The 2011 Cepparello is a big wine that moves over the palate with authority and determination. It reveals thick layers of tobacco, spice, red cherry, grilled herb and pretty ashy-mineral accents. This 100% Sangiovese also imparts a sense of austerity that is especially evident in the tight, but polished tannins. Cepparello needs another five years of bottle aging.94 points from Robert Parker, The Wine AdvocateWinery Notes:This flagship wine consists of 100% Sangiovese aged in French oak barrels. Over the years, Paolo has refined his Cepparello by giving it more air during vinification and increasing time spent in oak from 12 to 14 months to 18 to 20 months. Although De Marchi started focusing on the use of better quality oak around 1993, it is the increased age of the vineyards themselves that have given Cepparello its overall finesse. The wine is made from a top selection of the estates best fruits from the vineyards in Barberino Val dElsa in the northern part of Chianti Classico.
