level, cork quarter stained, unchanged from last bottle in Feb 22, fine fruit, layered, now tertiary, some unresolved dry tannin, possible upside, 10+ years. F+ (18). (460 views) | | | Tasted by iamtramp on 4/17/2023 & rated 90 points: 기억이 흐릿하지만...
올빈의 산뜻함과 깔끔함 (747 views) | | | Tasted by Aris1a on 1/7/2023 & rated 95 points: Purchased as a library release from the winery, via Zachy’s (pre-COVID, and stored in proper cellar). This is a classic example of “patience pays”. First, unlike what the drinking window on CT is suggesting, this wine is clearly not past its prime. Secondly, decant decant decant, for at least 6 hours. As others have commented, this drinks like a well aged Bordeaux. Consumed over a few hours, after an initial 7 hour decant (which was a really good call). Balanced, supple, well integrated, nothing over the top. Tannins tamed. Dark red fruit ever present. Prune, quince paste, red figs, touch of cacao, cigar box, new leather, camphor, eucalyptus. Really great stuff, but requires a lengthy decant. Consider yourself lucky if you have any of this stashed away, and drink up! (959 views) | | | Tasted by NoahCap on 12/16/2022: No time like the present. As others have commented, cork is in great shape. Dark ruby in the glass with just the slightest hint of browning at rim. Does not look 25 yrs old; this bottle has weathered the years magnificently.
Initially, the wine was a bit underwhelming. I tried a very small glass on PnP, thought it tastes closed down, and poured the rest into a decanter. Drank half the bottle over a couple hours with food, and it was…ok. Vaguely dark fruited with some damp earth, tobacco, a pleasant acidity in the mouth, but nothing special. Half the bottle stuck into the fridge, and this wine blossomed overnight!
Day 2: This is a serious wine! A wonderful aroma of delicate black cherries, both brandied and fresh, ripe blackberries, some warm citrus aromas, undergirded by cigar wrapper, pipe tobacco, and deep earthy notes. What nose! In the mouth: acidity is high, tannins are medium (they seem more pronounced on day 2 which is surprising), lots of cherry, earthy, mushroom, and tobacco flavors. To me, this tastes mostly like Bordeaux, but with a very high acidity level that focuses the whole wine very nicely. Maybe it’s the Sangiovese inclusion, idk.
So glad I saved half the bottle. The improvement overnight suggests this wine has a long way to go. If drinking soon, and the cork is in good shape, decant it for a while. Really nice. (1110 views) | | | Tasted by lsilvphoto on 12/3/2022 & rated 86 points: Past it’s time (1039 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 2/23/2022 & rated 93 points: 15th of 18, opened 90 minutes, cork quarter travelled, perfect level, even more fragrant and nuanced, fine length, still some unresolved tannin on exit, maybe upside, good for 10+ years. F+ (18). (1536 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 8/11/2021 & rated 92 points: 14th of 18, opened 90 minutes, perfect level, cork half travelled, little changed from last July's bottle, big wine from hot vintage, some upside still. F (17.5). (1895 views) | | | Tasted by mclanew on 12/25/2020 & rated 93 points: Decanted over one hour and then drank over another two hours. This has a attractive nose showing aromas of cassis, garrique, and cigar box. The wine is mature but still vigorous with notable tannins. Black currant, black cherry, leather, earth and a little spice come through. This is drinking nicely and can continue to age for at least five more years. (2069 views) | | | Tasted by Caruso on 11/13/2020 & rated 96 points: Garnet with slight and thin orange rim. Corked in perfect condition nearly without been soaked. Stored under perfect conditions since release. Ready from the start without decant. Sweet cherries, white chocolate, black currants, cowberries, beef and on the palate in addition spicy, minty notes as well as a burnt rubber flavor, that is however not at all disturbing. Still quite tannic without food with balancing acidity. The scents show high complexity and elegance combined with more power than I remember. This is vivid and dry, with a structure that should carry it through another decade if optimal stored since release. Tannins a bit to high for my taste for receiving an even higher outstanding score. 5/13/18/10. -2030 (2144 views) | | | Tasted by Paul D on 9/25/2020 & rated 85 points: WIMPs is Back, (La Trompette, Chiswick): Nose is dark fruited, touch of mineral and spice. Medium/full bodied, spicy, dark fruit on the initial attack, decent acidity but falls away a bit on the finish (2428 views) | | | Tasted by NickA on 9/25/2020 & rated 89 points: 41st Birthday Wimps - Finally Friday table (La Trompette): Soft and quite straightforward. Juicy and enjoyable, but not exciting. (2004 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 7/5/2020 & rated 92 points: 13th of 18, opened 3 hours, perfect level, cork half travelled, best showing for some time and step or two up on May 19 bottle, nicely nuanced black fruit only slightly baked wrapped round a mineral core, nicely layered, persistent and concentrated, burly dry tannins present but better covered by fruit, stood up well to a well spiced Bolognese sauce, no rush. F (17.5). (1800 views) | | | Tasted by Whisky&Wine on 6/27/2020 & rated 90 points: This is fully mature. Time has come to drink up if you have any left. This was my last bottle from one of the first cases of wines I bought when I started buying and collecting finer wines.
This cork was incredibly difficult to dislodge. This bottle really made me work for the juice within. Cork was intact with 15-20% saturation at the bottom.
Color is a saturated garnet red - quite pretty in the decanter- with slight bricking. Nose is classic; earth, little bit of brush, dark cherry and a waft of amarone-esque ripasso.
Tannins are resolved, mouthfeel is polished and elegant. Fruit flavors remain the core of this wine, as it always has been, but the drying tannins have given way to more tertiary notes.
Enjoyable now, I do not think this will improve and it is likely a year past the peak. (Comparing to the last bottle I had). Did not quite have the freshness of past bottles and the amarone waft gives that away. Drink up!
Paired with homemade sourdough crumpet and charred chicken apple sausages plus figs and a double cream brie.
Tried pop and pour and then gave it an hour to open. Probably only needed 30 mins. Served at 60 farenheit. (1484 views) | | | Tasted by mclanew on 3/28/2020 & rated 93 points: Decanted three hours. Excellent classic nose of red currant, smoke and lead pencil with a tad of funk. Fully mature with light to moderate bricking. The medium bodied palate has lovely cherry core of Tuscan fruit and lots of earthy goodness and complexity. There is still a decent amount of tannin and I think this wine can easily continue to age for 5-10 years but it’s drinking quite well now. (1576 views) | | | Tasted by D'Yquembe Mutumbo on 1/25/2020 & rated 94 points: Rumors of this wines demise have been greatly exaggerated....at least in the bottle I had over the weekend. Don't get me wrong, this is fully mature and is probably not going to improve anymore, but my pristine bottle was singing with dark berries, cinnamon, leather, blackberry compote, and bitter chocolate. This wine is ruby at the core and starting to fade around the edges a bit, as you would expect, but not fading at all on the palate, singing for the entire hour long dinner. If you like Super Tuscans and can find a well stored bottle for under $100, I'd recommend giving this a spin. (1675 views) | | | Tasted by Caruso on 9/29/2019 & rated 93 points: Ruby from center to rim, maybe some hints of purple and without any signs of age. Cherries, spices, minty and herbal notes, currants, all with elegance and grace, but maybe a bit low in intensity for some likings. Tar, tobacco, pencil shavings and meaty notes with time in the glas. And it even adds a bit of weight. On the palate it is still fresh with good acidity that fits perfectly to the fruit and tannin structure. This is not the best year of sammarco, I guess. But undamaged bottles are still providing fun and have many years ahead if perfectly cellared since release. 5/12/17/9. -2026+ (1889 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 9/8/2019 & rated 85 points: Vinetasters: 1997 Super Tuscans (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Sharpie, high-toned, modern Napa-cab style kind of deal. Sweet and a little cloying, with structure that is just fading away. Still some dusty tannins, but overall the fruit is feeling a bit tired at this point. Some odd bitterness on the finish. Not particularly convincing. My 7th, group's 9th. (2721 views) | | | Tasted by mclanew on 6/15/2019 & rated 92 points: Had the 1990 the night before, so I thought I would try the 1997 to see where it is. While it is also a very good mature rampolla it is clearly a step behind the 1990 as it has a tad of rusticity and not quite the purity of fruit of the 1990. Nonetheless a very good wine. Nice nose of red fruit, flowers and earth. The palate is medium bodied, fully mature with black and red currant, cigar box and licorice. Nice complex finish. I would drink this over the next couple years as I think it’s fully mature and will start to decline at some point in the not too distant future. (1787 views) | | | Tasted by liber on 5/29/2019 & rated 90 points: 12th of 18, pnp, perfect level, cork half travelled, much better than last few bottles, youthful look still, fruit quite massive, earthy and dusty, attractive if undifferentiated and lacking complexity, burly, dry tannins still apparent, hard to see this improving further, attractive as it is in its own terms, but not fine. VGI (17). (1770 views) | | | Tasted by Fftjr on 9/3/2018 & rated 90 points: Has some weakening fruit, light tannins. Drinking pretty well, probably only has a year or so. (2134 views) | | | Tasted by mclanew on 6/6/2018 & rated 91 points: Decanted for two hours. Perhaps it wasn’t enough. This was a big brawny wine. Nose of red fruit, tobacco and spice. The palate is a bit rustic and tannic with flavors of red fruit, tobacco, earth, underbrush. The wine is enjoyable as an older style super Tuscan vin de garde. I think it can age longer for sure. I am just not sure if it gets better. (2586 views) | | | Tasted by Vinoevelo on 4/6/2018: More formal/serious than the preceding BdM likely from the cab with associated hints of pyrazine. Dark red fruits, earthy, leather, spice on the finish. Good to go, but still on the young side. No signs of the heat of the vintage. (2754 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 1/30/2018 & rated 91 points: Comes of as inward and restrained, even after a multi-hour-decant. Didn’t budge much. Dark, rustic fruit and some cigar box notes, lacking a roundness or depth despite the evident quality. Not much upside from here as far as I can tell. (2658 views) | | | Tasted by TannicBeast on 8/3/2017 & rated 93 points: Texas Wine School. This was the wine of the night for many people. Decanted to avoid any sediment. This bottle was quite a bit more youthful and more impressive than the one from the same lot, which we tried in June. Medium garnet with some brownish hues. The nose is developed, with aromas of tart red fruit, plums, dried herbs, forest floor and cigar box. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) but smooth tannins and medium alcohol (13%). This is a very smooth and elegant Bordeaux-style blend with the Sangiovese providing a core of tart red fruit and acidity. It may be towards the end of its optimal drinking window but this bottle did not appear to have peaked. (3404 views) | | | Tasted by TannicBeast on 6/29/2017 & rated 91 points: Texas Wine School - Wines of Italy Class. This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot was one of the first Super Tuscans and in fact carried a label of "Red Table Wine." Decanted to avoid any sediment. Medium garnet with brown hues. The nose is developed, with aromas of red fruit, plums, cedar, dried herbs and forest floor. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium (+) but smooth tannins and medium alcohol (13%). This is a very smooth and elegant Bordeaux-style blend with the Sangiovese providing a core of tart red fruit and acidity. Nonetheless, this is just a little bit past its prime; it probably peaked in 2015 or 2016 based on others' tasting notes. Drink up if you have any left. (3404 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (6/12/2016)
(Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana, Italy) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, Castello dei Rampolla: Sammarco 1981-2011 (Oct 2015) (10/1/2015)
(Castello Dei Rampolla Sammarco) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (3/31/2005)
(Castello dei Rampolla, Sammarco Toscana Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Daniel Thomases
Vinous, July/August 2000, IWC Issue #91
(Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana Rosso) Subscribe to see review text. | By Lyle Fass
Rockss and Fruit (8/20/2007)
(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. | By Lyle Fass
Rockss and Fruit (2/7/2005)
(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. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JamesSuckling.com and Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and Rockss and Fruit. (manage subscription channels) |
| Castello dei Rampolla Producer website
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)SuperTuscan BlendSuperTuscan Blend refers to wines which feature a significant Sangiovese component combined with grapes not traditionally associated with Italy like Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. This separates it from "Sangiovese blend" which is used for wines which are predominantly Sangiovese and combined with traditional Italian varieties. There is often confusion as many wines most famous associated with the term "Super Tuscan" like Sassicaia, Masseto and Ornellaia have no Sangiovese and are properly linked to 'Red Bordeaux Blend.'
In fact, Super Tuscan was a term coined to refer specifically to wines such as Sassicaia and Tignanello. These were wines that "fell out" of the official DOCG classification of Italian wines because they either contained grapes not permitted (international varietals such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot,) were aged differently (I.e. in barrique) or were 100% sangiovese - which was not permitted at the time for Chianti (E.g. Fontodi Flaccianello.) Forced to be classified as simply "Vina di Tavola" these wines nontheless quickly found favour in international markets and comanded prices above the highest quality DOCG Chianti Classico & Brunello di Montalcino wines at the time. The wine industry and press began to refer to these wines as SuperTuscans because of their popularity and quality, but also because of the prices they commanded. Subsequently, the Italian authorities, under the Goria Law 1992, redrew the classifications, and included the category IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) to classify the SuperTuscans.Italy Italian Wines (ItalianMade.com, The Italian Trade Commission) | Italian Wine Guide on the WineDoctorTuscany Tuscany (ItalianMade.com) | TuscanytToscana IGTHere is the Wikipedia entry for Toscana wine. |
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