Isole e Olena, `Cepparello`
Vintage: 2020
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | IO103B20 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
| 2020 | IO103M20 | 6 x 150 | Natural Cork | Contact Us |
| 2020 | IO103S20 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Contact Us |
Producer
Isole e Olena’s vineyards, like those of Giovanni Manetti at Fontodi, are superbly tended. More than anything, this yields wines of the quality that have kept both these Chianti wineries ahead of the chasing pack for the past three decades.
The name ‘Isole e Olena’ came about in the 1950s when two adjoining estates, ‘Isole’ and ‘Olena’, were purchased by the De Marchi family and combined to form one. The history of both dates back hundreds of years, with the earliest documentation of the village of Olena in the 12th century. In 2022 Isole e Olena was purchased by Christopher Descours, the owner of Charles Heidsieck, Piper-Heidsieck, Rare Champagne, Château la Verrerie and Biondi-Santi. Christopher and the new estate director Emanuele Reolon have a clear vision to build on Paolo De Marchi’s exceptional results, with a restless quest for quality and excellence.
Isole e Olena is in the western part of Chianti Classico, just north of the village of Castellina. Its 45 hectares of vineyard are planted between 350 – 450 metres above sea level, primarily on galestro soil (a kind of rocky, schistous clay). Because the western flank of Chianti is open to breezes from the sea, this is a much cooler part of the zone, resulting in lighter but more scented and elegant wines than many others.
The ‘Cepparello’ is made solely from Sangiovese. It is fragrant with great elegance and balance. The Chianti, a blend of 90% Sangiovese supplemented by Canaiolo, is scented and alluring. The barrel-fermented Chardonnay is outstanding, one of Italy’s best examples of this variety, boasting rich toasted almonds and butter aromas. The Vin Santo, aged for eight years in small barrels called ‘caratelli’, is also among the finest currently produced.
Vineyards
Cepparello represents Paolo De Marchi love for Sangiovese. When he first started working on the Isole and Olena estate, he spent years in understanding the potential of Sangiovese, selecting the best grapes from the estate year after year. Cepparello was first released in 1980 as a selection of the estate best Sangiovese grapes. Today, the wine is still made from the best grapes of the estate. The name “Cepparello” comes from the steam that originates in the highest point of the vineyards on the estate. Vineyards are located on South/South-West facing slopes at an altitude of 400 to 480 metres above sea level, these are between the highest and westernmost vineyards of Chianti Classico, enjoying a cooler climate that gives a unique elegance to the wines. Soil here is primarily galestro, a schistous clay. Vines are 12 to 54 years old and planted with a density of 3,000 (older vineyards) – 7,350/6,500 (new vineyards) with spur-pruned cordon and guyot system.
Vintage
The 2020 season started with a mild, dry winter. Temperatures dropped significantly in March and care was needed in the vineyard to prevent any frost damage to the vines. Summer was dry and mild with the steady conditions lasting until the end of August, when the region encountered bouts of rainfall. However, things had settled by harvest and yields were excellent both in quality and quantity.
Vinification
Harvest was carried out by hand during the second week in October. After crushing, the must fermented on the skins in oak vats for about three weeks at 30-32°C, with délestage and pumping over carried out twice a day to give good colour and soft tannins. The maceration tank was emptied of the fermenting must, the cap was dried out for 4-5 hours and then the must was poured back over the cap. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was racked into barrels. It was 100% barrel-aged, a third in new French and American oak (with American barrels making up 3-5% of the total), a third in one year old oak and the remaining third was put into two year old oak. The wine remained in barrel for 18 months and then matured in bottle for one year before release.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
The Cepparello 2020 is intense and bright ruby in colour. On the nose, it has aromas of red fruits, cherries and wild berries with a touch of spice. On the palate, flavours of red cherries. The wine is earthy with a depth of complex savoury acidity and soft tannins.
Alcohol (ABV)
15%
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isole e Olena | Chardonnay | IO101 | W | Factsheet | |
| Chianti Classico | IO102 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Collezione Privata` Syrah | IO104 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Vin Santo | IO105 | Sw | Factsheet | ||
| `Collezione Privata` Cabernet Sauvignon | IO106 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Chianti Classico Gran Selezione | IO110 | R | Factsheet |