2009 Ampeleia Ampeleia ToscanaBlend from Italy
Ratings and Description Ratings and Description 94 94 ...
Ratings:
94 Antonio Galloni - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2009 Ampeleia is the most striking wine I have ever tasted from Ampeleia. A blast of rich, dark fruit hits the palate, followed by exotic espresso, sage and sweet spices. There is a wild, unrestrained quality to the 2009 that separates it from most wines being made on the Tuscan coast today. Layers of fruit build to the rich, voluminous finish. This is a fabulous effort. Ampeleia is 60% Cabernet Franc and 15% Sangiovese, plus an assortment of other red grapes grown on the property. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021."
"I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted from Ampeleia this year. Every time I went back to the wines, I found a new shade of dimension. A gradual conversion to biodynamic farming and an increased use of cement vats are stripping these wines to the bare essentials, and what comes through more often than not these days is pure class." (06/12)
94 Ian Dagata - Vinous Media
"Deep, opaque ruby-red. Aromas of red berries, herbs, cocoa powder and brown spices. Silky on entry, then sweet and superconcentrated in the middle, spreading out to saturate the palate with dark berry, herb and mocha flavors. The ripe tannins are already in perfect harmony with the wine's fruit. A wine of great energy and clarity, and a very impressive vintage for Ampeleia." (09/12)
93 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com
"Pretty aromas of sliced plums and nectarines follow through to a full body, with very fine tannins and a delicious finish. Very fine and polished tannins. Made from organic grapes. Drink now." (08/12)
90 Wine Spectator
"A fruity version, sporting black cherry and plum flavors shaded by vanilla and toast accents. An earthy, wild herb element emerges on the finish. Best from 2013 through 2020. 1,666 cases made. -BS" (10/12)
Product Description:
Wine:
"This wine comes from the IGT Maremma appellation, in the Tuscany region of Italy. It's made from 50% Cabernet franc, 20% Sangiovese, and 5 other varieties of Mediterranean heritage. The average age of the vines is 15 years, and grapes are harvest during mid September to mid October. The wine spends 16 months in oak barrels (40% new)." - Importer
"Native to the Near East, the grape varieties brought together in Ampeleia - among many others - took root in the Mediterranean farmlands, contributing to the definition of a fundamental aspect of our cultural identities. Having migrated in Roman times from the Caucasus, through Albania, to Venice, today, Cabernet Franc is also present in Maremma: fruit, spice, elegance and body are the qualities it conveys to Ampeleia. The quintessential Tuscan grape variety, Sangiovese, was already prized by the Etruscans, who named it "Sangue di Giove" - Jupiter's Blood: it imparts its strength and constancy to Ampeleia."
"Ampeleia strives to represent the inherent diversity and huge potential of its natural and cultural environment. The estate is the result of the purchase of different plots of land, located far apart and on different altitude levels, with the precise aim of creating a great variability in altimetric, soil and microclimatic conditions: each vineyard has a distinctive identity that is enhanced by the uniqueness of the surrounding environment. Hence, variety is the keystone and soul of Ampeleia. In fact, variety represents the project’s constant quality, both physically and symbolically, and is harmoniously expressed in its wines that taste of the diverse and varied land of Roccatederighi." - Winery
Specifications Specifications
Item # | 71662 |
Vintage | 2009 |
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Sub-Region | Toscana IGT |
Color | Red |
ABV | 14.0% |
Size | 750mL |
Closure | Cork |
Features | Organic and Biodynamic |
Varietal(s) | Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Grenache / Garnacha, Carignan / Carinena, Alicante Bouschet |
Taste | tobacco, raspberry, cassis, violet, pepper, green bean, red fruit, strawberry, black currant, blackberry, dust, leather, cherry, licorice, anise, dark ripe cherry, dark berry, blueberry and spice |
Nose | tobacco, broccoli, berry, flower, asparagus, green pepper, red fruit, vanilla, toast, smoke, dark fruit, violet, rose petal, oak, mushroom, dark berry, black cherry and plum |