Wines

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of my favorite wines of the year. It gets as close to Brunello perfection as vinously possible. Fruit is sourced exclusively from the estate's oldest vines in the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard, the oldest Canalicchio cru. The vines were planted in 1987-1988. They are in their prime production years right now. This is first time the Riserva is made exclusively from that site. The depth of this wine is extraordinary. The wine starts with a playful offering of red fruit and cherry. Like many of the wines from this vintage, the bouquet takes a while to arrive at full intensity.
That margin should shorten as the wine continues its cellar aging and evolution. Yet, the slow start to the bouquet is ultimately what drives your interest in this wine. The mouthfeel is exceptional with tannins that are both silky and firm at the same time.
My visit to Canalicchio di Sopra was one of the most complete and satisfying of the Montalcino region. Francesco Ripaccioli offered a tasting of his current releases and a fascinating look at Brunello from the Vigna Casaccia from 2013, 2014 and 2015 (before malolactic fermentation). With the memory of that tasting firmly in mind, I enjoyed a second tasting of his new wines at home. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is among my top five favorite wines of the vintage joining in the company of Il Marroneto, Casanova di Neri, Pian dell'Orino and Salvioni.

Monica Larner

A dense, plummy style, offering supporting notes of tobacco, underbrush, earth and mineral. Ripe and balanced, with lively acidity and assertive tannins shoring up the finish. Needs some time, but the equilibrium is there. Best from 2019 through 2033. 833 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

Mid ruby with bright orange tinges. Fine oatmeal and cherry nose. Powerful, fruit-driven palate that is fantastically balanced. Very intense right now but possesses lots of depth and energy and beautifully polished tannins. Drink 2020-2034 Walter Speller

Underbrush, truffle, pressed violet, tilled soil, eucalyptus and mature berry aromas unfold on this structured, elegant red. It is still young and primary, offering red cherry, black raspberry, menthol, licorice and dried herb alongside youthfully austere tannins that need to unwind. This will benefit from another decade of cellaring. KERIN O’KEEFE

Underbrush, tobacco, new leather and chopped herb aromas unfold in the glass. Full bodied and tightly wound, the palate delivers Marasca cherry, pomegranate, licorice and orange zest framed in taut fine-grained tannins. Give this several more years to come around then drink or hold for even more complexity. Drink from 2022 through 2032. KERIN O’KEEFE

This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.

Ripe, lush and polished, this red is fresh and lively, showcasing plum, cherry, leather, spice and chocolate flavors on a sleek frame. Lacks cohesion on the finish for now, but should come together with age. Best from 2016 through 2032.

Bruce Sanderson

A dense and powerful red with tight and structured tannins. It's full yet sleek and lean. Very firm and long. A beautiful wine with real greatness. Clarity in the bottle. Drink now, but will improve for years ahead.

James Suckling

This is spicy in style, with vanilla, cedar and clove aromas and flavors accenting a core of cherry and tobacco. In the end, there's a purity to the fruit, but it needs time to find its balance. Structured and long. Best from 2014 through 2027. 420 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

There's licorice on the nose, with some salt and ripe cherry, in this Brunello, which has very intense aromas that lead to a chewy, concentrated, full-bodied palate. A little rustic and overdone. But impressive nonetheless. There's lots of toasty oak--a little less new wood would make this even better. Best after 2013. 500 cases made.

James Suckling

Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010. 330 cases made.

James Suckling

Supple and caressing, with plenty of violet, berry and cedar character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Best after 2005. 335 cases made.

James Suckling

Very fresh and fruity with refined tannins and a long finish. Medium- to full-bodied, silky texture. Another year of bottle age would bring it together. Best after 2004. 200 cases made.

James Suckling

A wine that shows so much on the nose with dried-meat, wet-earth and fruit aromas and flavors. Changes all the time. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Superb depth and length. Drink now or hold for as long as you'd like.

James Suckling 

Shows excellent aromas of plums and light coffee that follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. A bit more on the finish would take it to a different level. Needs a year or two to soften.

James Suckling

This is very intense and rich with polished and velvety tannins. Full body, leather, berry and plum character. Hints of chocolate and meat. Drink now.

James Suckling

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as magnificent as it was last year. Since then, the 2010 has acquired an extra dimension of finesse it did not show last year. Powerful yet weightless in the style that is typical of the wines of the north, the Riserva exudes energy, tension and depth. Sweet dark cherry, lavender, herbs, mint and tobacco shape this deeply expressive, virile Riserva built on class. The new oak, which was evident last year, has not subsided and is really only evident in the wine's mid-palate sweetness and texture.

Antonio Galloni

Canalicchio di Sopra's 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva delivers the goods. A dark, enveloping wine, the Riserva is laced with black stone fruits, scorched earth, smoke, licorice and violets. As always, the style is intense and brooding to the core. In 2007, there is a little more raciness and early appeal to the Riserva than is often the case, but this remains a fairly muscular style of Brunello that will appeal most to readers who enjoy structured wines.

Antonio Galloni

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, broad-shouldered wine endowed with tremendous depth and richness. Black cherries, licorice, new leather and tobacco wrap around the palate in this dramatic, sweeping Brunello. Despite the wine's size, there is plenty of nuance and detail. The 2006 needed all of its 40 months in cask. This is a fabulous effort.

Antonio Galloni

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak.

Antonio Galloni

An absolutely compelling Brunello, Canalicchio's 2004 Riserva is magnificent from the very first taste. Rich and ample on the palate with silky tannins in support, the 2004 Riserva captures the very best qualities of a vintage in which the wines are sensual and finessed to the core. Still very, very young, the 2004 Riserva will drink well for another 20 years or more. Put quite simply, the 2004 Riserva is a knock out. This is a perfect example where the differences between the Brunello and the Riserva are more about stylistic and personal preferences rather than absolute quality.

Antonio Galloni

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is in a beautiful spot today, now that the tannins have begun to soften a touch. Bold and broadly sketched, the 2001 Riserva shows the more voluptuous side of the year. This is a classic Canalicchio wine, but with a little more power, ripeness and richness than is often found. Black fruit, smoke, tobacco, licorice and game add the final layers of nuance.

Antonio Galloni

The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is quite a bit fresher than the straight Brunello bottling. As always, the wines of this era here show an element of rusticity, but within that context, the Riserva is quite pretty and expressive. Still vibrant, the 1995 Riserva will drink well for another decade or so.

Antonio Galloni

Tasted next to the 2006, the 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes across as relatively soft and easygoing. Ripe, silky tannins provide the framework for layers of expressive fruit in a sophisticated Brunello with plenty of early appeal. I suggest drinking the 2007 while the 2006 ages. Both are fabulous. The 2007 spent six months in 750-liter French oak barrels followed by 36 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

One of the truly exciting wines of the year, the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva boasts superb richness, power and depth from start to finish. Cloves, violets, incense, plums, black cherries and menthol all explode from the glass in a virile, towering Brunello endowed with massive structure. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, this drop-dead gorgeous Riserva has more than enough stuffing to drink well for two decades. The estate gave the 2006 Riserva 42 months in oak, all of which it handled beautifully. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

he 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way.  

Antonio Galloni

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  

Antonio Galloni

There is something rustic yet deeply satisfying about Canalicchio di Sopra’s highly idiosyncratic Brunellos that makes them compelling to drink. The intense 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is loaded with black cherries, earthiness, tobacco and spices. A dark, brooding, powerful wine, it isn’t especially approachable today, but it should offer terrific drinking with another year or two of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.  

Antonio Galloni

The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva made a terrific showing thanks to its all-embracing personality. There’s a real sense of abundance and generosity here that starts with the wine’s richly textured mouthfeel and darkly concentrated appearance. The aromas have certainly moved into the third and final stage of their evolution with smoked bacon and saddle bag but there’s enough pressed fruit and crushed flower to keep it from feeling one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is lean and elegant with surprising focus and clarity. Decant the wine three to four hours prior to serving. Drink: 2014-2028.

Monica Larner

The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark in color, ripe and full on the nose with abundant sensations of caramel, chocolate, and tar, and a rich, firm, ample palate which features plenty of grip and authority on the finish. Drink: 2005-2016. 

Daniel Thomases

The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine that totally took me off guard. I associate Canalicchio di Sopra with a classic, so-called “traditional” style that puts an emphasis on the smallest details like delicate nuances and lithe sensations. This wine is obviously born from a very different mindset, a more powerful vintage. Bold and broad-shouldered, it is packed tight with pressed cherry, anise seed, tar and black licorice. It changes tune slightly in the mouth where it walks with quieter footsteps. This wine is at its peak performance right now and may fade fast. I recommend a shorter decanting. Drink: 2014-2019.

Monica Larner

Tasted blind. Very heavy bottle! Lustrous deep ruby with orange rim. Sweet, brooding nose. Fragrant and elegant on the palate with plenty of polished tannins. Very fruit dominated on the finish, for the moment. Huge potential. 

Walter Speller

Very heavy bottle! Dark, mature-looking ruby. Very slow to emerge from the glass and same reluctance on the palate. Key word is sweet concentration. A little leathery. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Fruit marked by nutty oak but with real depth and lots of concentration. 

Walter Speller

Bright red. Ripe red fruits and strong mintiness. Pretty warm and round.  Concentrated and still with sinewy tannins. Very dry - dried fruit - finish. Just a bit awkward. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated maturing ruby with bricky rim. Amazingly fine, perfumed sweet nose with notes of tea leaves and pure cherry. Wonderful precision of fruit on the palate and richly tannic. The Barolo amongst the Brunello? No signs of age yet! Wonderful depth on the finish. 

Walter Speller

Mid-to-dark mature-looking ruby with bright, brickstone rim. Sweet undergrowth, multi-layered dried fruit with some cherry creeping up. Hint of herb liqueur. Supple, full bodied and still a little closed. Sweetly aromatic on a tannic finish. Very slow to open up, and still could do with more time in the bottle. Lots of powdery tannins for the moment but with wonderful fine tangy acidity on the finish. 

Walter Speller

This riserva Brunello delivers a dark and masculine approach with brawny aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit and prune. Both the density and persistency are impressive and the wine ends with inky concentration and finely textured tannins.

Here is a generous, modern and bold expression of Sangiovese Grosso whose soft layers of chocolate and dark cherry fruit help soften the natural acidity and structure of the 2006 vintage. A polished mineral note adds attractive definition on the finish. Tight and very firm; age this wine 10–20 years.

Here's another superstar Brunello Riserva from the excellent 2004 vintage. The aromas are rich and penetrating and recall cherry liqueur, cola, mesquite, cedar, wet earth and pressed violets. The wine's texture is streamlined and compact with polished tannins.

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beautifully saturated expression, with gorgeous density and presence. The bouquet is carefully considered in terms of its power and intensity (remember, this was a hot and dry vintage, and ripening was accelerated as a result). It shows lots of varietal character and definition without ever going overboard or feeling too soft or ripe. In fact, this Riserva is surprisingly tonic and firm deep down. It sweeps over the palate with sweet, plush and softly velvety waves of fruity flavors.
- Monica Larner 

Good full red. Clean, focused aromas and ripe flavors of strawberry, blood orange, peppery spices and underbrush. Dense, ripe and savory but virtually weightless, delivering outstanding energy, depth and inner-mouth perfume. There's a lovely core of sweetness here, but the wine stands out today for its savoriness and youthful firmness. Finishes subtle and very long, displaying polished, suave tannins. This is yet another noteworthy 2012 Brunello Riserva.
- Ian D'Agata 

Classically styled wine with a spicy and cedary nose as well as dried flowers and a little orange zest. The palate has a very smoothly rendered tannin bed and bright, succulent flavors of dried dark cherries. Pretty structure and depth. Try from 2022.
- James Suckling 

This year's Riserva comes from the estate's two oldest vineyards. The north-facing Vigna Vecchia Mercatale makes up the backbone, with the remaining 20% coming from Vigna Casaccia, which will be bottled as a single vineyard Brunello in the future. There is a wild gaminess on the nose, countered by scents of lavender, tobacco and intense balsamic herbs. On the palate, powdery tannins frame compact fruit and the finish reverberates with a captivating minerality.
- Michaela Morris 

A ripe, macerated version, displaying plum, cherry, tobacco, earth and spice flavors. A beam of lively acidity in the middle elevates this. Ends with elegance, supporting tannins and fine length. Best from 2022 through 2036. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported. 
- Bruce Sanderson 

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a tremendous wine that delivers a deep sense of inner gravity and balance. That, in a nutshell, is the secret of the top-end wines made at the exciting Canalicchio di Sopra estate. The wines made here always exhibit carefully measured balance in the classic vintages (like 2013) and in the difficult years as well. That extreme balance is exactly why you taste the vintage variation with such distinction. This expression from 2013 is remarkably smooth and silky with a steady succession of traditional Sangiovese aromas that span from wild berry, forest floor, wet earth, pressed flower and hints of tangy licorice or aniseed. This is a mid-weight Brunello that glides over the palate with precise, delicate and long lasting waves of intensity. Some 3,185 bottles, 174 magnums and 30 double magnums were made.
- Monica Larner 

This has tarry aromas with a wealth of ripe black cherries and a dusting of cocoa. The palate has a plush, ripe-berry core, as well as a neat frame of succulent tannins. Good cut and drive here. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling 

Deep red. An inviting nose of red cherry, gardenia, lily of the valley, and minerals leads to a creamy, expansive yet ultra-buoyant palate. A hint of salinity complements flavors similar to the aromas adding freshness and extending them on the long finish.
- Ian D'Agata 

Francesco Ripaccioli only has 11 harvests under his belt but calls 2013 the most beautiful one so far. This is also the first year in which the estate's Riserva comes exclusively from the Montosoli cru. Planted in 1995, these are the oldest vines in their stable. Even more thrilling than the winery's 2012, the 2013 Riserva is a model of precision, exquisite balance and razor-sharp linearity. Dense without being heavy, this is buoyed by vivacious acidity and wrapped in commanding yet fine-grained tannins. It unfolds slowly, revealing notes of mineral, sweet dark earth, rosehip, violet and sage blossom - but it promises even more in the years ahead.
- Michaela Morris 

Woodland-berry, forest-floor, Mediterranean herb and blue-flower aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice and leather. Savory and loaded with finesse, the focused palate delivers black cherry, cranberry, baking spice and tobacco set against tightly knit polished tannins. It's balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2023–2030.
- Kerin 0'Keefe

Deep ruby with bricky tinges. Brooding nose hinting at sweet fruit. Monolithic and slow on the palate and with a fantastic balance between concentrated tangy fruit and ripe, gripping tannins. Patience needed.
- Walter Speller 

This is harmonious, featuring cherry, strawberry, plum and earth flavors that mesh with the supple texture and firm structure. Elements of iron, leather and tobacco emerge as this red stretches out on the tangy finish. Best from 2021 through 2040. 275 cases made, 100 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanserdon 

Lovely sweet black cherries and blackberries on the nose with lots of flowers. Full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins that are polished and beautiful. It’s very poised and pretty now, but will deliver so much more with bottle age. Goes on and on. Drink after 2024.
- James Suckling

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark, floral and exotic, even sultry at times, presenting a bouquet of black currant, animal musk and savory, crushed ashen stone. The textures are silky yet dense, showing mineral-webbed woodland berries and balsamic spices. The tannic heft mounts toward the close, penetrating deeply, but with brisk acids to balance. The 2016 is animalistic in nature, yet crystalline and fresh, tapering off structured and incredibly long, leaving licorice and balsam herbs to linger. In 2016, Francesco Ripaccioli decided to use fruit from both the Vigna Vecchia and Mercatale vineyards in the Riserva, which is typically the richer and bolder expression of Brunello at Canalicchio di Sopra, but in 2016, it's totally classic in every possible way. What a glorious wine!
- Eric Guido 

Richness and complexity for a Riserva for years at the top of his category. From Vigna Vecchia Mercatale and Vigna Casaccia, on the skins for 28 days in steel, then at least 42 months in Slavonian oak. Raspberry jam on the nose, salty touches of Taggiasche olives, finish on the notes of rhubarb. Mouth with iodized tannins, persistence and fruity return.
- Luca Gardini 

Canalicchio di Sopra’s Riserva is typically crafted from the estate’s oldest plantings. In 2016, it combines two sites: Vigna Vecchia Mercatale in Canalicchio and the Filari Lunghi vineyard on the Montosoli hill. It is intensely balsamic in fragrance, flaunting mint and rosemary on a backdrop of dark, rain-soaked soil. Flint and tobacco notes hover in the background. The palate is pure and upright. Tight, linear tannins penetrate the compact core of black brooding berries. Then, the palate is suddenly refreshed by a tangy, stony minerality. This still needs time to meld, but all the elements are there for a long life. Drinking Window 2025 - 2042
- Michaela Morris

Canalicchio di Sopra is faithful to the concept of Riserva, and there is always a marked, but proportional, stylistic difference between this wine (which is aged for 36 months in Slavonian casks) and the annata release. This is exact how it should be. Riserva is an extension of annata, not an exaggeration of it. From a classic vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a special and highly collectible bottle. It shows depth and profound fruit with bright cherry, plum and crushed flower. It also manages greater concentration and density while maintaining its graceful personality. You'll need to add quite a few years of age to this wine. Production is a mere 4,133 bottles.
- Monica Larner

Ripe black-skinned fruit, violet, truffle and new leather are just some of the aromas you'll find on this gorgeous red. Delicious and full-bodied, the smooth, elegantly structured palate features juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco accompanied by a velvety backbone of taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.
Cellar Selection
-Kerin O’Keefe

Leads off with high-toned cherry and strawberry flavors and savory, mineral elements, which are buoyed by vibrant acidity and solid tannins. This is still
very youthful and full of nerve, complexity. Reveals hints of soy and chocolate that add more detail on the long aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2043.
- Bruce Sanderson

Lustrous mid ruby with narrow orange rim. Deep, balsamic nose with a minerally tingle. Suave, succulent cherry fruit palate with firm, ripe grainy tannins. Very long and with plenty of structure. Fantastic balance. Concentrated and elegant at the same time, while the tannins demand more bottle age.
- Walter Speller 

Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

Kirsch- und Blütenaromen prägen das Bouquet, auch würzige Pfeffernoten; stets verlässliche Machart, gefällt mit seiner Struktur und dem verführerisch-eleganten Finish. Hervorragender Essensbegleiter.
- Christian Eder

Ruby red in colour with pale mauve undertones. Jet propelled rush to the senses. Rich black fruits introduce dusky floral notes dipped in exotic spices. Liquorice, clove and mint nuances loiter around solid core of juicy fruit that saturates the mid palate. Completely seduces the imbiber. A trophy winner of a wine.
- Tony Wood

Guida Vitae 2023

Deep intense ruby red in colour. My first thought was: ‘this is still a baby’. Black cherry, plum, redcurrant, toasted tobacco, dried lavender, fully integrated fine tannins counter balanced with fresh acidity. Spice and pepper notes. Would have loved to re-taste this over 24 hours. This is a massive wine that takes time to fully appreciate. The reserve of energy this wine contains is mind blowing.

- Tony Wood -

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of my favorite wines of the year. It gets as close to Brunello perfection as vinously possible. Fruit is sourced exclusively from the estate's oldest vines in the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard, the oldest Canalicchio cru. The vines were planted in 1987-1988. They are in their prime production years right now. This is first time the Riserva is made exclusively from that site. The depth of this wine is extraordinary. The wine starts with a playful offering of red fruit and cherry. Like many of the wines from this vintage, the bouquet takes a while to arrive at full intensity.
That margin should shorten as the wine continues its cellar aging and evolution. Yet, the slow start to the bouquet is ultimately what drives your interest in this wine. The mouthfeel is exceptional with tannins that are both silky and firm at the same time.
My visit to Canalicchio di Sopra was one of the most complete and satisfying of the Montalcino region. Francesco Ripaccioli offered a tasting of his current releases and a fascinating look at Brunello from the Vigna Casaccia from 2013, 2014 and 2015 (before malolactic fermentation). With the memory of that tasting firmly in mind, I enjoyed a second tasting of his new wines at home. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is among my top five favorite wines of the vintage joining in the company of Il Marroneto, Casanova di Neri, Pian dell'Orino and Salvioni.

Monica Larner

A dense, plummy style, offering supporting notes of tobacco, underbrush, earth and mineral. Ripe and balanced, with lively acidity and assertive tannins shoring up the finish. Needs some time, but the equilibrium is there. Best from 2019 through 2033. 833 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

Mid ruby with bright orange tinges. Fine oatmeal and cherry nose. Powerful, fruit-driven palate that is fantastically balanced. Very intense right now but possesses lots of depth and energy and beautifully polished tannins. Drink 2020-2034 Walter Speller

Underbrush, truffle, pressed violet, tilled soil, eucalyptus and mature berry aromas unfold on this structured, elegant red. It is still young and primary, offering red cherry, black raspberry, menthol, licorice and dried herb alongside youthfully austere tannins that need to unwind. This will benefit from another decade of cellaring. KERIN O’KEEFE

Underbrush, tobacco, new leather and chopped herb aromas unfold in the glass. Full bodied and tightly wound, the palate delivers Marasca cherry, pomegranate, licorice and orange zest framed in taut fine-grained tannins. Give this several more years to come around then drink or hold for even more complexity. Drink from 2022 through 2032. KERIN O’KEEFE

This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.

Ripe, lush and polished, this red is fresh and lively, showcasing plum, cherry, leather, spice and chocolate flavors on a sleek frame. Lacks cohesion on the finish for now, but should come together with age. Best from 2016 through 2032.

Bruce Sanderson

A dense and powerful red with tight and structured tannins. It's full yet sleek and lean. Very firm and long. A beautiful wine with real greatness. Clarity in the bottle. Drink now, but will improve for years ahead.

James Suckling

This is spicy in style, with vanilla, cedar and clove aromas and flavors accenting a core of cherry and tobacco. In the end, there's a purity to the fruit, but it needs time to find its balance. Structured and long. Best from 2014 through 2027. 420 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

There's licorice on the nose, with some salt and ripe cherry, in this Brunello, which has very intense aromas that lead to a chewy, concentrated, full-bodied palate. A little rustic and overdone. But impressive nonetheless. There's lots of toasty oak--a little less new wood would make this even better. Best after 2013. 500 cases made.

James Suckling

Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010. 330 cases made.

James Suckling

Supple and caressing, with plenty of violet, berry and cedar character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Best after 2005. 335 cases made.

James Suckling

Very fresh and fruity with refined tannins and a long finish. Medium- to full-bodied, silky texture. Another year of bottle age would bring it together. Best after 2004. 200 cases made.

James Suckling

A wine that shows so much on the nose with dried-meat, wet-earth and fruit aromas and flavors. Changes all the time. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Superb depth and length. Drink now or hold for as long as you'd like.

James Suckling 

Shows excellent aromas of plums and light coffee that follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. A bit more on the finish would take it to a different level. Needs a year or two to soften.

James Suckling

This is very intense and rich with polished and velvety tannins. Full body, leather, berry and plum character. Hints of chocolate and meat. Drink now.

James Suckling

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as magnificent as it was last year. Since then, the 2010 has acquired an extra dimension of finesse it did not show last year. Powerful yet weightless in the style that is typical of the wines of the north, the Riserva exudes energy, tension and depth. Sweet dark cherry, lavender, herbs, mint and tobacco shape this deeply expressive, virile Riserva built on class. The new oak, which was evident last year, has not subsided and is really only evident in the wine's mid-palate sweetness and texture.

Antonio Galloni

Canalicchio di Sopra's 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva delivers the goods. A dark, enveloping wine, the Riserva is laced with black stone fruits, scorched earth, smoke, licorice and violets. As always, the style is intense and brooding to the core. In 2007, there is a little more raciness and early appeal to the Riserva than is often the case, but this remains a fairly muscular style of Brunello that will appeal most to readers who enjoy structured wines.

Antonio Galloni

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, broad-shouldered wine endowed with tremendous depth and richness. Black cherries, licorice, new leather and tobacco wrap around the palate in this dramatic, sweeping Brunello. Despite the wine's size, there is plenty of nuance and detail. The 2006 needed all of its 40 months in cask. This is a fabulous effort.

Antonio Galloni

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak.

Antonio Galloni

An absolutely compelling Brunello, Canalicchio's 2004 Riserva is magnificent from the very first taste. Rich and ample on the palate with silky tannins in support, the 2004 Riserva captures the very best qualities of a vintage in which the wines are sensual and finessed to the core. Still very, very young, the 2004 Riserva will drink well for another 20 years or more. Put quite simply, the 2004 Riserva is a knock out. This is a perfect example where the differences between the Brunello and the Riserva are more about stylistic and personal preferences rather than absolute quality.

Antonio Galloni

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is in a beautiful spot today, now that the tannins have begun to soften a touch. Bold and broadly sketched, the 2001 Riserva shows the more voluptuous side of the year. This is a classic Canalicchio wine, but with a little more power, ripeness and richness than is often found. Black fruit, smoke, tobacco, licorice and game add the final layers of nuance.

Antonio Galloni

The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is quite a bit fresher than the straight Brunello bottling. As always, the wines of this era here show an element of rusticity, but within that context, the Riserva is quite pretty and expressive. Still vibrant, the 1995 Riserva will drink well for another decade or so.

Antonio Galloni

Tasted next to the 2006, the 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes across as relatively soft and easygoing. Ripe, silky tannins provide the framework for layers of expressive fruit in a sophisticated Brunello with plenty of early appeal. I suggest drinking the 2007 while the 2006 ages. Both are fabulous. The 2007 spent six months in 750-liter French oak barrels followed by 36 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

One of the truly exciting wines of the year, the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva boasts superb richness, power and depth from start to finish. Cloves, violets, incense, plums, black cherries and menthol all explode from the glass in a virile, towering Brunello endowed with massive structure. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, this drop-dead gorgeous Riserva has more than enough stuffing to drink well for two decades. The estate gave the 2006 Riserva 42 months in oak, all of which it handled beautifully. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

he 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way.  

Antonio Galloni

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  

Antonio Galloni

There is something rustic yet deeply satisfying about Canalicchio di Sopra’s highly idiosyncratic Brunellos that makes them compelling to drink. The intense 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is loaded with black cherries, earthiness, tobacco and spices. A dark, brooding, powerful wine, it isn’t especially approachable today, but it should offer terrific drinking with another year or two of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.  

Antonio Galloni

The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva made a terrific showing thanks to its all-embracing personality. There’s a real sense of abundance and generosity here that starts with the wine’s richly textured mouthfeel and darkly concentrated appearance. The aromas have certainly moved into the third and final stage of their evolution with smoked bacon and saddle bag but there’s enough pressed fruit and crushed flower to keep it from feeling one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is lean and elegant with surprising focus and clarity. Decant the wine three to four hours prior to serving. Drink: 2014-2028.

Monica Larner

The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark in color, ripe and full on the nose with abundant sensations of caramel, chocolate, and tar, and a rich, firm, ample palate which features plenty of grip and authority on the finish. Drink: 2005-2016. 

Daniel Thomases

The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine that totally took me off guard. I associate Canalicchio di Sopra with a classic, so-called “traditional” style that puts an emphasis on the smallest details like delicate nuances and lithe sensations. This wine is obviously born from a very different mindset, a more powerful vintage. Bold and broad-shouldered, it is packed tight with pressed cherry, anise seed, tar and black licorice. It changes tune slightly in the mouth where it walks with quieter footsteps. This wine is at its peak performance right now and may fade fast. I recommend a shorter decanting. Drink: 2014-2019.

Monica Larner

Tasted blind. Very heavy bottle! Lustrous deep ruby with orange rim. Sweet, brooding nose. Fragrant and elegant on the palate with plenty of polished tannins. Very fruit dominated on the finish, for the moment. Huge potential. 

Walter Speller

Very heavy bottle! Dark, mature-looking ruby. Very slow to emerge from the glass and same reluctance on the palate. Key word is sweet concentration. A little leathery. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Fruit marked by nutty oak but with real depth and lots of concentration. 

Walter Speller

Bright red. Ripe red fruits and strong mintiness. Pretty warm and round.  Concentrated and still with sinewy tannins. Very dry - dried fruit - finish. Just a bit awkward. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated maturing ruby with bricky rim. Amazingly fine, perfumed sweet nose with notes of tea leaves and pure cherry. Wonderful precision of fruit on the palate and richly tannic. The Barolo amongst the Brunello? No signs of age yet! Wonderful depth on the finish. 

Walter Speller

Mid-to-dark mature-looking ruby with bright, brickstone rim. Sweet undergrowth, multi-layered dried fruit with some cherry creeping up. Hint of herb liqueur. Supple, full bodied and still a little closed. Sweetly aromatic on a tannic finish. Very slow to open up, and still could do with more time in the bottle. Lots of powdery tannins for the moment but with wonderful fine tangy acidity on the finish. 

Walter Speller

This riserva Brunello delivers a dark and masculine approach with brawny aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit and prune. Both the density and persistency are impressive and the wine ends with inky concentration and finely textured tannins.

Here is a generous, modern and bold expression of Sangiovese Grosso whose soft layers of chocolate and dark cherry fruit help soften the natural acidity and structure of the 2006 vintage. A polished mineral note adds attractive definition on the finish. Tight and very firm; age this wine 10–20 years.

Here's another superstar Brunello Riserva from the excellent 2004 vintage. The aromas are rich and penetrating and recall cherry liqueur, cola, mesquite, cedar, wet earth and pressed violets. The wine's texture is streamlined and compact with polished tannins.

The Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beauty. It offers a brilliant interpretation of a warm and sunny vintage from cool, mineral-rich soils in an area with steep shifts between day and nighttime temperatures. This is one of those special wines in which the vintage characteristics fit the territory with the precision of a jigsaw puzzle. The bouquet is fluid and complex with tart cherry fruit, cola, licorice, aniseed and blue flower. That aniseed comes around a second time. The arrangement and order of those aromas changes with each successive swirl of the glass. This Riserva is fermented in stainless steel and aged in Slavonian oak casks for 36 months. Bottle production is shy of 7,000.
- Monica Larner 

The 2015 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and exotic expression of Sangiovese. It pulls you closer to the glass with an alluring display, showing medicinal cherry, plum, a sweet dusting of cinnamon, clove and finally crushed violets. The textures are like pure silk being slowly draped across your palate, offset by tart red and black fruits, as a complex web of acids, minerals and tannins saturate, clamping down toward the close. Structured and tart, as it should be at this youthful phase, the 2015 is still just an infant, with the potential for over a decade’s worth of positive evolution. This year’s Riserva hails from fruit exclusively from the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard within the Canalicchio cru, and it spends only two extra months in 2,500-liter Slavonian oak casks prior to bottling. Tasted over the course of two days it got better each time I revisited it.
- Eric Guido 

An opulent red with black-cherry and plum aromas and flavors with undertones of orange peel and porcini mushrooms. It’s full-bodied and layered with depth and intensity throughout. Solid and layered. Very structured. Give this at least three to four years of bottle age. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling 

The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beautifully saturated expression, with gorgeous density and presence. The bouquet is carefully considered in terms of its power and intensity (remember, this was a hot and dry vintage, and ripening was accelerated as a result). It shows lots of varietal character and definition without ever going overboard or feeling too soft or ripe. In fact, this Riserva is surprisingly tonic and firm deep down. It sweeps over the palate with sweet, plush and softly velvety waves of fruity flavors.
- Monica Larner 

Good full red. Clean, focused aromas and ripe flavors of strawberry, blood orange, peppery spices and underbrush. Dense, ripe and savory but virtually weightless, delivering outstanding energy, depth and inner-mouth perfume. There's a lovely core of sweetness here, but the wine stands out today for its savoriness and youthful firmness. Finishes subtle and very long, displaying polished, suave tannins. This is yet another noteworthy 2012 Brunello Riserva.
- Ian D'Agata 

Classically styled wine with a spicy and cedary nose as well as dried flowers and a little orange zest. The palate has a very smoothly rendered tannin bed and bright, succulent flavors of dried dark cherries. Pretty structure and depth. Try from 2022.
- James Suckling 

This year's Riserva comes from the estate's two oldest vineyards. The north-facing Vigna Vecchia Mercatale makes up the backbone, with the remaining 20% coming from Vigna Casaccia, which will be bottled as a single vineyard Brunello in the future. There is a wild gaminess on the nose, countered by scents of lavender, tobacco and intense balsamic herbs. On the palate, powdery tannins frame compact fruit and the finish reverberates with a captivating minerality.
- Michaela Morris 

A ripe, macerated version, displaying plum, cherry, tobacco, earth and spice flavors. A beam of lively acidity in the middle elevates this. Ends with elegance, supporting tannins and fine length. Best from 2022 through 2036. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported. 
- Bruce Sanderson 

From the commitment and efforts made by the Pacenti family, here is an excellent product. Aged 42 months in oak. Density and tautness on the nose: cherry jam, a touch of aromatic herbs, rosemary, ending on the notes of licorice. Compact mouth, iodized tannins with an officinal taste returning on the finish.
- Luca Gardini 

English: 
Powerful, sparkling ruby ​​garnet. Slightly restrained nose with finely drawn notes of cherry jam and blackberry, behind it some leather and smoke. Grippy, dense tannin, shows a lot of power, gripping, firm pressure in the end.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

Deutsche: 

Kraftvolles, funkelndes Rubin-Granat. Etwas zurückhaltende Nase mit fein gezeichneten Noten nach Kirschenmarmelade und Brombeere, dahinter etwas Leder und Rauch. Griffiges, dichtmaschiges Tannin, zeigt viel Kraft, zupackend, im Finale fester Druck.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

This red evokes sweet, ripe fruit in the form of plum and cherry, complemented by accents of leather, almond, earth and autumn woods. The fruit is matched to a dense matrix of tannins, while the aftertaste lingers, echoing both fruit and savory elements. Best from 2024 through 2047.
- Bruce Sanderson 

In years it's produced, Canalicchio di Sopra crafts its Riserva from a single vineyard of the estate’s oldest vines. In 2015, it hails from Vigna Vecchia Mercatale, which countered the vintage’s warmth with its north-facing, breezy exposure. Opening slowly, it marries lifted liquorice, dried flowers and baking spice with forest undergrowth and leather. There's plenty of character here with a mouthful of dusty red currants and red cherries. Chewy and vigorous, it
really keeps improving in the glass - but I would put it away for a few more years.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2038
- Michaela Morris

Lovely sweet black cherries and blackberries on the nose with lots of flowers. Full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins that are polished and beautiful. It’s very poised and pretty now, but will deliver so much more with bottle age. Goes on and on. Drink after 2024.
- James Suckling

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark, floral and exotic, even sultry at times, presenting a bouquet of black currant, animal musk and savory, crushed ashen stone. The textures are silky yet dense, showing mineral-webbed woodland berries and balsamic spices. The tannic heft mounts toward the close, penetrating deeply, but with brisk acids to balance. The 2016 is animalistic in nature, yet crystalline and fresh, tapering off structured and incredibly long, leaving licorice and balsam herbs to linger. In 2016, Francesco Ripaccioli decided to use fruit from both the Vigna Vecchia and Mercatale vineyards in the Riserva, which is typically the richer and bolder expression of Brunello at Canalicchio di Sopra, but in 2016, it's totally classic in every possible way. What a glorious wine!
- Eric Guido 

Richness and complexity for a Riserva for years at the top of his category. From Vigna Vecchia Mercatale and Vigna Casaccia, on the skins for 28 days in steel, then at least 42 months in Slavonian oak. Raspberry jam on the nose, salty touches of Taggiasche olives, finish on the notes of rhubarb. Mouth with iodized tannins, persistence and fruity return.
- Luca Gardini 

Canalicchio di Sopra’s Riserva is typically crafted from the estate’s oldest plantings. In 2016, it combines two sites: Vigna Vecchia Mercatale in Canalicchio and the Filari Lunghi vineyard on the Montosoli hill. It is intensely balsamic in fragrance, flaunting mint and rosemary on a backdrop of dark, rain-soaked soil. Flint and tobacco notes hover in the background. The palate is pure and upright. Tight, linear tannins penetrate the compact core of black brooding berries. Then, the palate is suddenly refreshed by a tangy, stony minerality. This still needs time to meld, but all the elements are there for a long life. Drinking Window 2025 - 2042
- Michaela Morris

Canalicchio di Sopra is faithful to the concept of Riserva, and there is always a marked, but proportional, stylistic difference between this wine (which is aged for 36 months in Slavonian casks) and the annata release. This is exact how it should be. Riserva is an extension of annata, not an exaggeration of it. From a classic vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a special and highly collectible bottle. It shows depth and profound fruit with bright cherry, plum and crushed flower. It also manages greater concentration and density while maintaining its graceful personality. You'll need to add quite a few years of age to this wine. Production is a mere 4,133 bottles.
- Monica Larner

Ripe black-skinned fruit, violet, truffle and new leather are just some of the aromas you'll find on this gorgeous red. Delicious and full-bodied, the smooth, elegantly structured palate features juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco accompanied by a velvety backbone of taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.
Cellar Selection
-Kerin O’Keefe

Leads off with high-toned cherry and strawberry flavors and savory, mineral elements, which are buoyed by vibrant acidity and solid tannins. This is still
very youthful and full of nerve, complexity. Reveals hints of soy and chocolate that add more detail on the long aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2043.
- Bruce Sanderson

Lustrous mid ruby with narrow orange rim. Deep, balsamic nose with a minerally tingle. Suave, succulent cherry fruit palate with firm, ripe grainy tannins. Very long and with plenty of structure. Fantastic balance. Concentrated and elegant at the same time, while the tannins demand more bottle age.
- Walter Speller 

Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

Kirsch- und Blütenaromen prägen das Bouquet, auch würzige Pfeffernoten; stets verlässliche Machart, gefällt mit seiner Struktur und dem verführerisch-eleganten Finish. Hervorragender Essensbegleiter.
- Christian Eder

Ruby red in colour with pale mauve undertones. Jet propelled rush to the senses. Rich black fruits introduce dusky floral notes dipped in exotic spices. Liquorice, clove and mint nuances loiter around solid core of juicy fruit that saturates the mid palate. Completely seduces the imbiber. A trophy winner of a wine.
- Tony Wood

Guida Vitae 2023

Deep intense ruby red in colour. My first thought was: ‘this is still a baby’. Black cherry, plum, redcurrant, toasted tobacco, dried lavender, fully integrated fine tannins counter balanced with fresh acidity. Spice and pepper notes. Would have loved to re-taste this over 24 hours. This is a massive wine that takes time to fully appreciate. The reserve of energy this wine contains is mind blowing.

- Tony Wood -

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of my favorite wines of the year. It gets as close to Brunello perfection as vinously possible. Fruit is sourced exclusively from the estate's oldest vines in the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard, the oldest Canalicchio cru. The vines were planted in 1987-1988. They are in their prime production years right now. This is first time the Riserva is made exclusively from that site. The depth of this wine is extraordinary. The wine starts with a playful offering of red fruit and cherry. Like many of the wines from this vintage, the bouquet takes a while to arrive at full intensity.
That margin should shorten as the wine continues its cellar aging and evolution. Yet, the slow start to the bouquet is ultimately what drives your interest in this wine. The mouthfeel is exceptional with tannins that are both silky and firm at the same time.
My visit to Canalicchio di Sopra was one of the most complete and satisfying of the Montalcino region. Francesco Ripaccioli offered a tasting of his current releases and a fascinating look at Brunello from the Vigna Casaccia from 2013, 2014 and 2015 (before malolactic fermentation). With the memory of that tasting firmly in mind, I enjoyed a second tasting of his new wines at home. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is among my top five favorite wines of the vintage joining in the company of Il Marroneto, Casanova di Neri, Pian dell'Orino and Salvioni.

Monica Larner

A dense, plummy style, offering supporting notes of tobacco, underbrush, earth and mineral. Ripe and balanced, with lively acidity and assertive tannins shoring up the finish. Needs some time, but the equilibrium is there. Best from 2019 through 2033. 833 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

Underbrush, truffle, pressed violet, tilled soil, eucalyptus and mature berry aromas unfold on this structured, elegant red. It is still young and primary, offering red cherry, black raspberry, menthol, licorice and dried herb alongside youthfully austere tannins that need to unwind. This will benefit from another decade of cellaring. KERIN O’KEEFE

This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.

Ripe, lush and polished, this red is fresh and lively, showcasing plum, cherry, leather, spice and chocolate flavors on a sleek frame. Lacks cohesion on the finish for now, but should come together with age. Best from 2016 through 2032.

Bruce Sanderson

A dense and powerful red with tight and structured tannins. It's full yet sleek and lean. Very firm and long. A beautiful wine with real greatness. Clarity in the bottle. Drink now, but will improve for years ahead.

James Suckling

This is spicy in style, with vanilla, cedar and clove aromas and flavors accenting a core of cherry and tobacco. In the end, there's a purity to the fruit, but it needs time to find its balance. Structured and long. Best from 2014 through 2027. 420 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

There's licorice on the nose, with some salt and ripe cherry, in this Brunello, which has very intense aromas that lead to a chewy, concentrated, full-bodied palate. A little rustic and overdone. But impressive nonetheless. There's lots of toasty oak--a little less new wood would make this even better. Best after 2013. 500 cases made.

James Suckling

Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010. 330 cases made.

James Suckling

Supple and caressing, with plenty of violet, berry and cedar character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Best after 2005. 335 cases made.

James Suckling

Very fresh and fruity with refined tannins and a long finish. Medium- to full-bodied, silky texture. Another year of bottle age would bring it together. Best after 2004. 200 cases made.

James Suckling

A wine that shows so much on the nose with dried-meat, wet-earth and fruit aromas and flavors. Changes all the time. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Superb depth and length. Drink now or hold for as long as you'd like.

James Suckling 

Shows excellent aromas of plums and light coffee that follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. A bit more on the finish would take it to a different level. Needs a year or two to soften.

James Suckling

This is very intense and rich with polished and velvety tannins. Full body, leather, berry and plum character. Hints of chocolate and meat. Drink now.

James Suckling

The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as magnificent as it was last year. Since then, the 2010 has acquired an extra dimension of finesse it did not show last year. Powerful yet weightless in the style that is typical of the wines of the north, the Riserva exudes energy, tension and depth. Sweet dark cherry, lavender, herbs, mint and tobacco shape this deeply expressive, virile Riserva built on class. The new oak, which was evident last year, has not subsided and is really only evident in the wine's mid-palate sweetness and texture.

Antonio Galloni

Canalicchio di Sopra's 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva delivers the goods. A dark, enveloping wine, the Riserva is laced with black stone fruits, scorched earth, smoke, licorice and violets. As always, the style is intense and brooding to the core. In 2007, there is a little more raciness and early appeal to the Riserva than is often the case, but this remains a fairly muscular style of Brunello that will appeal most to readers who enjoy structured wines.

Antonio Galloni

The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, broad-shouldered wine endowed with tremendous depth and richness. Black cherries, licorice, new leather and tobacco wrap around the palate in this dramatic, sweeping Brunello. Despite the wine's size, there is plenty of nuance and detail. The 2006 needed all of its 40 months in cask. This is a fabulous effort.

Antonio Galloni

The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak.

Antonio Galloni

An absolutely compelling Brunello, Canalicchio's 2004 Riserva is magnificent from the very first taste. Rich and ample on the palate with silky tannins in support, the 2004 Riserva captures the very best qualities of a vintage in which the wines are sensual and finessed to the core. Still very, very young, the 2004 Riserva will drink well for another 20 years or more. Put quite simply, the 2004 Riserva is a knock out. This is a perfect example where the differences between the Brunello and the Riserva are more about stylistic and personal preferences rather than absolute quality.

Antonio Galloni

The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is in a beautiful spot today, now that the tannins have begun to soften a touch. Bold and broadly sketched, the 2001 Riserva shows the more voluptuous side of the year. This is a classic Canalicchio wine, but with a little more power, ripeness and richness than is often found. Black fruit, smoke, tobacco, licorice and game add the final layers of nuance.

Antonio Galloni

The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is quite a bit fresher than the straight Brunello bottling. As always, the wines of this era here show an element of rusticity, but within that context, the Riserva is quite pretty and expressive. Still vibrant, the 1995 Riserva will drink well for another decade or so.

Antonio Galloni

Tasted next to the 2006, the 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes across as relatively soft and easygoing. Ripe, silky tannins provide the framework for layers of expressive fruit in a sophisticated Brunello with plenty of early appeal. I suggest drinking the 2007 while the 2006 ages. Both are fabulous. The 2007 spent six months in 750-liter French oak barrels followed by 36 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

One of the truly exciting wines of the year, the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva boasts superb richness, power and depth from start to finish. Cloves, violets, incense, plums, black cherries and menthol all explode from the glass in a virile, towering Brunello endowed with massive structure. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, this drop-dead gorgeous Riserva has more than enough stuffing to drink well for two decades. The estate gave the 2006 Riserva 42 months in oak, all of which it handled beautifully. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. 

Antonio Galloni

he 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way.  

Antonio Galloni

The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  

Antonio Galloni

There is something rustic yet deeply satisfying about Canalicchio di Sopra’s highly idiosyncratic Brunellos that makes them compelling to drink. The intense 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is loaded with black cherries, earthiness, tobacco and spices. A dark, brooding, powerful wine, it isn’t especially approachable today, but it should offer terrific drinking with another year or two of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.  

Antonio Galloni

The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva made a terrific showing thanks to its all-embracing personality. There’s a real sense of abundance and generosity here that starts with the wine’s richly textured mouthfeel and darkly concentrated appearance. The aromas have certainly moved into the third and final stage of their evolution with smoked bacon and saddle bag but there’s enough pressed fruit and crushed flower to keep it from feeling one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is lean and elegant with surprising focus and clarity. Decant the wine three to four hours prior to serving. Drink: 2014-2028.

Monica Larner

The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark in color, ripe and full on the nose with abundant sensations of caramel, chocolate, and tar, and a rich, firm, ample palate which features plenty of grip and authority on the finish. Drink: 2005-2016. 

Daniel Thomases

The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine that totally took me off guard. I associate Canalicchio di Sopra with a classic, so-called “traditional” style that puts an emphasis on the smallest details like delicate nuances and lithe sensations. This wine is obviously born from a very different mindset, a more powerful vintage. Bold and broad-shouldered, it is packed tight with pressed cherry, anise seed, tar and black licorice. It changes tune slightly in the mouth where it walks with quieter footsteps. This wine is at its peak performance right now and may fade fast. I recommend a shorter decanting. Drink: 2014-2019.

Monica Larner

Tasted blind. Very heavy bottle! Lustrous deep ruby with orange rim. Sweet, brooding nose. Fragrant and elegant on the palate with plenty of polished tannins. Very fruit dominated on the finish, for the moment. Huge potential. 

Walter Speller

Very heavy bottle! Dark, mature-looking ruby. Very slow to emerge from the glass and same reluctance on the palate. Key word is sweet concentration. A little leathery. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Fruit marked by nutty oak but with real depth and lots of concentration. 

Walter Speller

Bright red. Ripe red fruits and strong mintiness. Pretty warm and round.  Concentrated and still with sinewy tannins. Very dry - dried fruit - finish. Just a bit awkward. 

Walter Speller

Concentrated maturing ruby with bricky rim. Amazingly fine, perfumed sweet nose with notes of tea leaves and pure cherry. Wonderful precision of fruit on the palate and richly tannic. The Barolo amongst the Brunello? No signs of age yet! Wonderful depth on the finish. 

Walter Speller

Mid-to-dark mature-looking ruby with bright, brickstone rim. Sweet undergrowth, multi-layered dried fruit with some cherry creeping up. Hint of herb liqueur. Supple, full bodied and still a little closed. Sweetly aromatic on a tannic finish. Very slow to open up, and still could do with more time in the bottle. Lots of powdery tannins for the moment but with wonderful fine tangy acidity on the finish. 

Walter Speller

This riserva Brunello delivers a dark and masculine approach with brawny aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit and prune. Both the density and persistency are impressive and the wine ends with inky concentration and finely textured tannins.

Here is a generous, modern and bold expression of Sangiovese Grosso whose soft layers of chocolate and dark cherry fruit help soften the natural acidity and structure of the 2006 vintage. A polished mineral note adds attractive definition on the finish. Tight and very firm; age this wine 10–20 years.

Here's another superstar Brunello Riserva from the excellent 2004 vintage. The aromas are rich and penetrating and recall cherry liqueur, cola, mesquite, cedar, wet earth and pressed violets. The wine's texture is streamlined and compact with polished tannins.

The Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beauty. It offers a brilliant interpretation of a warm and sunny vintage from cool, mineral-rich soils in an area with steep shifts between day and nighttime temperatures. This is one of those special wines in which the vintage characteristics fit the territory with the precision of a jigsaw puzzle. The bouquet is fluid and complex with tart cherry fruit, cola, licorice, aniseed and blue flower. That aniseed comes around a second time. The arrangement and order of those aromas changes with each successive swirl of the glass. This Riserva is fermented in stainless steel and aged in Slavonian oak casks for 36 months. Bottle production is shy of 7,000.
- Monica Larner 

The 2015 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and exotic expression of Sangiovese. It pulls you closer to the glass with an alluring display, showing medicinal cherry, plum, a sweet dusting of cinnamon, clove and finally crushed violets. The textures are like pure silk being slowly draped across your palate, offset by tart red and black fruits, as a complex web of acids, minerals and tannins saturate, clamping down toward the close. Structured and tart, as it should be at this youthful phase, the 2015 is still just an infant, with the potential for over a decade’s worth of positive evolution. This year’s Riserva hails from fruit exclusively from the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard within the Canalicchio cru, and it spends only two extra months in 2,500-liter Slavonian oak casks prior to bottling. Tasted over the course of two days it got better each time I revisited it.
- Eric Guido 

An opulent red with black-cherry and plum aromas and flavors with undertones of orange peel and porcini mushrooms. It’s full-bodied and layered with depth and intensity throughout. Solid and layered. Very structured. Give this at least three to four years of bottle age. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling 

The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a tremendous wine that delivers a deep sense of inner gravity and balance. That, in a nutshell, is the secret of the top-end wines made at the exciting Canalicchio di Sopra estate. The wines made here always exhibit carefully measured balance in the classic vintages (like 2013) and in the difficult years as well. That extreme balance is exactly why you taste the vintage variation with such distinction. This expression from 2013 is remarkably smooth and silky with a steady succession of traditional Sangiovese aromas that span from wild berry, forest floor, wet earth, pressed flower and hints of tangy licorice or aniseed. This is a mid-weight Brunello that glides over the palate with precise, delicate and long lasting waves of intensity. Some 3,185 bottles, 174 magnums and 30 double magnums were made.
- Monica Larner 

This has tarry aromas with a wealth of ripe black cherries and a dusting of cocoa. The palate has a plush, ripe-berry core, as well as a neat frame of succulent tannins. Good cut and drive here. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling 

Deep red. An inviting nose of red cherry, gardenia, lily of the valley, and minerals leads to a creamy, expansive yet ultra-buoyant palate. A hint of salinity complements flavors similar to the aromas adding freshness and extending them on the long finish.
- Ian D'Agata 

Francesco Ripaccioli only has 11 harvests under his belt but calls 2013 the most beautiful one so far. This is also the first year in which the estate's Riserva comes exclusively from the Montosoli cru. Planted in 1995, these are the oldest vines in their stable. Even more thrilling than the winery's 2012, the 2013 Riserva is a model of precision, exquisite balance and razor-sharp linearity. Dense without being heavy, this is buoyed by vivacious acidity and wrapped in commanding yet fine-grained tannins. It unfolds slowly, revealing notes of mineral, sweet dark earth, rosehip, violet and sage blossom - but it promises even more in the years ahead.
- Michaela Morris 

Woodland-berry, forest-floor, Mediterranean herb and blue-flower aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice and leather. Savory and loaded with finesse, the focused palate delivers black cherry, cranberry, baking spice and tobacco set against tightly knit polished tannins. It's balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2023–2030.
- Kerin 0'Keefe

Deep ruby with bricky tinges. Brooding nose hinting at sweet fruit. Monolithic and slow on the palate and with a fantastic balance between concentrated tangy fruit and ripe, gripping tannins. Patience needed.
- Walter Speller 

This is harmonious, featuring cherry, strawberry, plum and earth flavors that mesh with the supple texture and firm structure. Elements of iron, leather and tobacco emerge as this red stretches out on the tangy finish. Best from 2021 through 2040. 275 cases made, 100 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanserdon 

From the commitment and efforts made by the Pacenti family, here is an excellent product. Aged 42 months in oak. Density and tautness on the nose: cherry jam, a touch of aromatic herbs, rosemary, ending on the notes of licorice. Compact mouth, iodized tannins with an officinal taste returning on the finish.
- Luca Gardini 

English: 
Powerful, sparkling ruby ​​garnet. Slightly restrained nose with finely drawn notes of cherry jam and blackberry, behind it some leather and smoke. Grippy, dense tannin, shows a lot of power, gripping, firm pressure in the end.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

Deutsche: 

Kraftvolles, funkelndes Rubin-Granat. Etwas zurückhaltende Nase mit fein gezeichneten Noten nach Kirschenmarmelade und Brombeere, dahinter etwas Leder und Rauch. Griffiges, dichtmaschiges Tannin, zeigt viel Kraft, zupackend, im Finale fester Druck.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

This red evokes sweet, ripe fruit in the form of plum and cherry, complemented by accents of leather, almond, earth and autumn woods. The fruit is matched to a dense matrix of tannins, while the aftertaste lingers, echoing both fruit and savory elements. Best from 2024 through 2047.
- Bruce Sanderson 

In years it's produced, Canalicchio di Sopra crafts its Riserva from a single vineyard of the estate’s oldest vines. In 2015, it hails from Vigna Vecchia Mercatale, which countered the vintage’s warmth with its north-facing, breezy exposure. Opening slowly, it marries lifted liquorice, dried flowers and baking spice with forest undergrowth and leather. There's plenty of character here with a mouthful of dusty red currants and red cherries. Chewy and vigorous, it
really keeps improving in the glass - but I would put it away for a few more years.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2038
- Michaela Morris

Lovely sweet black cherries and blackberries on the nose with lots of flowers. Full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins that are polished and beautiful. It’s very poised and pretty now, but will deliver so much more with bottle age. Goes on and on. Drink after 2024.
- James Suckling

The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark, floral and exotic, even sultry at times, presenting a bouquet of black currant, animal musk and savory, crushed ashen stone. The textures are silky yet dense, showing mineral-webbed woodland berries and balsamic spices. The tannic heft mounts toward the close, penetrating deeply, but with brisk acids to balance. The 2016 is animalistic in nature, yet crystalline and fresh, tapering off structured and incredibly long, leaving licorice and balsam herbs to linger. In 2016, Francesco Ripaccioli decided to use fruit from both the Vigna Vecchia and Mercatale vineyards in the Riserva, which is typically the richer and bolder expression of Brunello at Canalicchio di Sopra, but in 2016, it's totally classic in every possible way. What a glorious wine!
- Eric Guido 

Richness and complexity for a Riserva for years at the top of his category. From Vigna Vecchia Mercatale and Vigna Casaccia, on the skins for 28 days in steel, then at least 42 months in Slavonian oak. Raspberry jam on the nose, salty touches of Taggiasche olives, finish on the notes of rhubarb. Mouth with iodized tannins, persistence and fruity return.
- Luca Gardini 

Canalicchio di Sopra’s Riserva is typically crafted from the estate’s oldest plantings. In 2016, it combines two sites: Vigna Vecchia Mercatale in Canalicchio and the Filari Lunghi vineyard on the Montosoli hill. It is intensely balsamic in fragrance, flaunting mint and rosemary on a backdrop of dark, rain-soaked soil. Flint and tobacco notes hover in the background. The palate is pure and upright. Tight, linear tannins penetrate the compact core of black brooding berries. Then, the palate is suddenly refreshed by a tangy, stony minerality. This still needs time to meld, but all the elements are there for a long life. Drinking Window 2025 - 2042
- Michaela Morris

Canalicchio di Sopra is faithful to the concept of Riserva, and there is always a marked, but proportional, stylistic difference between this wine (which is aged for 36 months in Slavonian casks) and the annata release. This is exact how it should be. Riserva is an extension of annata, not an exaggeration of it. From a classic vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a special and highly collectible bottle. It shows depth and profound fruit with bright cherry, plum and crushed flower. It also manages greater concentration and density while maintaining its graceful personality. You'll need to add quite a few years of age to this wine. Production is a mere 4,133 bottles.
- Monica Larner

Ripe black-skinned fruit, violet, truffle and new leather are just some of the aromas you'll find on this gorgeous red. Delicious and full-bodied, the smooth, elegantly structured palate features juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco accompanied by a velvety backbone of taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.
Cellar Selection
-Kerin O’Keefe

Leads off with high-toned cherry and strawberry flavors and savory, mineral elements, which are buoyed by vibrant acidity and solid tannins. This is still
very youthful and full of nerve, complexity. Reveals hints of soy and chocolate that add more detail on the long aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2043.
- Bruce Sanderson

Lustrous mid ruby with narrow orange rim. Deep, balsamic nose with a minerally tingle. Suave, succulent cherry fruit palate with firm, ripe grainy tannins. Very long and with plenty of structure. Fantastic balance. Concentrated and elegant at the same time, while the tannins demand more bottle age.
- Walter Speller 

Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler

Kirsch- und Blütenaromen prägen das Bouquet, auch würzige Pfeffernoten; stets verlässliche Machart, gefällt mit seiner Struktur und dem verführerisch-eleganten Finish. Hervorragender Essensbegleiter.
- Christian Eder

Ruby red in colour with pale mauve undertones. Jet propelled rush to the senses. Rich black fruits introduce dusky floral notes dipped in exotic spices. Liquorice, clove and mint nuances loiter around solid core of juicy fruit that saturates the mid palate. Completely seduces the imbiber. A trophy winner of a wine.
- Tony Wood

Guida Vitae 2023

Deep intense ruby red in colour. My first thought was: ‘this is still a baby’. Black cherry, plum, redcurrant, toasted tobacco, dried lavender, fully integrated fine tannins counter balanced with fresh acidity. Spice and pepper notes. Would have loved to re-taste this over 24 hours. This is a massive wine that takes time to fully appreciate. The reserve of energy this wine contains is mind blowing.

- Tony Wood -

Mid ruby with bright orange tinges. Fine oatmeal and cherry nose. Powerful, fruit-driven palate that is fantastically balanced. Very intense right now but possesses lots of depth and energy and beautifully polished tannins. Drink 2020-2034 Walter Speller

Underbrush, tobacco, new leather and chopped herb aromas unfold in the glass. Full bodied and tightly wound, the palate delivers Marasca cherry, pomegranate, licorice and orange zest framed in taut fine-grained tannins. Give this several more years to come around then drink or hold for even more complexity. Drink from 2022 through 2032. KERIN O’KEEFE

This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.

Ripe, lush and polished, this red is fresh and lively, showcasing plum, cherry, leather, spice and chocolate flavors on a sleek frame. Lacks cohesion on the finish for now, but should come together with age. Best from 2016 through 2032.

Bruce Sanderson

A dense and powerful red with tight and structured tannins. It's full yet sleek and lean. Very firm and long. A beautiful wine with real greatness. Clarity in the bottle. Drink now, but will improve for years ahead.

James Suckling

This is spicy in style, with vanilla, cedar and clove aromas and flavors accenting a core of cherry and tobacco. In the end, there's a purity to the fruit, but it needs time to find its balance. Structured and long. Best from 2014 through 2027. 420 cases made.

Bruce Sanderson

There's licorice on the nose, with some salt and ripe cherry, in this Brunello, which has very intense aromas that lead to a chewy, concentrated, full-bodied palate. A little rustic and overdone. But impressive nonetheless. There's lots of toasty oak--a little less new wood would make this even better. Best after 2013. 500 cases made.

James Suckling

Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010. 330 cases made.

James Suckling

Supple and caressing, with plenty of violet, berry and cedar character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Best after 2005. 335 cases made.

James Suckling

Very fresh and fruity with refined tannins and a long finish. Medium- to full-bodied, silky texture. Another year of bottle age would bring it together. Best after 2004. 200 cases made.

James Suckling