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Red
1997 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT
Sangiovese
- Italy
- Tuscany
- Toscana IGT
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1996
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1998
Label borrowed from 1999
Label borrowed from 1999
Label borrowed from 1995
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Label borrowed from 1993
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Label borrowed from 2002
Community Tasting Notes 94
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marco_graz Likes this wine: 93 points
January 22, 2024 - Sangiovese and Brunello tasting for my 38th birthday (Wine Taste Gdansk): 👀 Deep garnet color.
👃 Incredibly complex nose, balsamic, sweet candied fruits (but suiting the overall profile), earthy, meaty, cigar, forest mushrooms.
👅 On the palate it had a little too much smooth feeling, even with high acidity it seemed a bit over the edge.
🏁 Non very long finish, another sign of aging. Drink NOW! -
DanielAVTL Likes this wine: 92 points
March 18, 2023 - Yet again I'm taken aback by the ability of top-tier Sangiovese to retain its power and vibrancy at 25 years and beyond.
Initially popped and poured (cork in good condition, with very slight leakage), the 1997 Cepparello presented itself with a dark and lovely color, a delicate garnet rim and almost no signs of advanced age.
On the nose, chocolate, herbs and leather, but slightly mute at first. In the mouth, fruit was locked up, hiding behind surprisingly firm tannins. Again, hard to believe this wine is entering its 26th year.
After the initial taste, we opted to decant - and about 60 minutes in, the wine rounded out beautifully, displaying layers of dark fruit, mocca, leather and thyme. Tremendous structure and a delicious, opulent mouth-fill with a 30+ seconds finish.
Excellent, and still packing so much punch, I feel this still has another decade in it, easily. My only regret was not decanting sooner, perhaps even 4-5 hours would be required at this stage to truly unlock this wine.
Even so, a very strong performance meritting 92 points on the night. -
Hanibal Likes this wine: 92 points
February 24, 2023 - Complex and layered. Time to drink
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olioli wrote: 92 points
February 24, 2023 - D'une jeunesse insolente..
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jkoenen wrote: 93 points
February 13, 2023 - Presented itself as a grumpy uncle when I pulled the cork and poured a glass.
After an hour or so, as the wine reached room temperature, it got more friendly and interesting.
Cherries and plums, forestfloor, wet tea leaves, beefstock, tomato tapenade, cinnamon and warm chestnuts.
Drinking very nicely now.
1 - 5 of 94
More notes
Pro Reviews 7
Add a Pro ReviewVinous
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By Antonio Galloni
Staring Into The Heart of Sangiovese (Jun 2012) (link)(Isole E Olena Cepparello) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
10/2/2007 (link)(Isole e Olena, Cepparello IGT Toscana Red) Subscribe to see review text.
The WINEFRONT
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By Gary Walsh
3/17/2007 (link)(Isole e Olena Cepparello) Subscribe to see review text.
JancisRobinson.com
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By Jancis Robinson, MW
3/31/2005 (link)(Isole e Olena, Cepparello IGT Toscana Red) Subscribe to see review text.
RJonWine.com
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By Richard Jennings
6/4/2011 (link) 92 points(Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT) Slightly cloudy, bricking, dark red violet color; nice tart plum, dried berry, tart currant nose; rich, mature, tart plum, dried berry, cedar palate with firm tannins; good now and should go for 8-10 years; medium-plus finish 92+ points
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By Richard Jennings
4/11/2010 (link) 94 points(Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT) Slightly bricking very dark red violet color with pale meniscus; Milky Way bar, powdered dark chocolate, berry, baked berry, licorice nose; very tasty, rich, but balanced, tart plum, tar, roses, dried berry, orange, tarragon palate; medium-plus finish
Rockss and Fruit
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By Lyle Fass
12/25/2002 (link)(Isole Y Olena Cepparello) Great nose of violets, sweet cherries, lilacs, brown sugar, leather, and some oaky vanilla. The oak calmed down on the nose within twenty minutes. Spectacular concentration and sweet fruit with tannin amassing on the finish. Then they sit and stay. Way too young at this point. The fruit and acid are there but clamped down on the finish. This has serious material in reserve. Wow, these tannins are big!
Wine Definition
- Vintage 1997
- Type Red
- Producer Isole e Olena
- Varietal Sangiovese
- Designation Cepparello
- Vineyard n/a
- Country Italy
- Region Tuscany
- SubRegion n/a
- Appellation Toscana IGT
- UPC Code 8032049203021
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 2 (0%)
- In Cellars 635 (55%)
- Consumed 521 (45%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
100% Like It 18 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerIsole e Olena
- VarietySangiovese
- CountryItaly
- RegionTuscany
- AppellationToscana IGT
Add Articles
- Wine1997 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT (add)
- FamilyIsole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT (add)
- ProducerIsole e Olena
- VarietalSangiovese
- DesignationCepparello (add)
- CountryItaly
- RegionTuscany
- AppellationToscana IGT