The 2006 Sammarco flows across the palate with waves of beautifully delineated dark fruit. Grilled herbs, smoke, menthol, licorice and minerals come to life on the palate, adding further complexity. Today the tannins are quite clamped and also a touch dry on the finish. The 2006 isn’t a blockbuster, but a wine built on elegance and class above all else. Sammarco is Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Merlot. In 2006, I am not sure it has the inner sweetness and stuffing to develop positively in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. 

Castello dei Rampolla is one of the benchmark properties in Tuscany, and for good reason. At their finest, these are some of the most elegant, luscious wines readers will come across. A recent bottle of the 1999 Vigna d’Alceo was easily one of the very finest Tuscan wines I have ever had the privilege of drinking.

Score: 92 Robert Parker (RP), The Wine Advocate (WA), October 2010

Round and soft, with currant and sexy delicious fruit. Spicy and earthy, with a decadent finish. Clear and bright, with wonderful focus.

Score: 94 James Suckling (JS), JamesSuckling.com, September 2011

A huge, powerful wine, the 2006 Sammarco is one of the highlights among recent vintages. The 2006 is deep, dense and concentrated, with massive tannins that are matched pound for pound by the intensity of the fruit. A huge, explosive finish rounds things out in style. Readers will have to be exceedingly patient here. There is no denying the 2006´s greatness, though. Today, the 2006 is far more impressive than it was at the outset.

Score: 97+ Antonio Galloni (AG), The Wine Advocate (WA), October 2015