Vineyards and winemaking
Campoleone comes from Tenuta Lamborghini near Panicale, overlooking Lake Trasimeno in Umbria. The area's clay-rich soils and the lake's moderating influence support slow, even ripening, giving the Merlot and Sangiovese at the heart of this wine both generous fruit and the structure needed for long development.
The varieties were vinified separately under the guidance of consultant Riccardo Cotarella, with extended maceration and malolactic fermentation used to build colour, depth and supple texture. The 1997 matured in French oak before bottling, bringing polish to a warm, highly regarded vintage.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep garnet with a brick-red rim, showing the mellowed colour of a mature Umbrian red.
Nose
Dried cherry, plum and blackberry are layered with cedar, tobacco, liquorice and violet. Leather, woodland earth and a fine smoky note emerge gradually with careful aeration.
Palate
Velvety and concentrated, with mature dark fruit, cocoa and savoury spice carried by fresh acidity. The tannins have softened but retain shape, and the finish is long and complex, moving through dried herbs, forest floor and a subtle balsamic note.
Food pairing
Serve with braised venison, beef shin with polenta, roast pigeon, or aged Pecorino. Stand the bottle upright before opening and decant gently away from any sediment, tasting as you go rather than exposing this mature wine to prolonged air.
Background story
Ferruccio Lamborghini established the estate in the 1970s after retiring from the car company that bears his name. His daughter Patrizia later developed its wine ambitions, working with Riccardo Cotarella to create Campoleone as the flagship expression of their Umbrian vineyards.
The celebrated 1997 vintage brought Campoleone international attention and a 97-point score from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. At this age, provenance and bottle condition are central to the experience, but well-cellared examples can still show the wine's distinctive combination of Umbrian savouriness, ripe fruit and polished texture.
