Wine: 2007 Isole e Olena Cepparello
Region: Tuscany
Sokolin Price: $59.99/btl
Rating: 96 RP
There is something about a standout wine from a stellar vintage that has the powerful ability to leave us with lasting memorable detail. It's not easy to forget about how outstanding and well structured the back-to-back 2006 & 2007 Super Tuscan vintages, across the board, have been. They will surely go down in history as some of the greatest. If you had the privilege of tasting any, we're sure you know what we're talking about. That's why when we saw the 2007 Isole e Olena Cepparello, we quickly grabbed a bottle to sample. Before we even opened the bottle, we thought to ourselves..."could this 2007 be as good, or even better than the soon to be legendary 2006?"
With two lucky visiting friends, we served this wine with grilled lamb loin, a fabulous potato gratin and fresh baby asparagus topped with organic eggs, and it was outstanding. The food was excellent too, but with the Cepparello's succulent flavors and floral notes that matched the wine's very approachable, silky and supple mouth feel, we actually had a hard time focusing on anything else on the table. Even conversation was muted as we swirled and sipped this magnificent juice.
As for the experts, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate says, "The 2007 Cepparello (Sangiovese) makes a case for itself as one of the finest wines ever made at Isole e Olena. It is an open, sublime Cepparello endowed with tons of clarity and definition. The ripe red fruit floats on a core of refined, silky tannins that caress the palate with exceptional elegance and finesse. As the wine sits in the glass its inner perfume gradually emerges, leading to an eternal, beautifully crafted finish..."
A product of one of Tuscany's most talented producers, it is made of Sangiovese, the signature grape of Italy's Tuscany region. It is extremely well made, from a celebrated vintage, and it is undoubtedly one of those wines that will get better with time. That is if you can keep yourself out of the wine cellar...
Our recommendation: We're sure this wine will leave you with memories of the night and also wondering why in the world you didn't purchase and put away more for your future enjoyment. All we can do is give you forewarning. Buy, Drink and Hold this wine. It's a sure bet. Cheers!