Isole e Olena Cepparello 2020

Isole e Olena Cepparello 2020 is one of Tuscany’s modern icons – a pure Sangiovese that helped redefine what this noble grape can achieve outside the traditional DOCG rules. In the warm 2020 vintage, it shows a supple, almost velvety expression while retaining the precision and lift that have made Cepparello a benchmark. As Paolo De Marchi’s penultimate vintage before his retirement and sale of the estate, this release carries particular historical weight for collectors and Sangiovese lovers alike.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Cepparello is a deep, vibrant ruby with garnet flashes at the rim, hinting at both concentration and finesse. The nose unfolds in layers: dark plum and black cherry lead, followed by ripe redcurrant, dried rose petals, and sweet baking spices. With aeration, more complex nuances emerge – leather, earth, crushed stones, a touch of iron and rust, and candied orange peel, all framed by well-integrated oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with a silky, flowing texture that balances richness with tension. Ripe black and red fruits are wrapped in fine, chalky tannins, with notes of sweet tobacco, cedar, blood orange, and a subtle savory, almost ferrous minerality. The 15% alcohol is powerful yet well-managed, carried by fresh acidity that keeps the finish long, lifted, and mouthwatering. Still youthful and primary, the 2020 will gain more complexity and fruit openness with time in bottle; it has the structure to evolve beautifully for 15–20 years or more in a proper cellar.

Production
Cepparello is sourced from high-quality Sangiovese parcels on the Isole e Olena estate in the hills of Barberino Val d’Elsa, in the heart of Tuscany between Florence and Siena. These vineyards sit at elevation on stony, well-drained galestro and alberese soils, which naturally limit yields and enhance aromatic intensity and minerality. Grapes are harvested by hand, with strict selection in the vineyard and at the winery to ensure only the best bunches make it into Cepparello. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled tanks, with careful extraction to preserve elegance over sheer power. The wine is then aged, predominantly in French oak barriques (a portion new), for around 18 months, allowing the tannins to polish and the complex bouquet to develop without overwhelming the Sangiovese character.

Food & Serving
Cepparello 2020 is a superb partner to refined Tuscan and Italian cuisine: think bistecca alla fiorentina, slow-braised beef or lamb, osso buco, game birds, and rich pasta dishes with ragù of wild boar or porcini mushrooms. It also shines with aged Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano Reggiano, or truffle-infused dishes that can match its depth. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large Burgundy or Bordeaux-style glasses. Decanting for 1–2 hours in its youth is recommended to allow the wine to open fully; older bottles will need gentler, shorter decanting primarily to remove sediment.

Producer
Isole e Olena is one of Chianti Classico’s most respected estates, located in Barberino Val d’Elsa and shaped for decades by the visionary winemaker Paolo De Marchi. When his family acquired the neighboring hamlets of Isole and Olena in the 1950s, the estate was largely devoted to mixed agriculture; Paolo’s arrival in the 1970s marked a turning point toward high-quality, terroir-driven wine. Cepparello, first produced in the early 1980s and bottled as a Toscana IGT to allow complete freedom with Sangiovese, quickly became a reference point for modern Tuscan reds and helped elevate the region’s international reputation. Today, Isole e Olena is celebrated for its combination of tradition and innovation, precise vineyard work, and consistently outstanding wines that sit among the finest in Tuscany.

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