Cepparello, Isole e Olena 2010

Isole e Olena's 2010 Cepparello is magnificent. In particular, I admire the way the wine fleshes out in all directions, with seemingly endless layers of dark, mineral-infused berry, plum and pomegranate notes. A primal wine in need of significant cellaring, the 2010 is easily one of the highlights of the year. Bright, saline notes support the precise finish. Today, the 2010 is naturally quite backward and undeveloped, but it should be a gem in another 5-10 years. This is an especially dark, structured Cepparello built for the cellar. The 2010 brightens up with time in the glass, but it remains one of the darker, more brooding wines made in the estate's history. Drink: 2020 - 2035.

Evolved wine, showing aromas of tobacco leaves, oak bark, tamarind, carob and bergamot. Full-bodied and creamy on the palate, due to the matured tannins, with a hint of rusticity and leathery flavors, yet it displays cherry energy and crisp acidity. Still chewy in the aftertaste. Drink now.

In 2010 the estate didn't finish picking until the first days of November due to a long, slow ripening season. The vintage is known for producing wines of structure, and that's the case here, with Cepparello's bright red cherry fruit supported by plentiful tannins. It has quite a sturdy and ‘hard’ feel to it, but its gum–tingling acidity and great balance ensure that further down the road this should be a delightful wine. Drink 2023-2042.