Tasting notes:
Cepparello was first released in 1980 as a selection of the estate best Sangiovese grapes. Sourced from the highest and westernmost vineyards of Chianti Classico, the vines benefits from a cooler climate that gives a unique elegance to the wines. 100% barrel-aged in a mix of French and American oak (30% new) for 18 months. Aromas of red berry and cherry with a touch of spice. Earthy with a depth of complex savoury acidity and soft tannins.
Producer description:
Isole e Olena was born in the 1950s when two adjoining estates, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’ were purchased together. In 2022 the estate came under the ownership of Christopher Descours, the owner of Charles Heidsieck and Biondi Santi. Located in the western part of Chianti Classico, just north of the village of Castellina, the 45 hectares of vineyard are planted between 350 – 450 metres above sea level, primarily on galestro soils. This is a much cooler part of Chianti resulting in lighter and more scented and elegant wines.
Style:
Still Red
Vintage:
2021
Dryness:
Dry
ABV:
15
Size:
75cl
Delivery:
2 weeks
Available:
3
Critic Scores
Jamie Goode | 95
15% alcohol. This is 100% Sangiovese from Chianti Classico. First released in 1980, when you couldn’t label 100% Sangiovese as Chianti Classico, this was Paolo di Marchi’s final vintage at the helm – the property is now owned by Groupe EPI, a French private investment group who also own Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck, and since. They bought Isole e Olena in 2022, five years after purchasing Biondi Santi. This is a paradox of a wine: it weights in at 15% alcohol, but it’s still fresh and taut. Substantial and well structured with a rush of brambly black cherry fruit with some raspberry brightness as well as some liqueur-like richness and a touch of sweet spicy oak, as well as grippy tannins. So much promise here: a rich expression of Sangiovese with concentration and refinement. Give this time.
Matthew Jukes | 19/20
[…]This spectacular property was bought by Christopher Descours, owner of Charles Heidsieck and Biondi Santi, among others. Christopher’s dedication and attention to detail will undoubtedly build on Paolo De Marchi’s incredible legacy. So, this must be the final ‘Paolo Cepparello’, and I must admit it is utterly stunning... It is seamless and silky, and you can drink it now at only three years of age! Of course, its best years are to come, but a wine with this level of equilibrium at this early stage is very special indeed, not least because Sangiovese is a grape that can often look awkward and edgy in its youth. So, where does it sit in the great pantheon of Cepparello releases? As my regular readers know, I am a balance freak, and I favour wines with pin-sharp acidity offset by lusty, sumptuous fruit. This 2021 vintage ticks all the boxes, so it is easy for me to put it in the highest echelons of Cepparello’s history. If you want to own a ‘Paolo Cepparello’ that you can drink now or keep for a couple of decades, this is it. This wine is destined to become a collector’s item before we know it!
James Suckling | 99
In this vintage Cepparello shows very restrained notes of red cherries, dried violets and a lot of stony minerality. There is a meaty and savoury character in depth. Overall very precise and integrated. Velvety tannins dominate the palate, showing a chalky texture, even dusty, with a full body, amazing concentration and very refreshing acidity. The finish is brightly focused on cherry pits. A good wine for the long haul. Possibly one of the best Cepparello ever.
