Isole e Olena Cepparello 2015

96 points Kerin O'Keefe (Wine Enthusiast): "Ripe plum, cassis, cedar, underbrush and tobacco aromas slowly appear on this compelling red. It's full bodied and elegant, delivering prune, black cherry compote and exotic spice alongside smooth, enveloping tannins. Drink through 2025. (Nov 2019)"

96 points/'Top 100 Italian Wines of 2018,' James Suckling: "Shows lots of black cherries, cranberry tea, caramelized orange peel, roasted herbs and citrus peel. Full-bodied with ripe and quite round tannins that frame layers of cherries. Bright and fresh, yet rich and long at the same time. The sangiovese character really springs out of the glass. Drink in 2020. (9/11/18)"

95 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "The 2015 Cepparello is not immediately accessible. Indeed, the wine took some time to open, and I kept going back to my sample bottle throughout the afternoon at different intervals to check on its progress. There is no doubting the enormous potential of its aging trajectory nor the considerable depth of fruit in its current youthful state. However, all those aromatic elements of fruit, spice, tar, tobacco and grilled herb still need to find harmony before they sing in chorus. The mouthfeel is chiseled and tight, and this is where you really sense the potential of its longevity... This wine is aged in mostly French oak, with 5% American oak. Drink: 2020-2040. (10/31/18)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "[$90 list] Ripe, offering black cherry, plum and floral aromas and flavors, this red is harmonious and lush. Shows accents of earth, mineral and tobacco, and the tannins meld together nicely. Finishes with a touch of sweet spice. Sangiovese. Drink now through 2028. (10/31/18)"

93 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2015 Cepparello is pliant and racy, with lovely floral top notes to match its gracious personality. There is good depth to the dark red/purplish fruit, while silky tannins give the wine plenty of immediacy. Time in the glass brings out attractive rose petal and lavender notes to round things out. The 2015 is not as complex or layered as the best editions. In exchange, it should drink well right out of the gate. Rain during harvest resulted in Cepparello that is attractive, but also a bit lacking in dimension. Drink: 2020-2035. (Feb 2019)"

Three Glasses, Gambero Rosso: "Their truly sophisticated 2015 Cepparello presents clear, limpid aromas, revealing a fruitiness refined by evident but well-controlled spicy notes of oak. On the palate it follows a wide, contrast-filled progression leading to a long and incisive finish. (2019)"