2008 Sammarco

The 2008 Sammarco is striking. Freshly cut flowers, red berries, mint and licorice burst from the glass. The 2008 is remarkably open and vibrant today, but it will almost certainly shut down with more time in bottle. Today the 2008 impresses for its length and pure, mineral-infused fruit. Dazzling aromatics, beautifully delineated fruit and fabulous structure all come to life in this stunning, breathtaking wine. I wish every reader could taste this wine.

The 2008 Sammarco is striking. Freshly cut flowers, red berries, mint and licorice burst from the glass. The 2008 is remarkably open and vibrant today, but it will almost certainly shut down with more time in bottle. Today the 2008 impresses for its length and pure, mineral-infused fruit. Dazzling aromatics, beautifully delineated fruit and fabulous structure all come to life in this stunning, breathtaking wine. I wish every Wine Advocate reader could taste this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. Rampolla is one of the most fascinating wineries in Tuscany, and Italy, for that matter. The relentless pursuit of excellence is evident in these spectacular wines. The 2008s capture Rampolla in a transitional phase that marks the move to cement and amphora, which was completed by 2009. As for the wines, they are spectacular. In 2010, Rampolla introduced a new wine, a 100% Sangiovese fermented and aged in amphora, with no additional SO2, that I was not able to taste for this article. Simply put, these are reference point wines from Luca and Maurizia Di Napoli. Importer: Vias Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 629-0200