Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco 2019

Castello dei Rampolla lies in the Conca d'Oro of Panzano, in the heart of Chianti, a property held by the Di Napoli family since 1739 that turned to winemaking in the mid 1970s. Sammarco is one of Tuscany's landmark Cabernet based reds, classified as IGP Toscana, built mainly on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Sangiovese. The estate is farmed biodynamically, with a long commitment to protecting the land and its biodiversity. The Conca d'Oro is a warm, well exposed amphitheatre of galestro and limestone rich soils, which ripens Cabernet fully, here to 14% alcohol, while the elevation and stony ground keep the wine fresh and mineral. It ages fifteen months in 500 litre French oak barrels, a larger format that gives gentler oak influence and slow oxygen exchange to settle the tannins. The colour is a deep ruby. The nose is sweet and complex, with blackcurrant, plum, high quality tobacco, smoke, a mineral note and a hint of vanilla. The palate is full bodied and structured, with ripe firm tannin, fresh acidity and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour or two ahead. It is a wine for roast and grilled red meats.