New Release – Castello dei Rampolla d’Alceo & Sammarco 2013, 100 & 98 points

The 2013 vintage in Tuscany has now established itself as one of the finest in a decade, with many estates producing one of their best ever vintages. This is true of Castello dei Rampolla, which in 2013 saw its two world beating wines d’Alceo and Sammarco receiving their highest ever scores. Castello dei Rampolla d’Alceo is the Super Tuscan wine that continues to outperform all others, boasting critic frenzy, tiny production and a climbing global stature, it is a veritable superstar. In 2010, Rampolla d’Alceo received a perfect 100 points from Antonio Galloni, James Suckling also scored the 2008 100 points; incredible accolades that signal the wine’s remarkable potential. In January, Galloni released his second perfect score for Rampolla d’Alceo, for the stunning 2013 vintage. He ordains the 2013 with a drinking window lasting to 2043, rather akin to a prime vintage First Growth! We are delighted to be able to offer it today at first tranche release price, for £750 per case of six, a stunning price for a wine with 100 points from Galloni and with only 850 cases made. In his tasting notes Galloni states ‘Readers should do whatever they can to get their hands on a few bottles of the 2013 d’Alceo.’ D’alceo is the finest wine in a great Tuscan vintage.

In 2013, Sammarco has produced something truly remarkable, a 98 point score from Galloni, its highest ever score. This surpasses the rest of the field, with the exception of d’Alceo in 2013, yet as can been seen by the table below, at a remarkable price point of £285 per case of six. This gives it a Price Over Points Score of 32, which is a triumph and almost unheard-of ratio for one of the world’s leading Estates.

Castello dei Rampolla is sited in Panzano, famed for the Conca d’Oro or ‘golden basin’, an outstanding natural amphitheatre composed of the village’s hillsides, neighbouring Fontodi. The Napoli family have owned the Estate, which goes back to 13th Century since 1739. At the time of his death in 1991, Alceo di Napoli’s wine Sammarco was experiencing continuous notoriety and criticism for using Cabernet Sauvignon in the Chianti Classico region. The Estate passed to his dedicated children Luca and Maurzia di Napoli who continued their father’s revolutionary work and who, in his honour, created the eponymously named d’Alceo.

Castello dei Rampolla’s history echoes that of Sassicaia and Ornellaia, in fact it is the direct progeny of them. Before Sassicaia’s official unveiling in 1968, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta made his now legendary wine to be shared with his family and close friends. Among this group of hallowed friends was the owner of Castello dei Rampolla, Alceo di Napoli. Thus, it was that Castello dei Rampolla who began to emulate the polemic Bordeaux blend style at this Estate. He wasted no time in seeking out the world-famous consultant oenologist Giacomo Tachis, the founding father of Sassicia, Tignanello and Querciabella. His unrivalled ability to incarnate Bordeaux blends in Tuscany quickly resulted in Castello dei Rampolla’s new wine, Sammarco, rising to prominence; previously large amounts of the grapes had been sold to Antinori.

Castello dei Rampolla vestiges an effortless prototype of French varietals, Sammarco in 2013 is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese. D’Alceo is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot and like Sassicaia and Ornellaia it marries power with elegance, opulence with restraint. D’Alceo 2013 will join the pantheon of Italy’s finest ever wines, with a perfect score, to match their 2010. Sammarco offers staggering value for money, besting the rest of Tuscany’s powerhouses yet available for less than £50 a bottle, a magnificent offering!

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