97 points Wine Spectator: "[$242 list] A focused, balanced style, evoking pure cherry, raspberry, mineral and floral aromas and flavors, this is elegant and fluid yet dense and well-structured, ending with lively acidity and dusty tannins. The finish goes on and on. Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2025. (8/31/17)"
95 points International Wine Report: "The 2012 d’Alceo opens to a lovey dark ruby color, followed by profound aromatics of ripe dark and red fruits woven together with floral, tobacco and licorice undertones that all develop in the glass. On the palate this shows plenty of ripe fruit and wonderful overall structure, with nicely integrated tannins and a gorgeous silky mouthfeel leading up the the long finish. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot this looks as if it will be accessible earlier than most vintages of d’Alceo, but it also certainly has the potential to evolve nicely in the cellar. (10/17/18)"
95 points and 'Top 100 Cellar Selections 2017,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$242 list] Earthy aromas of tilled soil, underbrush, leather, purple flower, cedar and ripe black-skinned berry lead the way on this delicious blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. The smooth full-bodied palate doles out juicy blackberry, red currant, licorice, exotic spice, mocha and a hint of game while tightly knit but velvety tannins lend both structure and finesse. It's already compelling but give it time to fully develop. Drink 2018–2027. Alcohol 13%. (Mar 2017)"
94.5 points CellarTracker.com community score.
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2012 d'Alceo is sweet, round and enveloping. Silky tannins give the 2012 much of its shape, while adding to the wine's appeal. Plum, black cherry, menthol, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the fleshy, succulent finish. Like the Sammarco, d'Alceo is a bit restrained in this vintage. Drink: 2020-2037. (Oct 2016)"
94 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "While Sammarco has been around since the 1980 vintage, Castello di Rampolla’s other Super Tuscan cuvée, d’Alceo, did not make its debut until the 1996 vintage. This wine is made from a cépages of eighty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon and fifteen percent Petit Verdot, with the wine again fermented in cement vats, but aged in a combination of barriques and tonneaux for fourteen to sixteen months, prior to bottling. It is also given an additional two years of bottle aging in the cellar prior to release. The 2012 d’Alceo comes in at 13.5 percent alcohol and is now fully mature, offering up a complex and quite refined bouquet of dark berries, cigar ash, cinnamon stick, a lovely base of soil tones, woodsmoke, beautiful, gentle spice tones of lavender, oregano and rosemary and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and resolving beautifully, with a fine core of black fruit, excellent soil signature, modest tannins and a long, vibrant and complex finish. This is a bit more new oaky in personality than Sammarco, due to its having been raised in smaller barrels, but the oak is beautifully done and fully integrated in the wine. Classy and elegant juice that is now drinking very well indeed, but has decades of life still ahead of it. 2021-2050. (Jul/Aug 2021)" 94 points James Suckling: "Fragrant and enticing with flower petal, dried black tea and berry aromas. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a fruity finish. Needs to come together still. Better in 2019. (11/21/16)"
95 points International Wine Report: "The 2012 d’Alceo opens to a lovey dark ruby color, followed by profound aromatics of ripe dark and red fruits woven together with floral, tobacco and licorice undertones that all develop in the glass. On the palate this shows plenty of ripe fruit and wonderful overall structure, with nicely integrated tannins and a gorgeous silky mouthfeel leading up the the long finish. Composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot this looks as if it will be accessible earlier than most vintages of d’Alceo, but it also certainly has the potential to evolve nicely in the cellar. (10/17/18)"
95 points and 'Top 100 Cellar Selections 2017,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$242 list] Earthy aromas of tilled soil, underbrush, leather, purple flower, cedar and ripe black-skinned berry lead the way on this delicious blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot. The smooth full-bodied palate doles out juicy blackberry, red currant, licorice, exotic spice, mocha and a hint of game while tightly knit but velvety tannins lend both structure and finesse. It's already compelling but give it time to fully develop. Drink 2018–2027. Alcohol 13%. (Mar 2017)"
94.5 points CellarTracker.com community score.
94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2012 d'Alceo is sweet, round and enveloping. Silky tannins give the 2012 much of its shape, while adding to the wine's appeal. Plum, black cherry, menthol, licorice and sweet spices wrap around the fleshy, succulent finish. Like the Sammarco, d'Alceo is a bit restrained in this vintage. Drink: 2020-2037. (Oct 2016)"
94 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "While Sammarco has been around since the 1980 vintage, Castello di Rampolla’s other Super Tuscan cuvée, d’Alceo, did not make its debut until the 1996 vintage. This wine is made from a cépages of eighty-five percent Cabernet Sauvignon and fifteen percent Petit Verdot, with the wine again fermented in cement vats, but aged in a combination of barriques and tonneaux for fourteen to sixteen months, prior to bottling. It is also given an additional two years of bottle aging in the cellar prior to release. The 2012 d’Alceo comes in at 13.5 percent alcohol and is now fully mature, offering up a complex and quite refined bouquet of dark berries, cigar ash, cinnamon stick, a lovely base of soil tones, woodsmoke, beautiful, gentle spice tones of lavender, oregano and rosemary and cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and resolving beautifully, with a fine core of black fruit, excellent soil signature, modest tannins and a long, vibrant and complex finish. This is a bit more new oaky in personality than Sammarco, due to its having been raised in smaller barrels, but the oak is beautifully done and fully integrated in the wine. Classy and elegant juice that is now drinking very well indeed, but has decades of life still ahead of it. 2021-2050. (Jul/Aug 2021)" 94 points James Suckling: "Fragrant and enticing with flower petal, dried black tea and berry aromas. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a fruity finish. Needs to come together still. Better in 2019. (11/21/16)"
| Product SKU | 337530 |
| Producer | Castello dei Rampolla |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Varietal | Cabernet/Bordeaux Blends |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Blend | 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot |
| Ships To |
