Rampolla, Alceo, IGT

Critic ratings

• Robert Parker / Wine AdvocateMonica LarnerReviewed Oct 2025Drinking window: 2017–2035

  94/100

  The Castello dei Rampolla 2012 d'Alceo was born in a hot vintage that saw good rain at opportune moments. This wine opens to balsam herb with dark fruit and dried blackberry, but it also shows significant brawn, making this one of the bigger wines in this vertical tasting. You do feel richness and extraction on the finish, and the impression of freshness is somewhat diminished compared to the cooler vintages. Given these characteristics, I recommend drinking this wine now. Castello dei Rampolla rebuilt the fermentation area in 2012, and starting with that vintage, d'Alceo went from being aged in barrique for two years to going into larger oak vessels (barrique and 500-liter tonneaux), with 6,000-liter casks introduced to the program in 2019 and 2020. After that, the wine goes into bottle for two to thee years, depending on the vintage. An even bigger 12-hectoliter botte was introduced in 2025. All metal was removed from the winery 15 years ago and replaced with cement, ceramic, cocciopesto and terracotta. Punch-downs are executed twice daily for two to three weeks and delicate pumpers are used at the end of fermentation.

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• Vinous (Antonio Galloni)Reviewed Oct 2016Drinking window: 2020–2037

  94/100

  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.

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• Falstaff

  97/100