2018 Isole e Olena, Cepparello, Toscana 6x75cl

Antonio Galloni 94+

The 2018 Cepparello is a brilliant, tightly wound wine that is going to need a number of years to unwind. Today I very much like its energy and vibrancy. Readers will find a Cepparello that is more about persistence than volume. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, spice, lavender and menthol are laced into the silky finish. [Antonio Galloni, 21/09/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2026-2048

Wine Advocate 96

A pure expression of Sangiovese, the 2018 Cepparello is a beautiful expression that speaks to the classic and most exemplary side of this versatile and deeply expressive grape. This vintage is especially bright and ethereal with a true sense of luminosity and clarity that radiates from both the wine’s appearance and its fragrant bouquet. Tart cherry and cassis segue to balsam herb and wild violets. To the palate, the wine shows muscle and determination with sweet tannins and impressive depth of favor. Cepparello remains true to its unique identity in this vintage. Production is 42,000 bottles. [Monica Larner, 09/08/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2045

vinum 94

Vivid, deep and dark cherry fruit. There’s some spice here and it’s quite tightly bound up at the moment although the fruit is very clean and pure. Deeply-pitched and bass-driven on the palate with significant volume and a rich mid-palate texture. It really expands to fill the palate. Although fundamentally dry it has sweet, dark-toned cherry fruit and a creaminess that suggests very considered barrel ageing although there’s no overt oak character. Both acidity and tannin are taut and crisply defined but neither is obstrusive. It’s very well balanced and melded together, with just a touch of warmth on the finish to indicate the alcohol – which is present but not unbalanced. Finishes with the juiciness of freshly sliced plums. [Matthew Hemming, 01/05/2021]