The 2021 Castello dei Rampolla Liu Merlot is a Tuscan red wine that has garnered significant praise from notable wine reviewers. This wine, produced by Castello dei Rampolla, is made entirely from Merlot grapes and is sealed with a cork closure.
Vinous reviewer Antonio Galloni awarded the wine a score of 93, describing it as "fabulous." He noted that the wine is "dark and inky to the core," and emphasized its "pure intensity." Galloni highlighted the layers of "blue/purplish fruit framed by incisive tannins," and mentioned that graphite, lavender, spice, and menthol notes appear later, enhancing the wine's complexity.
James Suckling gave the 2021 Castello dei Rampolla Liu an excellent score of 97. He praised the "blue fruits and lavender with crushed stone aromas," finding them to be "very impressive and alluring." Suckling described the wine as medium-bodied with "fine tannins that are very polished and long." He also noted hints of "crushed berries" and a surprising turn to "orange peel at the end." He suggested that the wine needs time to come together and recommended trying it after 2028.
Monica Larner from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated the wine at 95 points. She highlighted its "note of spice and dried herb that frame a dark core of fruit," and described the wine as rich in appearance but with an "elegantly slender and polished" mouthfeel. Larner appreciated the "structural softness" that reflects both the Merlot variety and the sunny brilliance of Panzano in Chianti. She also noted the presence of "peppery notes" on the finish.
Overall, the 2021 Castello dei Rampolla Liu Merlot is a well-crafted wine that has impressed reviewers with its intensity, complexity, and elegant structure. It is recommended to allow the wine some time to mature, with an optimal drinking window suggested after 2028.