“Rampolla is one of the most fascinating wineries in Tuscany, and Italy, for that matter. The relentless pursuit of excellence is evident in these spectacular reference point wines.” - Galloni

Happy Sunday! Is fun day, is don’t miss this Super Tuscan icon day!*

At the full-on 100 bucks a pop, this delivers the refined intensity of a First Growth Bordeaux at a fraction of what those can fetch. At $65, it suddenly is a must-have urgency for any wine collection, big or small.

A Wine Spectator spotlight last year wrote “For me, Rampolla is one of Tuscany’s most intriguingly unconventional estates - farming biodynamically long before it was fashionable and experimenting with everything from grape varieties to sulfite-free winemaking to wine amphorae made with an ancient material I’ll bet you’ve never heard of. Rampolla has gotten so good that, of late, it seldom produces a wine scoring less than Outstanding in Wine Spectator’s blind tastings.”

Continuing to recite the story of Sammarco “In 1980, Tachis and di Napoli vinified a Rampolla super Tuscan from Sangiovese and Cabernet. But in 1982, when the wine was ready for release, tragedy struck when di Napoli’s son Marco died in a helicopter crash. As a small way to cope with the crushing loss, friends urged him to name the wine for his son. The result, called Sammarco, has evolved over time to become dominantly Cabernet, consistently remaining a flagship.”

In a vertical of Sammarco back to 1981, Antonio Galloni for Vinous remarks “Castello dei Rampolla has been one of Tuscany’s leading estates for more than four decades. This once-in-a-lifetime tasting encompassed every vintage of Sammarco back to 1981 and provided a rare opportunity to trace the arc of one of Tuscany’s most groundbreaking reds… The Rampolla wines are world class, something that comes through loud and clear in this unforgettable tasting.”

What’s also loud and clear is the opportunity to claim a classic at an unbeatable price, today only, this will sell out - fair warning.

98 Points – James Suckling

“Such beautiful balance and refinement to this legendary red with cherries, chocolate, walnuts, hazelnuts and autumn leaves. It’s medium to full-bodied with wonderful, creamy tannins and a persistent and complete finish. Better than the exquisite 2015? A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. Needs three to four years to show all it has. Definitely one for the cellar.”

96 Points, Cellar Selection – Wine Enthusiast

*“A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot, this delicious, juicy red offers inviting aromas of new leather, blue flower, ripe black-skinned fruit and grilled herb. On the smooth, savory palate, tightly knit, fine-grained tannins seamlessly support fleshy black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and tobacco before closing on a mocha note. Drink through 2029.

95 Points – Wine Spectator

“A beam of pure cherry energizes this red, which is defined by vivid acidity. Floral, loamy earth, cocoa and sanguine notes add depth as the muscular tannins take hold on the finish. This has the goods, but just needs time. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2043. 300 cases imported.”

95 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Rampolla is one of the real stars of Chianti Classico. Biodynamic farming and minimalist winemaking are the rule. The stripped down approach yields wines with a feeling of transparency that is incredibly distinctive. Unlike most estates here, Rampolla focuses on international varieties. They decided to release the 2017 Sammarco ahead of the 2016, which is probably sensible given that these wines often require many years in bottle to truly peak. The 2017 Sammarco is heady, exotic and totally beautiful. It is also not anywhere near ready to show all it’s got. Iron, smoke, red cherry fruit, leather, blood orange and spice are some of the many notes that infuse the 2017 with layers of complexity. Firm, muscular tannins are going to need time to soften. Even so, the 2017 is a rare Sammarco that will require only minimal cellaring, which is why the estate decided to release it ahead of the 2016. Drink 2022-2037.”