Three vintages of Ombrone at Italian Wine Merchants

Italian Wine Merchants makes a focus on our Ombrone, selling three vintages combined during Christmas time in New York. Here's what they write:

IWM rarely offers Super Tuscans from Montalcino--we find the region's Brunello and Rosso so excellent that we don't need to! Therefore, when we find one we champion, it's special. Lionello Cousin and Ornella Tondini make a Montalcino Super-Tuscan worth embracing in their Sant'Antimo Ombrone. It's a bold, textured wine that marries international grapes and Tuscan terroir in a palate that's sure to please enthusiasts who love a big red, and this mini-vertical trio offers a three-dimensional view of this wine sensation from Cupano, a registered organic Montalcino estate.

Cupano sits on a rolling plain at the far edges of Montalcino, and it makes outstanding wines, including a beautifully structured Brunello di Montalcino, a delicious Rosso di Montalcino, and the luxurious Super-Tuscan Sant'Antimo Ombrone that we feature today. Owner-operators Ornella and Lionello founded Cupano in the late '80s, and together they use a decidedly French yet non-interventionist approach with their wines, which span the stylistic gap between traditional and modern.

Today, we're delighted to spotlight a trio of Cupano Sant'Antimo Ombrone, the brooding and structured 2008, the succulent and velvety 2009, and the full-bodied and elegant 2010. We like to refer to these wines as "big reds"; they're bold, they're luscious, and they wrap your palate in a complex, vibrant grip that doesn't let go. Cupano's Sant'Antimo Ombrone is a massive wine, an organically grown powerhouse that rewards a more modern palate, yet it's also a wine that remains true to its Montalcino roots. It's one of our favorites, and our allocations are limited; contact your portfolio manager to secure your Super-Tuscan trio from Cupano soon.

Nürnberg, Germany.

Ombrone, Sant'Antimo DOC: A Useful Guide

In Montalcino there are 4 denominations: Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Sant'Antimo and Moscadello di Montalcino, an ancient sparkling white wine.

Unlike Rosso and Brunello, which are 100% Sangiovese, the Sant'Antimo DOC is a sort of winemakers' workshop, allowing producers to introduce the so-called International varieties  - that Lionel doesn't use to call this way - in this area.

We took the name Ombrone from the river passing beside our hill, which goes from the Chianti area to the Tyrrhenian Sea and is the west boundary of Montalcino.

The peculiarity of our Ombrone resides in the fact that Lionel changes its assemblage every year, according to the vagaries of the seasons and of the harvest.

Many journalists, sommeliers and critics have talked about our cuvée. Here's a recap.

First of all, Matthew Jukes - Daily Mail and MoneyWeek columnist, most influential wine writer in the UK - has talked about the 2008 (http://moneyweek.com/575-wine-of-the-week-a-wine-worth-its-weight-in-gold-57548/) and 2010 (http://moneyweek.com/a-legendary-super-tuscan-to-blow-your-mind/) vintages, defining the last one «A legendary Super-Tuscan to blow your mind».

The 2008 Ombrone was reviewed by Antonio Galloni for The Wine Advocate too: http://cupanonews.blogspot.com/2012/05/ombrone-2008-on-wine-advocate.html

Also the two Best Sommeliers of the World, Markus Del Monego and Andreas Larsson, ont dégusté that vintage for TASTED: http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13565-cupano-ombrone

Always talking about the 2008, here's what Francis Bown of Bown's Best wrote: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/BownsBest.jpg

Now let's go back to the 2006 vintage, which is 50% Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in equal parts.

Ian D'Agata & Massimo Comparini included our Ombrone 2006 in their list of 100 Italy's Best Wines in 2010: http://www.cupano.it/INGLESE/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/miglioriViniItalia_2010.pdf. D'Agata talked about Ombrone in Ecco, his personal guide to the greatest Italian wines too: http://cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/ECCO%20GUIDE.pdf

Will Di Nunzio and Janice Cable from Italian Wine Merchants, iconic Italian wine shop in New York, have often talked about that millésime: http://www.insideiwm.com/2014/05/19/expert-picks-cupano-and-il-palazzone/

http://www.insideiwm.com/2014/03/24/cupano-santantimo-ombrone-a-wine-for-lifelong-friends/

Ms. Cable also wrote an introduction to our estate and esprit de vie: http://www.insideiwm.com/2013/12/09/looking-at-cupano-makers-of-brunello-and-iwms-newest-find/

Still, it came out as the greatest Sant'Antimo both for 2006 (http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Altissimoceto.pdf) and 2007 (http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/AltissimoCeto2010_2011.pdf) for Altissimo Ceto, achieving special mentions. These reviews were made by Ivano Antonini, 2008 Best Italian Sommelier, and Cristiano Cini, who are part of the 4-members jury declaring the Best Italian Sommelier every year.

The 2007 Ombrone was reviewed on Wine Enthusiast as the greatest «Other Reds», outside the Chianti, Brunello and Montepulciano denomination: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Wine%20Enthusiast%20OMBRONE%20TESTO.pdf

Furthermore, here's an introduction to this vintage made by our British importer Swig: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Swig,%20Ombrone%202007.pdf

The 2009 and 2010 vintages received 94 points by TASTED, greatest Italian wines tasted in 2014: http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13116-cupano-ombrone

http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13117-cupano-ombrone 

In Summer 2015 the Ombrone 100 - Cabernet Sauvignon in purezza - 2011 received 94 points from TASTED too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxwwrdhUWvA

Ombrone «100» 2011

We're glad to introduce to you a newcomer chez Cupano: Ombrone «100» 2011, belonging to the Denomination of Controlled Origin Sant'Antimo.

This special 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Ombrone comes out from an intuition by Lionel, who saw the great potential of that vintage, thanks to a pleasantly hot summer in Montalcino. 

Andrea really loves Ombrone «100» for its character, fruity nose, freshness and bouche.

Meanwhile, as you can see below, Lionel is already blending Ombrone 2012 in our kitchen.

A legendary Super-Tuscan to blow your mind

Matthew Jukes, one of the leading wine critics in the United Kingdom, has written an amazing review of our Ombrone 2010 on MoneyWeek 1 August issue:

I enjoyed a lunch with one of my wine heroes, ex-cinematographer turned wine guru Lionel Cousin, the other day.  You may remember that I wrote up his 2008 Ombrone two and a half years ago on this very page.  He kindly opened a vertical tasting of his stellar Brunello di Montalcino (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and every vintage was sublime.  2008 Ombrone, his staggering Super-Tuscan looked regal, too.  The 2009 Ombrone was darker and deeper and my featured 2010 simply blew my mind.  The Cabernet / Merlot harmony in this magnificent creation is nearly as distinguished as Lionel himself.

Full text here or here.

Matthew's thoughts about the 2008 vintage.

Inside IWM. Expert Picks: Cupano and Castello dei Rampolla

Posted on | December 5, 2013 | Written by Will Di Nunzio

I love the cold. Mostly, and I say this often, I love it because I am inspired to drink great red wines. Two wines that we have recently received in stock, that struck me and that surprised me come from Montalcino’s Cupano and Chianti’s Castello dei Rampolla; these are two wines you can easily enjoy with the high carb and high protein diets we love to indulge ourselves with during the holidays. Order a steak and bring one of these bad boys with you—enjoy!


Cupano Sant’Antimo Ombrone 2007
Toscana – Montalcino – Cab Sauv, Merlot
To my surprise, the Ombrone is a huge, massive wine. It’s an organically grown powerhouse that begs for a more modern palate; those of you who enjoy that style, this is a gem that no one else has. Cupano is miniscule estate with only seven acres of property and its owner-winemaker, Lionello Cousin, takes incredible care of each vine. Some say that he can tell the difference between each individual plant as he walks the vineyard trimming them with cuticle scissors.

Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco 2006
Toscana – Chianti – Sangiovese, Cab Sauv
One of the great Super Tuscans of our time comes from biodynamic Castello dei Rampolla. Though not as well known as the heavy hitters like Sassicaia and Ornellaia, this wines of this estate are no less important. Making wine since the thirttenth century, Castello dei Rampolla has a long history in the wine world, but it wasn’t until 1980 when the modern era of wine making began and it was put on the map. The secret here is Giacomo Tachis, legendary enologist, who has put his hands on so much of Super-Tuscan winemaking. Between the current owners, Luca and Maurizia di Napoli, and Tachis’ guidance, Castello dei Rampolla’s wines have become worthy of sitting at a table with the likes of the previously mentioned Super Tuscans. This is an incredible bottle for the price.
SOURCE: http://www.insideiwm.com/2013/12/05/expert-picks-cupano-and-castello-dei-rampolla/

CINQUE annate di Cupano nella classifica globale dei 200 migliori vini del mondo

A seguito della prima degustazione alla cieca di vini italiani, tenutasi ad Essen lo scorso mese di gennaio 2013, sono ben 37 le bottiglie italiane che entrano nella classifica globale dei 200 migliori vini del mondo, stilata dai due migliori sommelier del mondo, Markus Del Monego e Andreas Larsson.

Link: Tasted Journal Tuscany. Blind Tasting. Aprile 2013.

Il primo numero di Tasted Journal dedicato all’Italia ha visto la partecipazione di circa 120 viticoltori provenienti da tutto il Bel Paese.

Tra questi spicca il Sassicaia del 2009 della Tenuta San Guido che, grazie ad un eccellente punteggio di 95 su 100, si attesta nei primi 50. Ottimi risultati anche per la Tenuta San Leonardo e Cupano, che fanno il loro ingresso nella prestigiosa classifica di Tasted con tre annate, e per Petra, Masciarelli, Domenico Clerico e Ornellaia, che piazzano due vini ciascuna. La regione più rappresentata è la Toscana, che porta 17 vini nella Top 200, seguita dal Piemonte, con 7, e dal Veneto, con 6.

Link: Cupano Brunello 2005 Riserva

Link: Cupano Brunello 2006 Riserva

Link: Cupano Brunello 2007

Link: tastedjournal.com 

Swig introduction to Ombrone 2007

Ombrone 2008 on The Wine Advocate

Antonio Galloni gave 92 points to our Ombrone 2008 on Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate. 

Here's what Mr. Galloni writes about our cuvée:

The 2008 San'Antimo Rosso Ombrone is a revelation. A blend of 53 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot and 17 % Sangiovese, the wine reveals layers of dark plum, graphite, mineral and herbs, all supported by a firm tannic spine. Menthol, new leather and licorice add complexity on the finish. I am not the biggest fan of internationally styled wines in Montalcino, but the Ombrone is undoubtedly first class. Anticipated maturity: 2014 - 2022.