Nestled on a perfect hillside in Chianti Classico, halfway between Florence and Siena, Isole e Olena has some of the most coveted vineyards in the entire region. As a 4th generation winemaker in his family, Paolo de Marchi has been at the helm of the winery since the 1970s. He spent many harvests in California as well as France, which influenced him to modernize and improve many aspects of viticulture and winemaking in Chianti. Supple and smooth, the 2020 Cepparello brings Sangiovese to soaring heights in a manner only Paolo De Marchi can manage. This is his second to last vintage before he would retire and sell this historic estate. The wine opens to medium to full-bodied concentration with dark plum and redcurrant. Those cede to sweet spice, earth, crushed stone, rusty nail and candied orange peel. Give the wine more time to flesh out with cellar age. It registers a powerful 15% alcohol content yet has a good 15 years plus ahead of it. 2025–40.