A Long History of Wine Growing
It is said that it takes 10,000 hours to achieve world-class expertise with any skill. For the Di Napoli Rampolla family, owners of the magnificent ‘Santa Lucia in Faulle’ estate in Panzano-in-Chianti since 1739, close to three centuries of grape growing and more than 50 years of experience producing iconic wines is undeniable proof of their expertise.
Until the mid-1960s the estate sold its grapes to other wineries, including the famed Antinori, but Alceo di Napoli Rampolla wanted to produce wines under the Castello dei Rampolla name. Alceo turned to his friend and esteemed winemaker Giacomo Tachis (creator of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Solaia) for guidance and in 1975 the first bottles of Castello dei Rampolla Chianti Classico were produced. Alceo also decided to plant Cabernet Sauvignon, a bold move in the region. 1980 saw the first vintage of Sammarco, (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot) and a legacy of Super Tuscans at Castello dei Rampolla was born.
Upon his death in 1991, Alceo’s children Luca and Maurizia stepped in, honouring the family legacy while also implementing new ideas to enhance the quality of their wines. They converted the estate to fully biodynamic practices in 1994 and furthered their father’s commitment to high-density Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards with very low yields. Luca and Maurizia have continued to innovate since then, working the vineyards less frequently to allow more natural vine growth, introducing terracotta amphorae and concrete eggs for fermentation (enhancing flavour, texture and softening tannins), using lightweight and eco-friendly machinery and producing wines without sulphites, all the while earning praise from wine lovers and critics alike.
Vinous founder Antonio Galloni says it best: “The Di Napoli family has been making stunning wines for a while, but in recent years quality has gone into the stratosphere, a rarified place where words feel utterly useless in describing just how profound and magical these elixirs are.”
Castello dei Rampolla 2019 ‘Trebianco di Santa Lucia’, Toscana
Retail: $62.95 / btl (6 btl/cs)
Castello dei Rampolla 2019 ‘Liù’ Merlot, Toscana
Retail: $89.95 / btl (6 btl/cs)
Castello dei Rampolla 2017 ‘Sammarco’ Toscana
Retail: $112.95 / btl (6 btl/cs)
Click HERE to order!
Please note that quantities of these wines are very limited. Order today for delivery in January 2022!
The Wines
Castello dei Rampolla 2019 ‘Trebianco di Santa Lucia’, Toscana
91 points – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, September 2020
“The Castello dei Rampolla 2019 Trebianco di S. Lucia (made without added sulfites) is a blend of Trebbiano, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Traminer. This is a raw and authentic white that smells of the purity of the grapes, and the soils of Tuscany scooped up into your hands on a warm sunny day. The wine is redolent of orchard fruit, honey, dried apricot, saffron spice and waxy apple or pear. Background notes of baked terracotta, crushed rock and even a touch of brown sugar appear in moderation. This white wine has the texture and fiber to pair with fried chicken or filet di baccalà (codfish sticks).”
Castello dei Rampolla 2019 ‘Liù’ Merlot, Toscana
94 points – Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2021
“The 2019 Merlot Liu’ is another outrageously beautiful wine from Rampolla. Deep, inky and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous energy to match its purity of fruit. Blueberry, spice, leather, menthol and espresso build into the potent, tannic finish. Readers will find a serious Merlot packed with fruit and structure.”
Castello dei Rampolla 2017 ‘Sammarco’ Toscana
98 points – James Suckling, July 2020
“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.”
Click HERE to order!
Please note that quantities of these wines are very limited.
Order today for delivery in January 2022!
About Castello dei Rampolla
The Di Napoli Rampolla family has owned the awe-inspiring ‘Santa Lucia in Faulle’ estate in Panzano-in-Chianti since 1739. Located in the revered ‘Concha d’Oro’, west of the village, this is ‘Grand Cru’ Tuscany.
When he inherited the estate in 1965, Alceo di Napoli converted from sharecropping to a modern farm, and planted the first vineyards. Until 1975 most of the grapes went to Antinori, and when Alceo decided to begin making and bottling his own Chianti Classico he turned to his friend Giacomo Tachis for guidance — Antinori’s technical director, creator of Sassicaia, Tignanello & Solaia.
Since Alceo’s death in 1991, his children Luca and Maurizia have built upon his legacy, converting fully to biodynamic practices in 1994. The 125 ha estate has about 32 hectares of vineyard, producing only 60-70,000 bottles annually — very low yields of remarkably intense fruit — fermented in concrete tank or terra-cotta amphorae. The family history and the calibre of the wines has justifiably earned Catello dei Rampolla a reputation as iconic.
Sammarco is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Sangiovese created by Alceo in collaboration with Giacomo Tachis in 1980. One of the first ‘Super-Tuscans’, Sammarco was inspiration for the next generation of winemakers.
d’Alceo is an homage to his father created by Luca di Napoli — Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit Verdot — which has become a true Tuscan icon. 1996 was the first vintage, from vineyards planted in 1990-92.
Like all the wines from this remarkable estate, even the Chianti Classico is an unusually structured, age-worthy wine. The wines are all certified organic, and each year a selection of Sangiovese and a Trebbiano are both bottled without added sulphites. Fermentations in amphora, ceramic, concrete or wood reflect the biodiversity of the estate, where a multitude of crops (and chickens!) contribute to a healthy, complex environment.
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You can also email wine@thevineagency.ca or call 416.693.7994. We’d love to chat about wine with you!
