The 2019 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco IGT is a proprietary red blend produced in Tuscany, Italy. Comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Merlot, the wine has an alcohol content of 14.5%. This organic and biodynamic wine has been well-received by critics, earning high scores and praise for its complexity and elegance.
James Suckling awarded the 2019 Sammarco a score of 96, noting its "currants and black berries with citrus undertones as well as flowers." He described the wine as "medium-bodied with medium velvety tannins" and highlighted its "freshness and brightness." According to Suckling, the wine is "drinkable now but better in three or four years" (jamessuckling.com, 8/7/2023).
Vinous, reviewed by Antonio Galloni, gave the wine a score of 94. Galloni praised the wine's "gorgeous aromatic intensity from the Cabernet Sauvignon," which dominates the blend. He noted the presence of "sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, mint, dried cherry, incense and crushed leaves," which lend "notable aromatic presence" to the young Sammarco. Galloni concluded that in 2019, the Sammarco exhibits "more finesse than power" (Vinous, 8/1/2023).
Monica Larner of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also awarded the wine a score of 96. She described it as "more austere and even robust" compared to other wines in the portfolio. Larner emphasized the "firmly grounded" nature of the wine, with a "bigger baseline of aromas" that include "black fruit, baked plum, spice, tobacco and crushed limestone." She noted the "natural concentration of the 2019 vintage and beautifully managed tannins" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 9/21/2023).
Overall, the 2019 Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco IGT is a well-regarded wine that balances aromatic intensity with a grounded, robust profile. It is recommended for both immediate enjoyment and further aging, promising greater complexity in the years to come.