Tuscany Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 91 Points | A juicy, berry-oriented Chianti Classico here showing some fine herbs, licorice, red berries and fresh plums to the nose. Medium-bodied on the palate with firm, fine-grained tannins and a tight, pretty succulent finish.

Winemaker Description 

This Chianti Riserva is produced from specially selected Sangiovese grapes grown following the traditional methods in the vineyards of the Chianti production area. The wine is aged in Slavonian oak casks owned by the Castellani Family historic cellars where it performs malolactic fermentation and ages for a minimum period of 24 months. It completes its refinement in bottle.

Winemaker Description

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG “Zac” is 100% Sangiovese from the Gugliaie vineyard (2.5 ha). It is dedicated to Anna Corsini, the sister of Prince Tommaso and it represents the new challenges of the winery.

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | A blend of organically farmed Sangiovese and 15% Merlot, this has aromas of forest floor, blue flower, sandalwood and crushed mint. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate features dried Marasca cherry, blood orange, star anise and black tea set against taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2028. (2018). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 100 Points | The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigneti Del Versante is also a jeweled ruby color and is aromatic of kirsch, fresh flowers, sweet herbs, and toasted rosemary. It's full-bodied on the palate, with a compact and concentrated feel, well-defined tannins, and an extraordinarily long finish. As it opens, it continuously evolves in the glass, with pristine notes of licorice shining through, and becomes even more focused and pristine over time. In my book, this wine flirts with perfection and is more than deserving of top marks. Drink over the coming 2-3 decades..." 01/25

Eric Guido of Vinous writes 97 Points | Nuances of dusty florals, rosemary, sage, clove and leather give way to dried strawberry aromas as the radiant 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneti del Versante blossoms in the glass. It's silky-smooth and deep, displaying extraordinary elegance. Soothingly soft textures, ripe red and blue fruit notes and a kick of vibrant acidity provide fantastic energy. Sweet, crunchy tannins steadily build toward the violet-tinged finale, tapering off with hints of blood orange and spice. In a word, spellbinding… I've been tasting the 2019 Brunellos at Pian dell'Orino over the past two years as they've slowly evolved in bottle. Last year, I mused over the Vigneti di Versante's classy profile and potential, as well as the Bassolino di Sopra's flirtations with perfection. The former may find its way there in time. Collectors will want to snatch up both of these upon release in 2025.

Winemaker Description

The Pian dell Orino estate is adjacent to the Biondi Santi property. This area has a long history of being particularly suited for growing grapes for high quality wines. Husband and wife team Caroline and Jan's love for Tuscany and passion for viticulture binds them particularly to this land, their vines and the resulting wines. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

Winemaker Description

Deep and ruby red color. Intense and fruity notes of ripe red fruits and sweet spices. Strong personality, harmonious structure and well-complexed tannins, with a long finish.

This wine pairs well with red meats, seasoned pecorino cheese and steak. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2009 

Antonio Galloni writes | The estate's 2009 Taffe Ta' (100% Colorino) is striking. Blackberry jam, cloves, menthol, licorice and melted road tar seem to jump from the glass. Rich, layered, and impeccably balanced throughout, the Taffe Ta' is simply stunning in this vintage.

Winemaker Description

This wine is intense ruby red in colour with youthful highlights. On the nose, there are notes of almonds, violets and oranges which are intertwined with aromas of coffee and vanilla. It is a full-bodied wine with well-balanced acidity.

The rounded tannins from the Sangiovese are lifted by the cassis concentration of the Cabernet on the long, concentrated finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017 

James Suckling 93 Points |  Blueberries and blackcurrants with bark and licorice. Full body and round, chewy tannins. This is very fresh and bright with some sage and stone character. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to soften. Drink after 2023.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2017 Ghiaie della Furba opens to a bouquet of minty herbs, camphor and smoke before deepening further to display dusty red currant and spice box. This is velvety and fleshy in feel, with stimulating acidity that enlivens its spicy black fruit and building mineral tones. It tapers off with persistence, power and grippy tannin, the perfect mix for a long evolution. The Ghiaie della Furba is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah and 20% Merlot that refines in barrique, half new and half second pass. It's important to note that production was down by 40% in 2017 due to trost.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 Points | The organic Volpaia 2020 Balifico is an IGT blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon is impossible to miss, as this wine is very driven by aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and garden herb that are linked to that varietal. This is a medium to full-bodied red blend that also delivers the dusty crushed stone aromas that I associate with Chianti Classico.

James Suckling 93 Points | Very pretty and floral aromas with orange blossom and currant character. Very attractive purity of fruit. It’s medium-bodied with polished and fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Tangy acidity. From organically grown grapes. Give it a year or two more but already gorgeous. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Loaded with black cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, this red is also firmly structured. Shows persistent fruit through the lingering aftertaste, where elements of earth and Tuscan scrub emerge. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 90 Points | This red shows some depth to the black cherry, black currant, iron and tobacco aromas and flavors. There is a hint of tar, and the firm structure is well-integrated. Drink now through 2032.  — Bruce Sanderson

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This blend opens with ripe aromas that recall blueberry and strawberry jam, followed by notes of spice, chocolate and moist tobacco. The finish is soft and velvety, and it comes with a touch of plush richness. This is complex and balanced.

Decanter 91 Points | Sweet wood nuances lead with cinnamon, clove and a touch of vanilla eventually ceding to wild cherry and wet soil. On the palate, forest berries are laced with chocolate. The fruit is concentrated and plush with ripe, powdery tannins giving effortless support. This is its usual sophisticated and polished self, with lots of juiciness. Yields are a low 30 hL/ha and ageing is in a combination of French oak tonneaux and barriques, 10% new. Give this another year for the wood to integrate.  Drinking 2022 -2027 — Michaela Morris

Jancis Robinson 17.5 Points | Greve in Chianti. 100% Sangiovese.  The grapes were destemmed but not crushed and fermented in stainless steel as well as oak casks where it also went through MLF. Aged in barriques and tonneaux for up to 14 months. Certified vegan and organic.

Walter Speller | Medium to deep crimson. Gorgeous nose of cherry and with the scent of cigar box. Luscious juicy fruit on the palate and silky tannins that make their mark. Beautiful balance and elegant and concentrated at the same time. Amazing length and focus. Drinking 2021 -2028.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2018 Chianti Classico is classy, polished and exceptionally beautiful. Like so many wines in 2018, the Chianti Classico is aromatic and gracious in feel, more finesse than power. Silky tannins wrap around a core of bright Sangiovese fruit. From start to finish, the 2018 is all class.  Drinking 2020 -2033.

Winemaker Description 

Castello dei Rampolla d'Alceo is a premium, proprietary blend of Cabernet and Petit Verdot grapes exclusively from the renowned Panzano in Chianti region of Tuscany. This organic and biodynamic red is sure to tantalize your taste buds with its complex bouquet and flavor profile.

Expert Reviews - VIntage 2009

Vinous 96 Points | The 2009 d'Alceo comes across as much more classic in style and structure than the 2008. According to Luca di Napoli, the trick to 2009 was harvesting on the early side. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, plums, mint and licorice all take shape in the glass Over the last few months, the 2009 d'Alceo has softened a bit, releasing expressive, floral aromatics, brighter shades of fruit and striking inner perfume, but it remains quite vibrant in the context of a vintage in which so many wines are quite a bit riper in style. The 2009 is a wonderfully deep, resonant d'Alceo that should offer a wide drinking window starting in a few years. It certainly looks like Rampolla nailed the vintage.  Drinking 2019 - 2039.

Antonio Galloni, 96+ | My absolute favorite wine of 2022 was a bottle of the Castello dei Rampolla 2006 d'Alceo that I had the good fortune to drink at dinner during a work event in Tuscany last year. I remember the wine vividly, and if I were to review it again, it would certainly merit a perfect score. With that profound inspiration in mind, I feel especially optimistic toward this outstanding group of new releases from Maurizia di Napoli and her talented team. This historic estate has farmed according to organic and biodynamic methods since 1994, making it one of the first in Italy to do so. In truth, I have found some inconsistencies along the way over the many years I have reviewed and adored these wines. Such is the magic of artisanal winemaking. But thanks to that memory of that 2006 d'Alceo, I remain in awe of Castello dei Rampolla today.