Photo courtesy of Castello dei Rampolla

2019 Sammarco & d'Alceo
98pt Super-Tuscan Royalty

Sammarco is a visionary wine from founder Alceo di Napoli Rampolla and legendary Tuscan winemaker Giacomo Tachis (he collaborated on the creation of Sassicaia, Solaia, Tignanello, amongst others). 

Born out of the desire to blend the beloved Sangiovese of Chianti with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Sammarco, much like Tignanello, was one of the pioneering Super-Tuscans. A passion project of Tachis and Rampolla, Sammarco was first released in 1982 and quickly became one of the most beloved table wines of Chianti.

Alceo Rampolla was a man willing to take the risks to create something special from nature. Sammarco is by far one of Alceo’s greatest endeavors, but the simple foundation of the Castello dei Rampolla in itself was a gamble. It was 1965 and Rampolla inherited a beautiful farm outside of Panzano. Chianti as a wine was easiest left unmade. Demand for Chianti was nonexistent. Ten years later, Rampolla released his first Chianti Classico. The gamble and sheer will paid off. 

Fast forward to 1994, where the foresight and risk taking ambition of Alceo is carried forth by Luca and Maurizia. The conversion to biodynamics makes Castello dei Rampolla one of the first in all of Tuscany to adopt chemical free farming practices. Two years later it was only fitting that the first biodynamic wine released by Castello dei Rampolla is the Cabernet dominated Vigna d’Alceo.

D’Alceo is a single vineyard expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot that Alceo Rampolla first planted at Castello dei Rampolla. 1991 marks the first released vintage, however, it was not until the 1996 vintage that the wine garnered the attention and acclaim that make it one of the most unique expressions of Cabernet in central Tuscany. 

Today, both Sammarco and d’Alceo continue to be two of the most influential and historical wines of the region. This is the beauty of the union of Sangiovese and Cabernet, as well as Cabernet’s place within the Chianti Classico region..

This was Rampolla’s dream for his farm that has come to fruition as one of the finest vineyards in all of Chianti. 

Cheers,
Jeremy