2009 Castello de Rampolla Sammarco

($112)The 2009 Sammarco will thrill Rampolla fans who have some of the more structured vintages aging in the cellar. Layered and expressive, the 2009 is wonderfully open today. Grilled herbs, tar, licorice, black cherries and currants meld together in thise seamless, voluptuous wine. I don't think I have ever tasted such a succulent, young Sammarco that delivers so much pleasure at this early stage. The recent increase in Merlot has done wonders to make Sammarco more accessible at a young age than in the past. This is a dazzling effort. Vinous/Galloni 95