1997 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana IGT

Community Tasting Notes (91) Avg Score: 91.4 points

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  9/19/2023 - liber Likes this wine: 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).

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  4/17/2023 - iamtramp Likes this wine: 90 Points

  기억이 흐릿하지만...
  올빈의 산뜻함과 깔끔함

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  1/7/2023 - Aris1a Likes this wine: 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!

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  12/16/2022 - NoahCap wrote:

  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.

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  12/3/2022 - lsilvphoto wrote: 86 Points

  Past it’s time

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