Isole e Olena Cepparello 2021

This spectacular property was bought by Christopher Descours, owner of Charles Heidsieck and Biondi Santi, among others. Christopher’s dedication and attention to detail will undoubtedly build on Paolo De Marchi’s incredible legacy. So, this must be the final ‘Paolo Cepparello’, and I must admit it is utterly stunning... It is seamless and silky, and you can drink it now at only three years of age! Of course, its best years are to come, but a wine with this level of equilibrium at this early stage is very special indeed, not least because Sangiovese is a grape that can often look awkward and edgy in its youth. So, where does it sit in the great pantheon of Cepparello releases? As my regular readers know, I am a balance freak, and I favour wines with pin-sharp acidity offset by lusty, sumptuous fruit. This 2021 vintage ticks all the boxes, so it is easy for me to put it in the highest echelons of Cepparello’s history. If you want to own a ‘Paolo Cepparello’ that you can drink now or keep for a couple of decades, this is it. This wine is destined to become a collector’s item before we know it!

• Reviewer Name: Matthew Jukes

One of Tuscany's flagship wines, the Isole e Olena 2021 Cepparello immediately delivers ripe fruit flavors that are firm, even crunchy, and that bodes well for the future evolution of this classic vintage. The wine is packed with tart fruit flavors followed by balanced acidity. Compared to past vintages that are more extracted and dense, this edition is delightfully bright and transparent. I appreciation the age-worthy direction Cepparello is taking.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2048
• Reviewer Name: Monica Larner