Isole e Olena - Cepparrello IGT 2019

75 cl

Alcohol content: 15 % vol.

Grape varieties: 100% Sangiovese

Vinification

Fermentation takes place in open fermentation vats and the wine is matured for 18 months in partly new and partly used barriques.

Tasting note:

The Isole e Olena 2019 Cepparello, one of the icons of Tuscany, is a pure Sangiovese made by the loving hands of a winemaking legend, the great Paolo De Marchi (who was finalising the sale of his beloved estate when this wine was launched). Indeed, this wine opens a discussion about the future of this famous IGT Toscana, a wine that followed a rigorous vision and style under De Marchi. It is elegant and rich with fine flavours of black and purple fruits. It is fermented in oak barrels and matured for 20 months in French barriques, a third of which in new oak.

Isole e Olena:

The big news in Chianti Classico last year was the sale of Isole e Olena. The winery was acquired by the French EPI Group (the same investors behind Biondi-Santi in Montalcino). It is incredibly sad to see such an important winery leave the loving guardianship of the innovator and visionary Paolo De Marchi. With 56 hectares of vineyards, Paolo created one of the greatest Sangiovese wines in Tuscany, Cepparello. However, I am reassured that Paolo was prepared to leave the responsibility to someone else. I am also reassured by the impressive track record of the buyer, Christopher Descours of the private EPI Group based in Paris. He has made significant investments in wine and is a person to keep an eye on. His team in Montalcino at Il Greppo has done an exceptional job of preserving the celebrated heritage of Biondi-Santi. "Evolution not revolution" is the mantra, and I'm sure this mindful approach will also be applied to this latest Tuscan acquisition.