1997 Isole e Olena Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione de Marchi Privata
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Tasting notes
The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione De Marchi tasted from magnum, is glorious. Dark cherry, blackberries, melted road tar and licorice are some of the many notes that wrap around the palate in a dark, brooding wine endowed with tons of structure. At the time, 1997 was considered a very warm vintage, and it was, but those conditions are pretty much the norm these days. From magnum, the 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon remains a baby. To be sure, the style is ripe and flashy, but it all works. What a wine!
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Daniel Thomases, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dark, brilliant blackish ruby. Open, sustained Bordeaux-like aromas of ripe cassis fruit, sweet herbs and tar. Very rich and concentrated on the palate, with the fruit, licorice, vanilla, and herbal components in impeccable balance. A seamless wine, powerful but perfectly controlled. Superb winemaking.
About the producer
Situated north of Castellina, on the western side of Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena was created by the De Marchi family in the 1950s and has since become one of the region’s leading names. It is renowned for its top bottling Cepparello, a pure Sangiovese, as well as its brilliant Chardonnay.