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Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2019: best 2024 to 2039.
vintage5 yrs20 yrs22 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Wine Advocate reviewed 2022 | 2019 | 96/100 |
| Vinous reviewed 2022 | 2019 | 96/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: red cherry, dried rose, Tuscan scrub, graphite
Palate: sour cherry, iron, wild fennel, balsamic
Pure Sangiovese Toscana IGT created by Paolo De Marchi to bottle the best vineyard at Olena outside DOCG strictures; rose-and-graphite precision.
What it pairs with
- Roast pigeon with chestnut Game-bird and chestnut sweetness meet Cepparello's red-fruit lift.More wines for game →
- Bistecca alla fiorentina Iron-mineral spine for a charcoal-grilled T-bone.More wines for steak →Find bistecca alla fiorentina on TableJourney →
- Aged Parmigiano with chestnut honey Sweet umami amplifies the wine's mid-palate weight.More wines for aged hard cheese →
With cheese
How to serve Isole e Olena Cepparello
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast pigeon with chestnut, Bistecca alla fiorentina, Aged Parmigiano with chestnut honey. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Paolo De Marchi's flagship, born from a refusal to dilute his best Sangiovese with white grapes as Chianti Classico law required at the time. EPI Group acquired the estate in 2022; Cepparello continues under the new ownership.
- 1980First vintage of Cepparello
- 2022Estate acquired by EPI Group
Facts
- Producer
- Isole e Olena · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Sangiovese (100%)
- Classification
- Toscana IGT
- Oak
- 20 to 22 months in French oak barriques, partly new
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 80 to 130 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1980
Frequently asked about Isole e Olena Cepparello
What does Isole e Olena Cepparello taste like?
On the nose, red cherry, dried rose, Tuscan scrub, graphite. On the palate, sour cherry, iron, wild fennel, balsamic. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Pure Sangiovese Toscana IGT created by Paolo De Marchi to bottle the best vineyard at Olena outside DOCG strictures; rose-and-graphite precision.
When should I drink Isole e Olena Cepparello?
Drink 5 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Isole e Olena Cepparello?
Roast pigeon with chestnut is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Bistecca alla fiorentina and Aged Parmigiano with chestnut honey. Game-bird and chestnut sweetness meet Cepparello's red-fruit lift.
What grapes are in Isole e Olena Cepparello?
The blend is Sangiovese (100%). The wine is classified as Toscana IGT.
Tags
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