The Vigna Montosoli, which lends its name to a Montosoli Cru, represents our desire to valorize the uniqueness of a vineyard that is able to maintain its strong identity and quality of being recognizable even in different vintages. Over the years, it has been the vineyard that enhances the flavor and verticality of our Sangiovese.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Sangiovese 100%
From 255 to 215 masl
Vigna Montosoli Filari Lunghi
1997
At higher elevations, marl with very high mineral components, clay loam texture with higher levels of lime. The significant pebbly texture increases the ph of the soil. Wines of a great structure, marked minerality and sapidity sustained by an optimal acidity, ideal for long ageing.
Cordon trained and spur pruned (Spurrend cordon)
336° NNW
2.90 m X 0.80 m
In steel tanks with fermentation temperature control, daily soft pumping over. Maceration on the skins for 25 days
36 months in slavonian Oak casks
2018
3863 bottles - 750 ml
135 bottles - 1500 ml
14,5%
The weather in 2021 is difficult to define within a precise category. There were alternating conditions which, in the end, found an almost surprising balance and which favoured a perfect phenolic maturation of the grapes, protecting the acidity.
The fall of 2020 through the winter of 2021 saw little rainfall recorded, only 220 mm in the period from October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. Winter was characterized by minimum temperatures around zero in the months of December and January to then undergo an above-average increase in temperatures in February, which was then interrupted by the cold at the beginning of March.
Starting on March 20, we saw a progressive rise with temperatures tending to be above average at the start of spring, which favoured a more accelerated vegetative regrowth and initial growth. These conditions were the reason for the measurable damage incurred on the night between April 7 th and 8th, 2021 when, in full vegetative development, a thermal inversion phenomenon brought the nighttime minimum temperatures down to -9°C, which inevitably damaged the new buds, creating a reduction in production of about 30%.
The month of April started ideally with average seasonal temperatures and a good supply of water of about 50 mm which favoured an optimal recovery of the vines from the stress of the frost. The vines started to find a balance based on their smaller yield. The month of May, with rainfall at only 40 mm and mild temperatures, saw optimal health in the vines, without disease and with a very gradual growth pattern. June and July were two dry months, with very warm temperatures but never scorching hot, with only three days above 35°C, always compensated by ideal temperature ranges, allowing the plant to breathe. The beginning of August saw the arrival of a heatwave which, fortunately, lasted only from August 12 to 16 and did not damage the fruit.
The vines, despite the long dry period and some intense heat, maintained a surprising balance as well as a canopy that was in full photosynthetic activity, green and receptive, bringing the grapes to a regular veraison. Even in these extreme conditions, this can be explained by two factors: - The frost in April left the plant with a reduced number of grapes and this allowed it to have sufficient energy to carry on with the maturation, avoiding any stops. - The significant regular temperature ranges over the season favoured an ideal continuity allowing the vines to breathe.
At the end of August, the magical period for the 2021 vintage arrived. The highs were on average for that period, 30 mm of rain gave the necessary quantity of water for the vines to completely ripen recreating the right balance between skin and liquid, the temperature ranges were consistently between 13° and 15° until the harvest, in keeping with great vintages which always benefit from a great September. The variation in temperature between day and night, which permitted us to achieve an optimal result on the Fregoni Index (443), is the determining factor in understanding a vintage which presents with typical vibrant wines of fresh and, at the same time, full bodied vintages, typical in warmer years.
The harvest, carried out in a period without rainfall, was regular and we had the opportunity to decide the best harvest date for each vineyard, waiting for the right balance between technological maturation and phenolic maturation.
Once again, the 2021 vintage has taught us and confirmed to us that weather conditions must be interpreted and that September is becoming increasingly crucial in affecting, favourably or unfavourably, the work of an entire year.
The Harvest
The 2021 harvest started in the Rosso di Montalcino vineyards on September 21 and ended on September 30.
• The grapes for Brunello di Montalcino Annata were harvested from September 23 to 30.
• The grapes for Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli were harvested on September 22.
• The grapes for Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casaccia were harvested on September 25.
• The grapes for Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (Vigna Vecchia Mercatale) were harvested on September 28.
2021: VIBRATION
It is not easy to find a word which encapsulates the essence of this vintage, especially if before us lies a vintage that is majestic and mighty yet one that reveals itself in all its elegance.
In the north of Montalcino, the 2021 vintage succeeds in interpreting the very essence of Montalcino in the classic way: great acidity which supports even greater structure, where concentration becomes length and depth instead of heaviness, where the fruit becomes a symphony of aromas that meld with the florality and the delicateness of Sangiovese, where the colour surrenders some of its intensity to an extraordinary brilliance.
The 2021 vintage is like a symphony of flavours, aromas, and colours, played by world-renowned artists who, for once, have decided to perform together, poised for a melody without ever wanting to take centre stage, each one with its own role in service of an overall harmony. In this way, the acidity supports the structure, the pH sustains the brightness and colour, the minerality balances the sweetness while the tannin tries to emerge but remains enveloped in a velvety blanket, which makes it present and flavourful but never overbearing.
A vintage which embodies the paradox of extreme freshness in a year initially considered to be hot, but which developed in a constant qualitative-quantitative balance making the most of some of the extreme weather conditions and challenges throughout the season. The final result for us is a great vibration, a wine that is alive, radiant, vertical, sapid, and, at the same time, well-rounded, a wine that manages to amaze with its energy and depth, creating an almost intimate connection with the different terroirs of origin, allowing each of their identifying characteristics to emerge thus giving the land the opportunity to shine by defining the style of the wines.
The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vigna Montosoli “Canalicchio di Sopra” represents the wine that portraysthe characteristics of this splendid and unique hill, which, thanks to its more marly and mineral soil, expresses itself vertically, in minerality and sapidity, in length and depth, but also with a more pronounced tannin: the 2021 vintage is an accurate portrayal of the most identifying characteristics of Montosoli and enhances even more the florality and aromatic richness of the Cru.
Grapes harvested September 22, 2021
Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2018 Vigna Montosoli, its debut single-vineyard bottling from this celebrated hill, is drop-dead gorgeous. Fragrant and all about elegance, it opens with enticing scents of wild rose, botanical herb, new leather and forest berry. Seamlessly fusing finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, raspberry sprinkled with cinnamon, rosemary and thyme before a savory saline mineral finish. It boats great energy and impeccable balance, with taut, refined tannins and vibrant acidity. I just love it. Drink 2025–2038.
- Kerin O'Keefe
Here's an exciting new addition to the growing Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio. With fruit from one of the most celebrated subzones in the appellation, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli shows a unique profile. The wine opens to a solid core of red and purple fruits, all framed by light spice, crushed stone or chalky limestone. The fiber of this wine is lean, tight and elegantly streamlined. It hits the palate with intensity and softness, and it delivers especially fine tannins. Francesco Ripaccioli made 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums.
-Monica Larner
Medium bodied and open knit, offering tomato leaf, plum, cherry, licorice, earth
and spice flavors Stays focused, courtesy of good cut, with a silky texture and
tannins that leave a slight sinewy feel on the finish. Overall, this is harmonious, complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit. Drinking window 2027-2042.
- Eric Guido -
This is a gorgeous wine that really takes off in this vintage. It starts off with gentle floral aromas of lilac or dried violet and a hint of fragrant rose. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli boasts an impeccable nose with elegant berry fruit and light minerality. All this beauty is transferred to the palate, where the wine shows very fine-grained tannins. The fruit flows steadily over a long, rich finish. The challenge is to get a fruit finish this long, considering Brunello's strong tannins, but this wine definitely succeeds. Production is 7,200 bottles plus larger formats. Drink Date 2025 - 2045.
- Monica Larner -
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is dreamy, with a darkly floral bouquet that blends dried rose and violet with hints of sour cherry, blackberry and Tuscan dust. This is silky-smooth and round in feel, with fresh acidity that adds a lovely lift as vibrant wild berry fruits swirl throughout. Tactile mineral tones add traction as the 2020 finishes long and staining, with coating of fine-grained tannins that gently tug at the palate. This is a radiant and generous Montosoli with the balance necessary to mature beautifully in the cellar. Drinking window 2027 – 2038.
- Reviewed by Eric Guido -
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is quite Burgundian in style, slowly awakening in the glass with a delicate mix of sweet herbs, crushed violet candies, hints of spiced orange and wild strawberries. It boasts a stunning purity of fruit and inner sweetness, seeming to hover across the palate, as red berries and saline-minerals slowly saturate under a purple-tinged air of inner florals. The 2018 leaves a grippy coating of fine tannins, yet balances them with a residual bump of zesty acidity, finishing long, lightly structured and with immaculate balance. This is the first official vintage of Vigna Montosoli, a wine that I’ve been following now for over two years, and each time it seems to only grow in both volume and depth.
- Eric Guido
The first release of Canalicchio di Sopra’s Montosoli bottling comes from the estate’s Filari Lunghi vineyard, a pebbly, northwest-facing plot reaching 255 metres. This gives way slowly but steadily, exposing heady rose, wet stone and fragrant porcini. Decidedly mineral-driven, the palate performs with precision and depth. Tight tannins are fine-boned, and the appetising finish lingers with a salty stoniness that makes you salivate. It's impossible not to admire the elegance here.
-Michaela Morris
Dark ruby with orange tinges. Complex, deep nose of cherry with a touch of exotic spice. The nose oozes class. Compact and finely balanced on the palate with finely chiselled tannins that follow the fruit rather than taking the upper hand. Very long and complex, and not ready by far. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
This red shows some distinctive balsamic notes – tomato leaf, eucalyptus and mint – that mingle with the cherry and strawberry fruit. Iron and tobacco accents chime in as this builds to the long, sinewy finish. All the elements are there, but this just needs a few years to integrate. Best from 2027 through 2043, 137 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
There's no doubt that Vigna Montosoli is the hottest vineyard site in the appellation at the moment, and it remains virtually impossible to purchase land in this prized subzone. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a distinct character with reinforced concentration and bold black fruit flavors. I get a hint of Turkish coffee and sweet earth. The bouquet also reveals a mineral side with petrichor, iron ore and peat moss. Of the new releases in this portfolio, I think you will find this wine to be the most complete and age-worthy. Sadly, only 4,133 bottles were created. Drink Date 2026 – 2045.
- Monica Larner -
A pretty red, this exhibits cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral notes, with hints of fresh herbs. Harmonious, and all of its components are in the right place. This is also open and succulent. Enjoyable now if decanted for an hour or two. Best from 2027 through 2045. [344 cases made - 77 cases imported]
- Bruce Sanderson -
Bright dark red. A very strong note of blood orange lifts nuances of ripe sweet red cherry, sandalwood, flint and violet on the enticing nose. Multilayered, fleshy and very polished, this finishes long with a savory twinge at the back. One of the wines of the vintage. Drinking window: 2027-2036.
- Ian D'Agata -
Canalicchio di Sopra’s increasing focus on cru wines has been many years in the making. Fruit from its Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards have historically been blended for the estate Brunello, but proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli has been experimenting with bottling single-site Riservas since the early 2010s. The Montosoli shows the power and savouriness of its west-facing, well-drained rocky site. The charred meat on the first nose quickly rolls into warm, concentrated plum confit with shades of damp earth, mushroom and creosote. A mouth-filling start delivers cherry fruit with a level of acidity that radiates through to the mid-palate. There are powdery tannins form a fine-boned structure. Ethereal herbal notes of camphor and chrysanthemum linger on the finish
- Sarah Heller MW -
Aromas of sweet berries, flowers, sandalwood and ink follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Savory at the end. Linear and racy. Best in two or three years and onwards.
- James Suckling -
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino and soils with a prevalence of galestro, an interpretation of verticality and sapidity. Notes of red mulberry on the nose, with touches of clementine peel and sage, great freshness-juiciness on the palate and savory tannins, with a finish of persistence.
- Luca Gardini -
Boasting aromas of new leather, eucalyptus, violet, forest floor and spice, the stunning 2019 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is an excellent expression of this celebrated site, great vintage and historic winery. Firm and youthfully austere, it delivers ripe raspberry, blackberry, tobacco and licorice before a salty finish. Framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins, it’s elegantly structured, packed with energy and intensity, with bright acidity that also keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2039–2044.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Dark red- ruby. Very spicy, herbal nose only hints at dark plum and cherry. Then big thick and layered, with a mouthcating richness to its dark plum and herb flavours that are long on power but short on finesse. Strange as it seems, this is actually bigger and meatier than the La Casaccia: I have no doubts it will be scored higher by almost every wine writer out there, but mark my words, it is La Casaccia that is the greater of the two wines. Down the road, all those who prefer the Montosoli today will change their minds. Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2019 Montosoli Brunello will need plenty of time in a good cellar before being fully approachable and revealing of all it has to offer. Drinking window: 2034- 2045.
One of fewer than 10 producers with precious holdings on the Montosoli hill, Canalicchio di Sopra owns six hectares, contiguous with Le Gode. The second vintage of this cru bottling comes from a northwest-facing plot planted in 1997. Almost painfully young, its gradually emerging, alluring scents flit between dry and wet earth as dusty stone mingles with forest undergrowth and liquorice root. Crispness of acidity and vertical, edgy tannins makes for an austere palate now, but the structure is in step with the underlying tight yet pure and sapid red berry core. Finishes with lingering orange bitters. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042
- Michaela Morris -
Of the two cru wines at Canalicchio di Sopra, Montosoli is from a slightly lower altitude (215–255m [700–840ft]), with free-draining, pebbly soils, but has a cooler north-northwest exposure, coming from a single long, narrow vineyard called Filari Lunghi within the Montosoli cru. The nose opens with a hint of Parmesan rind and a sauna-stone/volcanic warmth, followed by a solid punch of morello cherry fruit that is sharpened by rosemary and eucalyptus. The entry wraps a satiny outer layer of glycerol over furry, suede-like tannins – extracted over a prolonged maceration of 40+ days – while acidity is razor-sharp within. The translucent mid-palate is airy and broad, while the finish is quite tannic and more reserved, ferrous-toned and quiet in its fruit. With its initial sense of grandiosity thoroughly offset by austerity on the finish, this seems more backwards than the annata and Casaccia. Drink 2026 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
A medium-bodied red with plum and orange-peel character. Ripe, polished tannins and plenty of energy at the end, suggesting that three or four years of bottle age will improve this. A structured and energetic young Brunello from a top vineyard site. Better after 2027.
- James Suckling -
Combining power and finesse, the fragrant 2020 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is a great expression of the vintage and the vineyard. It has aromas of blue flower, ripe black plum, grilled rosemary, dark exotic spice and the barest hint of tar while the full-bodied, delicious boasts weightless concentration, delivering fleshy raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, cake spice and a hint of licorice. Velvety tannins provide polished support. Already tempting, hold for even more complexity. Drink 2028–2034.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Vineyard Filari Lunghi, soils predominantly of Galestro, an imposing wine, intense and juicy. Pomegranate on the nose, hints of chinotto, touches of eucalyptus and wild iris. The drink has a citrus and balsamic appeal, with red fruits and balsamic notes. Great length.
- Luca Gardini -
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, ripe and alluring but with some progress already noticeable on the nose. Supple and polished sweet-sour cherry on the palate. Well balanced, the fruit is complemented by gorgeous, gravelly tannins. Ends a tiny bit warm. Drink 2025 – 2034.
- Walter Speller -
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is from more schist-based soils and displays a deep ruby/magenta color with a touch more pigment. Opening to sunny aromas of kirsch, lavender, crushed pine needles, licorice, and sappy earth, it’s full-bodied and offers dark mineral undertones that carry through the palate with rich tannins while retaining good freshness, and it has a robust and warming finish. For my taste, I somewhat prefer the Casaccia for its more buoyant nature, but the Montosoli is quite compelling and is not to be overlooked,since it may just need time to reveal its full potential. Drink 2026-2046.
- Audrey Frick -
Deep red. Floral and herbal rather than overtly fruit on the nose and in the mouth, hinting at red cherry, dried herb, camphor, licorice and woodsy aromas and flavours. Nicely polished and full on the long finish. Boasts a completely different organoleptic profile from his stablemate, the 2020 La Casaccia Brunello, and so it should given the different positions, soils and exposures of the two vineyards. This is less forward than that wine presently, but will age longer. Drinking window: 2032-2042.
- Ian D’Agata -
Montosoli the northerly Montalcino mound, the hill of freshness, the knoll where sangiovese gains grip, savour and elegance, where Canalicchio di Sopra’s Vigna designate Brunello from six hectares delivers approximately five into this wine. The precision and fluidity of this ‘20 is just about as fine and graceful as the Ripaccioli have ever produced. Literally the juice or blood of Montosoli’s Galestro, a clay-schist flaking at the surface bleeding back down into the earth, acquired by the roots, vacuumed back up into the vines and gifted to the brunches. Sapidity is similar to 2018 and that year was cold(er) which explains how soil is such the driver, especially for Montosoli. This tastes as you might expect, concentrated, texturally full and without pause. Incredible Brunello. Poised, seemingly ready but not, looking ahead two decades, maybe more. With thanks to perfectly restrained cellar work, timing and decision making. In this moment, at least in terms of clarity, 2020 is a Montosoli vintage. Drink 2026-2036.
- Michael Godel -
Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is outstanding, with fleshy red cherry, menthol, cedar, and forest floor. It is full-bodied, though more savory and compact in nature than the base Brunello Di Montalcino, with sage, dried herbs, graphite, dark earth, and plum pit. It is coiled and needs time in the cellar before drinking, and although it is less obvious in this wine, I think it will be the winner long term. Drink 2025-2040.
- Audrey Frick -
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli displays a bright red/orange-tinged color and is bright with notes of pomegranate, raspberries, tangerine, dusty earth, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it's elegant and refined, with ultra-fine tannins, even acidity, and a floating feel that's balanced and never austere. A very pretty wine, it has a haunting perfume on the back palate and is delicious now, although it should age gracefully over the next two decades. Maturity 2025 – 2045.
- Audrey Frick -
Funkelndes Rubinrot mit Randaufhellungen. In der Nase reife Frucht sowie ein Hauch von Tabak und Bitterschokolade, dezent nach Siegellack im Nachgang. Am Gaumen warmherzig und kompakt, viel Struktur, satte Gerbstoffe und harmonische, aber präsente Säure, würziges, gerbstoffbetontes Finale, leicht wärmend.
- Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler -
Lustrous ruby with narrow bricky rim. Very composed but with lots of hidden depths at this moment. Definitely minerally but not showing it all right now. With aeration increasingly complex and balsamic with a suggestion of stones and the prickle of mostarda. Gorgeous supple fruit with fine coating tannins. Elegant.
-Walter Speller
Enticing nose of bergamot, burdock root, dried and sour cherries, licorice and raw walnuts. Powerful, with a full body and firm, well-integrated and polished tannins supporting a compact core of spice and wild cherry fruit. Plenty of depth. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino, grown on soils very rich in galestro, this reading of verticality and sapidity is born. Black mulberry to the nose with touches of clementina zest and marjoram. Great freshness and juiciness to the palate, with sapid tannins. Citrusy-fruity finish.
- Luca Gardini
Estremamente affascinante e nobile mostra classicismo e dinamicità nelle note rosse e nere che ricordano le rose, il melograno, il tiglio, il pompelmo, la buccia di limone, il mirto selvatico, l’incenso e la terra bagnata. Il bergamotto in sottofondo regala toni mediterranei che raccontano a pieno l’energia di Montosoli. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini perfettamente maturi, eleganti e di grana finissima si fondono alla perfezione nella matrice di stampo leggiadro e moderno snella e freschissima. Meglio dal 2024.
- Raffaele Vecchione
More immediate and open than the Casaccia, more agricultural, with dark, fresh, ripe fruit, and succulent, full-bodied, substantial palate. Acids are vibrant, and sapidity is high. Great length. Not convinced this is significantly better than the normale... but time will tell. Still excellent of course.
-John Szabo
Medium ruby red in colour. A mixture of dark blue florals and spicy herbs invites the imbiber to this new and futuristic voyage of discovery, this being the first vintage of this new Cru. Bing cherry, dewberry, spiced orange peel. Caressing tannins interplay with citrus infused acidity. A charming and pretty wine, Full of youthful intensity and promise. Balanced like a ballerina. A abyss of textural depth. Winemaking at its zenith.
- Tony Wood -
Glänzendes Rubingranat. Sehr ansprechende Nase mit satter roter Frucht, nach reifen Zwetschgen, etwas Waldhimbeere und duftenden Rosen blättern. Entfaltet sich am Gaumen mit griffigem, festem Tannin, ummantelt von feinem Schmelz, im Finale leicht trocknend, braucht noch weitere Lagerung.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Ungemein dicht und komplex, satte Frucht nach kandierten Kirschen und blauen Beeren. Saftig-dichter Gaumen, tiefgestaffelt, geschmeidige, süße Tannintextur, feine Sangiovese-Süße, schöne Präsenz und Griffigkeit, mundfüllende Stoffigkeit, Cassis, elegante Tanninstruktur.
Guida Bibenda 2024
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Preciso ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, prugne rosse, fragoline di bosco, buccia di limone, succo di pompelmo, timo selvatico, citronella e verbena. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini di grana finissima ed un finale succoso e leggiadro deciso e coinvolgente. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
A 1959 vineyard was no longer delivering any significant production and so it was re-planted in 2009 though this fruit joins the classic Brunello. The Montosoli fruit is from 1995-1996 vines and the total quantity is usually 35-40 hL of juice. Canalicchio di Sopra shares the hill/cru with several others including Altesino, Baricci, Caparzo, Casanova della Cerbaie, Le Gode, Le Ragnaie and Pietroso. The 2019 is not the most open expression of sangiovese but it is crunchy and saline Montosoli. Admittedly so young as a Vigna Brunello so take as much time as needed to breath in the air. Montosoli is clearly exceptional out of 2019 and tasted against La Casaccia it feels much more savoury and even a bit brooding. This is the relative assessment that makes Montosoli feel a bit salty. Drink 2026-2035.
- Michael Godel -
Intense ruby red in colour. Aromas of violet, hyacinth and distant gardenia. Wild cherry, loganberry, plum and citrus peel. Compact and crunchy tannins, tangy acidity, layered minerality. Secondary nuances of salty liquorice and dried Mediterranean herbs. Poised and polished yet tense and tight. Stunning wine that will greatly benefit from bottle age.
- Tony Wood -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdiger, ein Touch Jod, Granatapfel und Blutorange. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Im Mund saftiger Auftakt, dichtmaschig, kraftvoll und engmaschig, deutlich steiniger und «austere» im griffigen, aber langen und saftig-samtigen Finale. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft mit der Höhenlage und dem Lagencharakter. [2028 – 2040]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot mit funkelndem Kern. Minze in der Nase, Eukalyptus, ein Hauch vegetale Würze, frische Kirschfrucht, steinige Noten. Saftig am Gaumen, geradlinig, nicht schmal, sondern präzise, mit viel Spannung, druckvoll, mit engmaschigem Tannin, auf eisenhaltigen Tönen, im Finale leicht rau.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
The 2020 Montosoli is, like the 2019, more subtle and withholding than Canalicchio di Sopra’s two other vintage wines, with a nose of sun-warmed earth, straw and dried thyme, with heavy doses of rust. The palate reveals that the north-northwest facing Montosoli sites are probably where the energy in the annata blend comes from. Perfectly transparent, it vibrates with tight ridges of tannin and propulsive acidity. Fruit is still quiet at the moment, ceding the floor to bay leaf, camphor, dried sage and a delicate bergamot citrus. The finish is austere, its acidity further sharpening notes of petrichor, sea spray and rust. Drink 2028 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
Maturo ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, amarene, buccia di mandarini, lime e bergamotto. Corpo medio-pieno, armonico e bilanciato nel sorso chiude succoso e di ottima personalità. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
3 Stelle Oro
This cru bottling is crafted from Filari Lunghi, one of four contiguous estate plots on the northwest flank of the Montosoli hill. In 2020, it was picked on 22 September, before a period of intense rain. A focused nose demonstrating its breed plays to its floral and mineral elements. Thyme blossom and pressed violet meet smoky flint, wet stone and iron. The palate expands on a scrim of black raspberry, its debonair tannins speaking to a gentle hand, though still with ample textural intricacy in this attractively sculpted Brunello. Drinking window 2026 – 2037.
- Michaela Morris -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdig-mineralischer, in gewisser Weise «männlicher» als der La Casaccia, Granatapfel und Blutorange animieren, zart staubige Anklänge. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Dichtmaschig und zupackend, gebündelt und kraftvoll, bleibt aber engmaschig, deutlich steiniger, zwar nicht ganz so «austere» wie im Vorjahr, aber dennoch griffig wie eh und je, saftig-samtiges Finale mit mineralischen Noten. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft und Höhenlage. Fantastischer Charakter-Brunello! Liegen lassen. [2027 – 2042]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Hochelegant, reife Beere, lebendige Säure, sehr komplett: Man schmeckt die Magie der Lage Montosoli. Ganz eigene Stilistik.
- Jens Priewe -
The Vigna Montosoli, which lends its name to a Montosoli Cru, represents our desire to valorize the uniqueness of a vineyard that is able to maintain its strong identity and quality of being recognizable even in different vintages. Over the years, it has been the vineyard that enhances the flavor and verticality of our Sangiovese.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Sangiovese 100%
From 255 to 215 masl
Vigna Montosoli Filari Lunghi
1997
At higher elevations, marl with very high mineral components, clay loam texture with higher levels of lime. The significant pebbly texture increases the ph of the soil. Wines of a great structure, marked minerality and sapidity sustained by an optimal acidity, ideal for long ageing.
Cordon trained and spur pruned (Spurrend cordon)
336° NNW
2.90 m X 0.80 m
In steel tanks with fermentation temperature control, daily soft pumping over. Maceration on the skins for 25 days
36 months in slavonian Oak casks
2018
3879 bottles - 750 ml
127 bottles - 1500 ml
15%
The weather in 2020 can surely be ranked among the hottest years with a dry period from June 17 to August 2, but seeing it as only a hot vintage would be misleading based on the result in the bottle.
Analyzing the general weather conditions in detail and taking into account the fall of 2019, a crucial time for creating water reserves, we can highlight the following:
- from October 1 to December 31, 2019, 600mm of rain was recorded (which continued with the 115mm from January 1 to March 31, 2020), creating water reserves that were easily able to handle the dry conditions in the middle of summer (mid-June to July).
- Winter was characterized by moderately low temperatures but at least 35% of the days between January 1 and March 31 saw below-zero temperatures, ideal conditions for the plants to eliminate pathogens and for a proper vegetative recovery of the vines, which was regular and not early.
- In the months of April and May, the rains were concentrated in only five days in April and six in May for a total of a further 100mm of rainfall as water reserves; this situation was ideal to control any plant disease allowing us to reduce the minimum number of copper and sulphur treatments.
- In the last ten days of May until the beginning of June, the absence of rain and reduced leaf wetness favored regular and even flowering.
- From mid-June to the end of July, there was a period without rainfall during which the highs ranged from about 28° to 30°C favoring, thanks to the full water reserves, regular and continuous plant development.
- Only during days between the end of July and the beginning of August was there a more intense heat wave with temperatures over 35°C topping out at 39°C in seven days. We protected our vines with the use of natural shielding to prevent burning.
- Rainfall at the beginning of August interrupted a period of intense heat refreshing the air and lowering the temperatures which returned to seasonal norms.
- The heat between the end of July and the beginning of August slowed the veraison process, which turned out to be essential in protecting the fruit from possible sunburn.
- The 40mm of rain which fell between August 30 and 31 ultimately rebalanced the vines giving them that necessary push for proper phenolic maturation and activating photosynthesis of the leaves.
- The significant diurnal temperature ranges during the 30 days prior to the harvest favored the preservation of good acidity, favoring an excellent phenolic maturation of the grapes. The calculation of the qualitative Fregoni Index (431,9) for wines destined for long ageing shows a result in line with the biggest vintages.
2020: PLEASENTNESS
In the practice of naming the style, which we try to do every year to encapsulate the essence of the vintage in a single word, we believe the word “Pleasantness” is the most suitable, the one which best describes the characteristics of a great vintage which expresses itself in a more immediate and ready, generous, vibrant way without neglecting those aspects of freshness and verticality which characterize the northern side of Montalcino, the only area where Canalicchio di Sopra has sought to create a precise and distinct stylistic identity over the years.
The year of Covid, of the closed world and of the forced sheltering in place, even the very complex situation we were in, didn’t affect the special attention we strive to put into the management of our vineyards every year, the time that we spend there is decidedly superior to any other activity at the winery year after year, and that works for us. Everything starts in the vineyard, from the ability to interpret every single vintage, breaking away from strategies and protocols in order to adapt continuously to different situations.
Our grandfather and our father taught us, first and foremost, respect for the land, not to change it, not to standardize the fruit of the vintage, and, by following this precious teaching, we interpreted this vintage according to its identity, thus enhancing the aspect of pleasantness, being more fleshy, more pronounced roundness, tannic elegance, all found within a framework of minerality and freshness: the perfect mix for great drinkability and more immediate enjoyment, but also optimal longevity. The 2020 wines are well-rounded with notable spice, optimizing the floral and balsamic qualities typical of our subzone, showing elegant and not vulgar texture, creating full pervasiveness in the mouth with surprising depth, persistence, and verticality.
The 2020 harvest started slightly earlier than the 2019 harvest; the first grapes were picked on September 18 from the youngest vineyards for the production of Rosso di Montalcino. We then continued in the vineyards for the production of Brunello di Montalcino, harvesting in a short period of time from September 20 to 30. The Vigna La Casaccia was harvested on September 24 while the grapes in Vigna Montosoli were picked on September 22. The grapes were harvested during a time of significant diurnal temperature ranges, especially during the last five days of September with lows well under 10°C, which favored the development of elegant and persistent floral notes and which surely characterized the aroma of the vintage. Heavy rainfall of about 70mm on the September 25 did not affect the harvest and was welcomed as a blessing by rebalancing the skin/liquid ratio in some vineyards, where the picking started again on September 27, which proved to be essential in giving the wines more elegance and drinkability.
During the phases of vinification, the work in the cellar was shaped by delicateness with more controlled and less punchy extractions, aiming to preserve the aromas and persistence by limiting the time spent on the skins to 25 days. The ageing period which followed showed the ability of the vintage to naturally maintain an excellent antioxidant framework, preserving the freshness and a great ability to evolve in the direction of a pleasant roundness, showing fine and elegant, generous and silky tannins.
In addition to the greatness of this vintage is the expertise in knowing how to adapt to the needs of this vintage by following the direction that Canalicchio di Sopra undertook years before: always putting the focus on the territory and the vintage, and breaking away from conformity in the cellar in order to give any differences added value rather than seeing them as a restriction.
The added value of this vintage lies also in the ability to have made courageous decisions: in 2020 we decided not to produce our Riserva, a difficult choice to make in such an important and optimal year as 2020, determined by the desire to develop our Brunello Annata even more, our blend of Brunello which was able to benefit from the grapes of the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale, which are usually designated for the Riserva wine in the big vintages.
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vigna Montosoli “Canalicchio di Sopra” represents the wine which recounts the characteristics of this splendid and unique hill which, thanks to its more marly and mineral soil, expresses itself in verticality, minerality, and sapidity, length and depth but also with a more pronounced tannin: the 2020 vintage also brings out the aromatic, floral, and enveloping complexity.
Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2018 Vigna Montosoli, its debut single-vineyard bottling from this celebrated hill, is drop-dead gorgeous. Fragrant and all about elegance, it opens with enticing scents of wild rose, botanical herb, new leather and forest berry. Seamlessly fusing finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, raspberry sprinkled with cinnamon, rosemary and thyme before a savory saline mineral finish. It boats great energy and impeccable balance, with taut, refined tannins and vibrant acidity. I just love it. Drink 2025–2038.
- Kerin O'Keefe
Here's an exciting new addition to the growing Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio. With fruit from one of the most celebrated subzones in the appellation, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli shows a unique profile. The wine opens to a solid core of red and purple fruits, all framed by light spice, crushed stone or chalky limestone. The fiber of this wine is lean, tight and elegantly streamlined. It hits the palate with intensity and softness, and it delivers especially fine tannins. Francesco Ripaccioli made 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums.
-Monica Larner
Medium bodied and open knit, offering tomato leaf, plum, cherry, licorice, earth
and spice flavors Stays focused, courtesy of good cut, with a silky texture and
tannins that leave a slight sinewy feel on the finish. Overall, this is harmonious, complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit. Drinking window 2027-2042.
- Eric Guido -
This is a gorgeous wine that really takes off in this vintage. It starts off with gentle floral aromas of lilac or dried violet and a hint of fragrant rose. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli boasts an impeccable nose with elegant berry fruit and light minerality. All this beauty is transferred to the palate, where the wine shows very fine-grained tannins. The fruit flows steadily over a long, rich finish. The challenge is to get a fruit finish this long, considering Brunello's strong tannins, but this wine definitely succeeds. Production is 7,200 bottles plus larger formats. Drink Date 2025 - 2045.
- Monica Larner -
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is dreamy, with a darkly floral bouquet that blends dried rose and violet with hints of sour cherry, blackberry and Tuscan dust. This is silky-smooth and round in feel, with fresh acidity that adds a lovely lift as vibrant wild berry fruits swirl throughout. Tactile mineral tones add traction as the 2020 finishes long and staining, with coating of fine-grained tannins that gently tug at the palate. This is a radiant and generous Montosoli with the balance necessary to mature beautifully in the cellar. Drinking window 2027 – 2038.
- Reviewed by Eric Guido -
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is quite Burgundian in style, slowly awakening in the glass with a delicate mix of sweet herbs, crushed violet candies, hints of spiced orange and wild strawberries. It boasts a stunning purity of fruit and inner sweetness, seeming to hover across the palate, as red berries and saline-minerals slowly saturate under a purple-tinged air of inner florals. The 2018 leaves a grippy coating of fine tannins, yet balances them with a residual bump of zesty acidity, finishing long, lightly structured and with immaculate balance. This is the first official vintage of Vigna Montosoli, a wine that I’ve been following now for over two years, and each time it seems to only grow in both volume and depth.
- Eric Guido
The first release of Canalicchio di Sopra’s Montosoli bottling comes from the estate’s Filari Lunghi vineyard, a pebbly, northwest-facing plot reaching 255 metres. This gives way slowly but steadily, exposing heady rose, wet stone and fragrant porcini. Decidedly mineral-driven, the palate performs with precision and depth. Tight tannins are fine-boned, and the appetising finish lingers with a salty stoniness that makes you salivate. It's impossible not to admire the elegance here.
-Michaela Morris
Dark ruby with orange tinges. Complex, deep nose of cherry with a touch of exotic spice. The nose oozes class. Compact and finely balanced on the palate with finely chiselled tannins that follow the fruit rather than taking the upper hand. Very long and complex, and not ready by far. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
This red shows some distinctive balsamic notes – tomato leaf, eucalyptus and mint – that mingle with the cherry and strawberry fruit. Iron and tobacco accents chime in as this builds to the long, sinewy finish. All the elements are there, but this just needs a few years to integrate. Best from 2027 through 2043, 137 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
There's no doubt that Vigna Montosoli is the hottest vineyard site in the appellation at the moment, and it remains virtually impossible to purchase land in this prized subzone. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a distinct character with reinforced concentration and bold black fruit flavors. I get a hint of Turkish coffee and sweet earth. The bouquet also reveals a mineral side with petrichor, iron ore and peat moss. Of the new releases in this portfolio, I think you will find this wine to be the most complete and age-worthy. Sadly, only 4,133 bottles were created. Drink Date 2026 – 2045.
- Monica Larner -
A pretty red, this exhibits cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral notes, with hints of fresh herbs. Harmonious, and all of its components are in the right place. This is also open and succulent. Enjoyable now if decanted for an hour or two. Best from 2027 through 2045. [344 cases made - 77 cases imported]
- Bruce Sanderson -
Bright dark red. A very strong note of blood orange lifts nuances of ripe sweet red cherry, sandalwood, flint and violet on the enticing nose. Multilayered, fleshy and very polished, this finishes long with a savory twinge at the back. One of the wines of the vintage. Drinking window: 2027-2036.
- Ian D'Agata -
Canalicchio di Sopra’s increasing focus on cru wines has been many years in the making. Fruit from its Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards have historically been blended for the estate Brunello, but proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli has been experimenting with bottling single-site Riservas since the early 2010s. The Montosoli shows the power and savouriness of its west-facing, well-drained rocky site. The charred meat on the first nose quickly rolls into warm, concentrated plum confit with shades of damp earth, mushroom and creosote. A mouth-filling start delivers cherry fruit with a level of acidity that radiates through to the mid-palate. There are powdery tannins form a fine-boned structure. Ethereal herbal notes of camphor and chrysanthemum linger on the finish
- Sarah Heller MW -
Aromas of sweet berries, flowers, sandalwood and ink follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Savory at the end. Linear and racy. Best in two or three years and onwards.
- James Suckling -
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino and soils with a prevalence of galestro, an interpretation of verticality and sapidity. Notes of red mulberry on the nose, with touches of clementine peel and sage, great freshness-juiciness on the palate and savory tannins, with a finish of persistence.
- Luca Gardini -
Boasting aromas of new leather, eucalyptus, violet, forest floor and spice, the stunning 2019 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is an excellent expression of this celebrated site, great vintage and historic winery. Firm and youthfully austere, it delivers ripe raspberry, blackberry, tobacco and licorice before a salty finish. Framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins, it’s elegantly structured, packed with energy and intensity, with bright acidity that also keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2039–2044.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Dark red- ruby. Very spicy, herbal nose only hints at dark plum and cherry. Then big thick and layered, with a mouthcating richness to its dark plum and herb flavours that are long on power but short on finesse. Strange as it seems, this is actually bigger and meatier than the La Casaccia: I have no doubts it will be scored higher by almost every wine writer out there, but mark my words, it is La Casaccia that is the greater of the two wines. Down the road, all those who prefer the Montosoli today will change their minds. Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2019 Montosoli Brunello will need plenty of time in a good cellar before being fully approachable and revealing of all it has to offer. Drinking window: 2034- 2045.
One of fewer than 10 producers with precious holdings on the Montosoli hill, Canalicchio di Sopra owns six hectares, contiguous with Le Gode. The second vintage of this cru bottling comes from a northwest-facing plot planted in 1997. Almost painfully young, its gradually emerging, alluring scents flit between dry and wet earth as dusty stone mingles with forest undergrowth and liquorice root. Crispness of acidity and vertical, edgy tannins makes for an austere palate now, but the structure is in step with the underlying tight yet pure and sapid red berry core. Finishes with lingering orange bitters. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042
- Michaela Morris -
Of the two cru wines at Canalicchio di Sopra, Montosoli is from a slightly lower altitude (215–255m [700–840ft]), with free-draining, pebbly soils, but has a cooler north-northwest exposure, coming from a single long, narrow vineyard called Filari Lunghi within the Montosoli cru. The nose opens with a hint of Parmesan rind and a sauna-stone/volcanic warmth, followed by a solid punch of morello cherry fruit that is sharpened by rosemary and eucalyptus. The entry wraps a satiny outer layer of glycerol over furry, suede-like tannins – extracted over a prolonged maceration of 40+ days – while acidity is razor-sharp within. The translucent mid-palate is airy and broad, while the finish is quite tannic and more reserved, ferrous-toned and quiet in its fruit. With its initial sense of grandiosity thoroughly offset by austerity on the finish, this seems more backwards than the annata and Casaccia. Drink 2026 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
A medium-bodied red with plum and orange-peel character. Ripe, polished tannins and plenty of energy at the end, suggesting that three or four years of bottle age will improve this. A structured and energetic young Brunello from a top vineyard site. Better after 2027.
- James Suckling -
Combining power and finesse, the fragrant 2020 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is a great expression of the vintage and the vineyard. It has aromas of blue flower, ripe black plum, grilled rosemary, dark exotic spice and the barest hint of tar while the full-bodied, delicious boasts weightless concentration, delivering fleshy raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, cake spice and a hint of licorice. Velvety tannins provide polished support. Already tempting, hold for even more complexity. Drink 2028–2034.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Vineyard Filari Lunghi, soils predominantly of Galestro, an imposing wine, intense and juicy. Pomegranate on the nose, hints of chinotto, touches of eucalyptus and wild iris. The drink has a citrus and balsamic appeal, with red fruits and balsamic notes. Great length.
- Luca Gardini -
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, ripe and alluring but with some progress already noticeable on the nose. Supple and polished sweet-sour cherry on the palate. Well balanced, the fruit is complemented by gorgeous, gravelly tannins. Ends a tiny bit warm. Drink 2025 – 2034.
- Walter Speller -
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is from more schist-based soils and displays a deep ruby/magenta color with a touch more pigment. Opening to sunny aromas of kirsch, lavender, crushed pine needles, licorice, and sappy earth, it’s full-bodied and offers dark mineral undertones that carry through the palate with rich tannins while retaining good freshness, and it has a robust and warming finish. For my taste, I somewhat prefer the Casaccia for its more buoyant nature, but the Montosoli is quite compelling and is not to be overlooked,since it may just need time to reveal its full potential. Drink 2026-2046.
- Audrey Frick -
Deep red. Floral and herbal rather than overtly fruit on the nose and in the mouth, hinting at red cherry, dried herb, camphor, licorice and woodsy aromas and flavours. Nicely polished and full on the long finish. Boasts a completely different organoleptic profile from his stablemate, the 2020 La Casaccia Brunello, and so it should given the different positions, soils and exposures of the two vineyards. This is less forward than that wine presently, but will age longer. Drinking window: 2032-2042.
- Ian D’Agata -
Montosoli the northerly Montalcino mound, the hill of freshness, the knoll where sangiovese gains grip, savour and elegance, where Canalicchio di Sopra’s Vigna designate Brunello from six hectares delivers approximately five into this wine. The precision and fluidity of this ‘20 is just about as fine and graceful as the Ripaccioli have ever produced. Literally the juice or blood of Montosoli’s Galestro, a clay-schist flaking at the surface bleeding back down into the earth, acquired by the roots, vacuumed back up into the vines and gifted to the brunches. Sapidity is similar to 2018 and that year was cold(er) which explains how soil is such the driver, especially for Montosoli. This tastes as you might expect, concentrated, texturally full and without pause. Incredible Brunello. Poised, seemingly ready but not, looking ahead two decades, maybe more. With thanks to perfectly restrained cellar work, timing and decision making. In this moment, at least in terms of clarity, 2020 is a Montosoli vintage. Drink 2026-2036.
- Michael Godel -
Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is outstanding, with fleshy red cherry, menthol, cedar, and forest floor. It is full-bodied, though more savory and compact in nature than the base Brunello Di Montalcino, with sage, dried herbs, graphite, dark earth, and plum pit. It is coiled and needs time in the cellar before drinking, and although it is less obvious in this wine, I think it will be the winner long term. Drink 2025-2040.
- Audrey Frick -
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli displays a bright red/orange-tinged color and is bright with notes of pomegranate, raspberries, tangerine, dusty earth, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it's elegant and refined, with ultra-fine tannins, even acidity, and a floating feel that's balanced and never austere. A very pretty wine, it has a haunting perfume on the back palate and is delicious now, although it should age gracefully over the next two decades. Maturity 2025 – 2045.
- Audrey Frick -
Funkelndes Rubinrot mit Randaufhellungen. In der Nase reife Frucht sowie ein Hauch von Tabak und Bitterschokolade, dezent nach Siegellack im Nachgang. Am Gaumen warmherzig und kompakt, viel Struktur, satte Gerbstoffe und harmonische, aber präsente Säure, würziges, gerbstoffbetontes Finale, leicht wärmend.
- Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler -
Lustrous ruby with narrow bricky rim. Very composed but with lots of hidden depths at this moment. Definitely minerally but not showing it all right now. With aeration increasingly complex and balsamic with a suggestion of stones and the prickle of mostarda. Gorgeous supple fruit with fine coating tannins. Elegant.
-Walter Speller
Enticing nose of bergamot, burdock root, dried and sour cherries, licorice and raw walnuts. Powerful, with a full body and firm, well-integrated and polished tannins supporting a compact core of spice and wild cherry fruit. Plenty of depth. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino, grown on soils very rich in galestro, this reading of verticality and sapidity is born. Black mulberry to the nose with touches of clementina zest and marjoram. Great freshness and juiciness to the palate, with sapid tannins. Citrusy-fruity finish.
- Luca Gardini
Estremamente affascinante e nobile mostra classicismo e dinamicità nelle note rosse e nere che ricordano le rose, il melograno, il tiglio, il pompelmo, la buccia di limone, il mirto selvatico, l’incenso e la terra bagnata. Il bergamotto in sottofondo regala toni mediterranei che raccontano a pieno l’energia di Montosoli. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini perfettamente maturi, eleganti e di grana finissima si fondono alla perfezione nella matrice di stampo leggiadro e moderno snella e freschissima. Meglio dal 2024.
- Raffaele Vecchione
More immediate and open than the Casaccia, more agricultural, with dark, fresh, ripe fruit, and succulent, full-bodied, substantial palate. Acids are vibrant, and sapidity is high. Great length. Not convinced this is significantly better than the normale... but time will tell. Still excellent of course.
-John Szabo
Medium ruby red in colour. A mixture of dark blue florals and spicy herbs invites the imbiber to this new and futuristic voyage of discovery, this being the first vintage of this new Cru. Bing cherry, dewberry, spiced orange peel. Caressing tannins interplay with citrus infused acidity. A charming and pretty wine, Full of youthful intensity and promise. Balanced like a ballerina. A abyss of textural depth. Winemaking at its zenith.
- Tony Wood -
Glänzendes Rubingranat. Sehr ansprechende Nase mit satter roter Frucht, nach reifen Zwetschgen, etwas Waldhimbeere und duftenden Rosen blättern. Entfaltet sich am Gaumen mit griffigem, festem Tannin, ummantelt von feinem Schmelz, im Finale leicht trocknend, braucht noch weitere Lagerung.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Ungemein dicht und komplex, satte Frucht nach kandierten Kirschen und blauen Beeren. Saftig-dichter Gaumen, tiefgestaffelt, geschmeidige, süße Tannintextur, feine Sangiovese-Süße, schöne Präsenz und Griffigkeit, mundfüllende Stoffigkeit, Cassis, elegante Tanninstruktur.
Guida Bibenda 2024
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Preciso ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, prugne rosse, fragoline di bosco, buccia di limone, succo di pompelmo, timo selvatico, citronella e verbena. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini di grana finissima ed un finale succoso e leggiadro deciso e coinvolgente. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
A 1959 vineyard was no longer delivering any significant production and so it was re-planted in 2009 though this fruit joins the classic Brunello. The Montosoli fruit is from 1995-1996 vines and the total quantity is usually 35-40 hL of juice. Canalicchio di Sopra shares the hill/cru with several others including Altesino, Baricci, Caparzo, Casanova della Cerbaie, Le Gode, Le Ragnaie and Pietroso. The 2019 is not the most open expression of sangiovese but it is crunchy and saline Montosoli. Admittedly so young as a Vigna Brunello so take as much time as needed to breath in the air. Montosoli is clearly exceptional out of 2019 and tasted against La Casaccia it feels much more savoury and even a bit brooding. This is the relative assessment that makes Montosoli feel a bit salty. Drink 2026-2035.
- Michael Godel -
Intense ruby red in colour. Aromas of violet, hyacinth and distant gardenia. Wild cherry, loganberry, plum and citrus peel. Compact and crunchy tannins, tangy acidity, layered minerality. Secondary nuances of salty liquorice and dried Mediterranean herbs. Poised and polished yet tense and tight. Stunning wine that will greatly benefit from bottle age.
- Tony Wood -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdiger, ein Touch Jod, Granatapfel und Blutorange. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Im Mund saftiger Auftakt, dichtmaschig, kraftvoll und engmaschig, deutlich steiniger und «austere» im griffigen, aber langen und saftig-samtigen Finale. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft mit der Höhenlage und dem Lagencharakter. [2028 – 2040]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot mit funkelndem Kern. Minze in der Nase, Eukalyptus, ein Hauch vegetale Würze, frische Kirschfrucht, steinige Noten. Saftig am Gaumen, geradlinig, nicht schmal, sondern präzise, mit viel Spannung, druckvoll, mit engmaschigem Tannin, auf eisenhaltigen Tönen, im Finale leicht rau.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
The 2020 Montosoli is, like the 2019, more subtle and withholding than Canalicchio di Sopra’s two other vintage wines, with a nose of sun-warmed earth, straw and dried thyme, with heavy doses of rust. The palate reveals that the north-northwest facing Montosoli sites are probably where the energy in the annata blend comes from. Perfectly transparent, it vibrates with tight ridges of tannin and propulsive acidity. Fruit is still quiet at the moment, ceding the floor to bay leaf, camphor, dried sage and a delicate bergamot citrus. The finish is austere, its acidity further sharpening notes of petrichor, sea spray and rust. Drink 2028 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
Maturo ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, amarene, buccia di mandarini, lime e bergamotto. Corpo medio-pieno, armonico e bilanciato nel sorso chiude succoso e di ottima personalità. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
3 Stelle Oro
This cru bottling is crafted from Filari Lunghi, one of four contiguous estate plots on the northwest flank of the Montosoli hill. In 2020, it was picked on 22 September, before a period of intense rain. A focused nose demonstrating its breed plays to its floral and mineral elements. Thyme blossom and pressed violet meet smoky flint, wet stone and iron. The palate expands on a scrim of black raspberry, its debonair tannins speaking to a gentle hand, though still with ample textural intricacy in this attractively sculpted Brunello. Drinking window 2026 – 2037.
- Michaela Morris -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdig-mineralischer, in gewisser Weise «männlicher» als der La Casaccia, Granatapfel und Blutorange animieren, zart staubige Anklänge. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Dichtmaschig und zupackend, gebündelt und kraftvoll, bleibt aber engmaschig, deutlich steiniger, zwar nicht ganz so «austere» wie im Vorjahr, aber dennoch griffig wie eh und je, saftig-samtiges Finale mit mineralischen Noten. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft und Höhenlage. Fantastischer Charakter-Brunello! Liegen lassen. [2027 – 2042]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Hochelegant, reife Beere, lebendige Säure, sehr komplett: Man schmeckt die Magie der Lage Montosoli. Ganz eigene Stilistik.
- Jens Priewe -
The Vigna Montosoli, which lends its name to a Montosoli Cru, represents our desire to valorize the uniqueness of a vineyard that is able to maintain its strong identity and quality of being recognizable even in different vintages. Over the years, it has been the vineyard that enhances the flavor and verticality of our Sangiovese.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Sangiovese 100%
From 255 to 215 masl
Vigna Montosoli Filari Lunghi
1997
At higher elevations, marl with very high mineral components, clay loam texture with higher levels of lime. The significant pebbly texture increases the ph of the soil. Wines of a great structure, marked minerality and sapidity sustained by an optimal acidity, ideal for long ageing.
Cordon trained and spur pruned (Spurrend cordon)
336° NNW
2.90 m X 0.80 m
In steel tanks with fermentation temperature control, daily soft pumping over. Maceration on the skins for 25 days
36 months in slavonian Oak casks
2018
6420 Bottiglie da 750 ml
330 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
30 Bottiglie da 3000 ml
14.50%
The weather in 2019 can be defined as a moderately warm year, never scorching hot, without excessive or prolonged heatwaves which benefitted from considerable diurnal temperature ranges, which favored significant photosynthesis of the plant in support of a perfect maturation.
The winter was characterized by very low temperatures. During the month of January, the minimum temperatures constantly dropped below zero, helping to cool the soil which was crucial for a regular start to the growing season as opposed to an early one. Precipitation levels in the months of January, February, and March were 100mm, not very high but sufficient enough to guarantee water reserves for the start of the growing season, which were already sufficient after a rainy autumn. April with 88mm of rainfall and May with 148mm were two rainy months, characterized by average seasonal temperatures without any violent meteorological events, allowing for an optimal management of the vineyards guaranteeing excellent reserves for the summer. The rain ended on May 29, and a dry period began which lasted until July 26, with the exception of very little rainfall. It was, for us, one of the key moments of the year: regular flowering, without rainfall, with mild temperatures that were never excessive which continued until the end of June guaranteeing steady growth while respecting the phenological phases of the vines, balanced and uniform, and guaranteeing the absence of fungal disease. The period from June 25 to July 9 saw the hottest period of the year with highs reaching 35° and with lows hovering between 15° and 17°. In these conditions, even with warmer temperatures, the vines were able to “breathe” each day thanks to the cool nights, and this guaranteed a proper and regular growing season. On July 27, a providential rainfall averted any water stress from the vines: the 60mm which fell on July 27 and 28 along with the 30mm between August 22 and 24 and the 12mm on September 1 ensured that the vines always had that quantity of water available, neither too little nor too much, what was necessary to continue on a regular growing cycle. During this time, the temperatures were quite normal, without any heatwaves that might have compromised the quality of the grapes as the color changed and, later, during the ripening phase, with maximum temperatures around 30°-32° still compensated by the diurnal temperatures ranges of 15°-20° each day, which completely prevented any burning. Before the start of the harvest, we had a final rainfall of about 90mm on September 22, which did not affect the quality of the grapes in any way. Actually, it helped rebalance and wash the grapes before coming into the cellar.
The results of all the weather indices confirmed and justified that 2019 was an exceptional harvest with a rating on the Fregoni Index of about 400 and on the Huglin index 2500 with total rainfall at 520mm.
2019: ELEGANT POWER
Referring to 2019 as one of the best vintages in recent decades, counting this vintage among the greatest in the Montalcino territory, we believe that this wouldn’t be a stretch, or even a misjudgment.
The 2019 vintage, from our point of view, respects those canons of “Elegant Power” which only vintages with great balance are able to give, raising the bar of balance and bringing with it a lot of everything: from perfect phenolic maturation which brings out the “Power” to the extraordinary technological maturation, which, thanks to the continuity of the optimal acid profile, accentuates the “Elegance”. Perpetually poised between showing its muscles and its grace, aspects which differ so much but also magically complement one other in a great wine that is meant to age for a long time, the 2019 surprises for its harmony and balance, which only great vintages are able to achieve.
As for every vintage, the result is the fruit of an agronomic journey, which, in 2019, was regular with regards to the water supply, generally warm but never scorching hot and with diurnal temperature ranges that favored maturation and concentration, safeguarding the freshness and fragrance. These conditions favored great expression in the bouquet where the pureness of the fruit is exalted by the classic balsamic notes of the north zone of Montalcino without ever overpowering the elegant florality, a distinctive trait in “Canalicchio di Sopra” wines. The ideal weather conditions gave rise to a two-dimensional harvest, succeeding in uniting opulence with the verticality in the wines, silkiness with minerality, sweetness with sapidity.
A distinctive feature of this vintage is the ability to reveal the territory, the nuances of individual vineyards and of the subzones where we cultivate our Sangiovese, in such a distinct and deep way that it brings out its differences and uniqueness.
The harvest started on September 26 in the youngest vineyards for the production of Rosso di Montalcino DOC and continued without interruption until October 6, on sunny days with great diurnal temperature ranges which allowed us to bring fresh and fragrant grapes into the cellar, simplifying regular fermentation with a long extraction period. The quality of the skins, rich in polyphenols and perfectly ripe, resulted in a vinification which saw the usual delicate operations of the initial pumping over and délestage, followed by a long period of maceration on the skins which, in many cases, lasted up to 35 days.
For us, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vigna Montosoli, thanks to its generosity but also great coherence of the territory, represents a wine which reveals the characteristics of this splendid hill through a harvest which brings out its strength and tension. It is a zone which, thanks to its soil that is more marl and mineral, expresses itself in verticality, minerality, and sapidity, length and depth, but also with a more pronounced tannin. The 2019 vintage is perhaps one of the vintages which best expresses this Terroir the in recent years.
Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2018 Vigna Montosoli, its debut single-vineyard bottling from this celebrated hill, is drop-dead gorgeous. Fragrant and all about elegance, it opens with enticing scents of wild rose, botanical herb, new leather and forest berry. Seamlessly fusing finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, raspberry sprinkled with cinnamon, rosemary and thyme before a savory saline mineral finish. It boats great energy and impeccable balance, with taut, refined tannins and vibrant acidity. I just love it. Drink 2025–2038.
- Kerin O'Keefe
Here's an exciting new addition to the growing Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio. With fruit from one of the most celebrated subzones in the appellation, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli shows a unique profile. The wine opens to a solid core of red and purple fruits, all framed by light spice, crushed stone or chalky limestone. The fiber of this wine is lean, tight and elegantly streamlined. It hits the palate with intensity and softness, and it delivers especially fine tannins. Francesco Ripaccioli made 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums.
-Monica Larner
Medium bodied and open knit, offering tomato leaf, plum, cherry, licorice, earth
and spice flavors Stays focused, courtesy of good cut, with a silky texture and
tannins that leave a slight sinewy feel on the finish. Overall, this is harmonious, complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit. Drinking window 2027-2042.
- Eric Guido -
This is a gorgeous wine that really takes off in this vintage. It starts off with gentle floral aromas of lilac or dried violet and a hint of fragrant rose. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli boasts an impeccable nose with elegant berry fruit and light minerality. All this beauty is transferred to the palate, where the wine shows very fine-grained tannins. The fruit flows steadily over a long, rich finish. The challenge is to get a fruit finish this long, considering Brunello's strong tannins, but this wine definitely succeeds. Production is 7,200 bottles plus larger formats. Drink Date 2025 - 2045.
- Monica Larner -
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is dreamy, with a darkly floral bouquet that blends dried rose and violet with hints of sour cherry, blackberry and Tuscan dust. This is silky-smooth and round in feel, with fresh acidity that adds a lovely lift as vibrant wild berry fruits swirl throughout. Tactile mineral tones add traction as the 2020 finishes long and staining, with coating of fine-grained tannins that gently tug at the palate. This is a radiant and generous Montosoli with the balance necessary to mature beautifully in the cellar. Drinking window 2027 – 2038.
- Reviewed by Eric Guido -
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is quite Burgundian in style, slowly awakening in the glass with a delicate mix of sweet herbs, crushed violet candies, hints of spiced orange and wild strawberries. It boasts a stunning purity of fruit and inner sweetness, seeming to hover across the palate, as red berries and saline-minerals slowly saturate under a purple-tinged air of inner florals. The 2018 leaves a grippy coating of fine tannins, yet balances them with a residual bump of zesty acidity, finishing long, lightly structured and with immaculate balance. This is the first official vintage of Vigna Montosoli, a wine that I’ve been following now for over two years, and each time it seems to only grow in both volume and depth.
- Eric Guido
The first release of Canalicchio di Sopra’s Montosoli bottling comes from the estate’s Filari Lunghi vineyard, a pebbly, northwest-facing plot reaching 255 metres. This gives way slowly but steadily, exposing heady rose, wet stone and fragrant porcini. Decidedly mineral-driven, the palate performs with precision and depth. Tight tannins are fine-boned, and the appetising finish lingers with a salty stoniness that makes you salivate. It's impossible not to admire the elegance here.
-Michaela Morris
Dark ruby with orange tinges. Complex, deep nose of cherry with a touch of exotic spice. The nose oozes class. Compact and finely balanced on the palate with finely chiselled tannins that follow the fruit rather than taking the upper hand. Very long and complex, and not ready by far. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
This red shows some distinctive balsamic notes – tomato leaf, eucalyptus and mint – that mingle with the cherry and strawberry fruit. Iron and tobacco accents chime in as this builds to the long, sinewy finish. All the elements are there, but this just needs a few years to integrate. Best from 2027 through 2043, 137 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
There's no doubt that Vigna Montosoli is the hottest vineyard site in the appellation at the moment, and it remains virtually impossible to purchase land in this prized subzone. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a distinct character with reinforced concentration and bold black fruit flavors. I get a hint of Turkish coffee and sweet earth. The bouquet also reveals a mineral side with petrichor, iron ore and peat moss. Of the new releases in this portfolio, I think you will find this wine to be the most complete and age-worthy. Sadly, only 4,133 bottles were created. Drink Date 2026 – 2045.
- Monica Larner -
A pretty red, this exhibits cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral notes, with hints of fresh herbs. Harmonious, and all of its components are in the right place. This is also open and succulent. Enjoyable now if decanted for an hour or two. Best from 2027 through 2045. [344 cases made - 77 cases imported]
- Bruce Sanderson -
Bright dark red. A very strong note of blood orange lifts nuances of ripe sweet red cherry, sandalwood, flint and violet on the enticing nose. Multilayered, fleshy and very polished, this finishes long with a savory twinge at the back. One of the wines of the vintage. Drinking window: 2027-2036.
- Ian D'Agata -
Canalicchio di Sopra’s increasing focus on cru wines has been many years in the making. Fruit from its Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards have historically been blended for the estate Brunello, but proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli has been experimenting with bottling single-site Riservas since the early 2010s. The Montosoli shows the power and savouriness of its west-facing, well-drained rocky site. The charred meat on the first nose quickly rolls into warm, concentrated plum confit with shades of damp earth, mushroom and creosote. A mouth-filling start delivers cherry fruit with a level of acidity that radiates through to the mid-palate. There are powdery tannins form a fine-boned structure. Ethereal herbal notes of camphor and chrysanthemum linger on the finish
- Sarah Heller MW -
Aromas of sweet berries, flowers, sandalwood and ink follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Savory at the end. Linear and racy. Best in two or three years and onwards.
- James Suckling -
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino and soils with a prevalence of galestro, an interpretation of verticality and sapidity. Notes of red mulberry on the nose, with touches of clementine peel and sage, great freshness-juiciness on the palate and savory tannins, with a finish of persistence.
- Luca Gardini -
Boasting aromas of new leather, eucalyptus, violet, forest floor and spice, the stunning 2019 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is an excellent expression of this celebrated site, great vintage and historic winery. Firm and youthfully austere, it delivers ripe raspberry, blackberry, tobacco and licorice before a salty finish. Framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins, it’s elegantly structured, packed with energy and intensity, with bright acidity that also keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2039–2044.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Dark red- ruby. Very spicy, herbal nose only hints at dark plum and cherry. Then big thick and layered, with a mouthcating richness to its dark plum and herb flavours that are long on power but short on finesse. Strange as it seems, this is actually bigger and meatier than the La Casaccia: I have no doubts it will be scored higher by almost every wine writer out there, but mark my words, it is La Casaccia that is the greater of the two wines. Down the road, all those who prefer the Montosoli today will change their minds. Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2019 Montosoli Brunello will need plenty of time in a good cellar before being fully approachable and revealing of all it has to offer. Drinking window: 2034- 2045.
One of fewer than 10 producers with precious holdings on the Montosoli hill, Canalicchio di Sopra owns six hectares, contiguous with Le Gode. The second vintage of this cru bottling comes from a northwest-facing plot planted in 1997. Almost painfully young, its gradually emerging, alluring scents flit between dry and wet earth as dusty stone mingles with forest undergrowth and liquorice root. Crispness of acidity and vertical, edgy tannins makes for an austere palate now, but the structure is in step with the underlying tight yet pure and sapid red berry core. Finishes with lingering orange bitters. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042
- Michaela Morris -
Of the two cru wines at Canalicchio di Sopra, Montosoli is from a slightly lower altitude (215–255m [700–840ft]), with free-draining, pebbly soils, but has a cooler north-northwest exposure, coming from a single long, narrow vineyard called Filari Lunghi within the Montosoli cru. The nose opens with a hint of Parmesan rind and a sauna-stone/volcanic warmth, followed by a solid punch of morello cherry fruit that is sharpened by rosemary and eucalyptus. The entry wraps a satiny outer layer of glycerol over furry, suede-like tannins – extracted over a prolonged maceration of 40+ days – while acidity is razor-sharp within. The translucent mid-palate is airy and broad, while the finish is quite tannic and more reserved, ferrous-toned and quiet in its fruit. With its initial sense of grandiosity thoroughly offset by austerity on the finish, this seems more backwards than the annata and Casaccia. Drink 2026 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
A medium-bodied red with plum and orange-peel character. Ripe, polished tannins and plenty of energy at the end, suggesting that three or four years of bottle age will improve this. A structured and energetic young Brunello from a top vineyard site. Better after 2027.
- James Suckling -
Combining power and finesse, the fragrant 2020 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is a great expression of the vintage and the vineyard. It has aromas of blue flower, ripe black plum, grilled rosemary, dark exotic spice and the barest hint of tar while the full-bodied, delicious boasts weightless concentration, delivering fleshy raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, cake spice and a hint of licorice. Velvety tannins provide polished support. Already tempting, hold for even more complexity. Drink 2028–2034.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Vineyard Filari Lunghi, soils predominantly of Galestro, an imposing wine, intense and juicy. Pomegranate on the nose, hints of chinotto, touches of eucalyptus and wild iris. The drink has a citrus and balsamic appeal, with red fruits and balsamic notes. Great length.
- Luca Gardini -
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, ripe and alluring but with some progress already noticeable on the nose. Supple and polished sweet-sour cherry on the palate. Well balanced, the fruit is complemented by gorgeous, gravelly tannins. Ends a tiny bit warm. Drink 2025 – 2034.
- Walter Speller -
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is from more schist-based soils and displays a deep ruby/magenta color with a touch more pigment. Opening to sunny aromas of kirsch, lavender, crushed pine needles, licorice, and sappy earth, it’s full-bodied and offers dark mineral undertones that carry through the palate with rich tannins while retaining good freshness, and it has a robust and warming finish. For my taste, I somewhat prefer the Casaccia for its more buoyant nature, but the Montosoli is quite compelling and is not to be overlooked,since it may just need time to reveal its full potential. Drink 2026-2046.
- Audrey Frick -
Deep red. Floral and herbal rather than overtly fruit on the nose and in the mouth, hinting at red cherry, dried herb, camphor, licorice and woodsy aromas and flavours. Nicely polished and full on the long finish. Boasts a completely different organoleptic profile from his stablemate, the 2020 La Casaccia Brunello, and so it should given the different positions, soils and exposures of the two vineyards. This is less forward than that wine presently, but will age longer. Drinking window: 2032-2042.
- Ian D’Agata -
Montosoli the northerly Montalcino mound, the hill of freshness, the knoll where sangiovese gains grip, savour and elegance, where Canalicchio di Sopra’s Vigna designate Brunello from six hectares delivers approximately five into this wine. The precision and fluidity of this ‘20 is just about as fine and graceful as the Ripaccioli have ever produced. Literally the juice or blood of Montosoli’s Galestro, a clay-schist flaking at the surface bleeding back down into the earth, acquired by the roots, vacuumed back up into the vines and gifted to the brunches. Sapidity is similar to 2018 and that year was cold(er) which explains how soil is such the driver, especially for Montosoli. This tastes as you might expect, concentrated, texturally full and without pause. Incredible Brunello. Poised, seemingly ready but not, looking ahead two decades, maybe more. With thanks to perfectly restrained cellar work, timing and decision making. In this moment, at least in terms of clarity, 2020 is a Montosoli vintage. Drink 2026-2036.
- Michael Godel -
Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is outstanding, with fleshy red cherry, menthol, cedar, and forest floor. It is full-bodied, though more savory and compact in nature than the base Brunello Di Montalcino, with sage, dried herbs, graphite, dark earth, and plum pit. It is coiled and needs time in the cellar before drinking, and although it is less obvious in this wine, I think it will be the winner long term. Drink 2025-2040.
- Audrey Frick -
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli displays a bright red/orange-tinged color and is bright with notes of pomegranate, raspberries, tangerine, dusty earth, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it's elegant and refined, with ultra-fine tannins, even acidity, and a floating feel that's balanced and never austere. A very pretty wine, it has a haunting perfume on the back palate and is delicious now, although it should age gracefully over the next two decades. Maturity 2025 – 2045.
- Audrey Frick -
Funkelndes Rubinrot mit Randaufhellungen. In der Nase reife Frucht sowie ein Hauch von Tabak und Bitterschokolade, dezent nach Siegellack im Nachgang. Am Gaumen warmherzig und kompakt, viel Struktur, satte Gerbstoffe und harmonische, aber präsente Säure, würziges, gerbstoffbetontes Finale, leicht wärmend.
- Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler -
Lustrous ruby with narrow bricky rim. Very composed but with lots of hidden depths at this moment. Definitely minerally but not showing it all right now. With aeration increasingly complex and balsamic with a suggestion of stones and the prickle of mostarda. Gorgeous supple fruit with fine coating tannins. Elegant.
-Walter Speller
Enticing nose of bergamot, burdock root, dried and sour cherries, licorice and raw walnuts. Powerful, with a full body and firm, well-integrated and polished tannins supporting a compact core of spice and wild cherry fruit. Plenty of depth. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino, grown on soils very rich in galestro, this reading of verticality and sapidity is born. Black mulberry to the nose with touches of clementina zest and marjoram. Great freshness and juiciness to the palate, with sapid tannins. Citrusy-fruity finish.
- Luca Gardini
Estremamente affascinante e nobile mostra classicismo e dinamicità nelle note rosse e nere che ricordano le rose, il melograno, il tiglio, il pompelmo, la buccia di limone, il mirto selvatico, l’incenso e la terra bagnata. Il bergamotto in sottofondo regala toni mediterranei che raccontano a pieno l’energia di Montosoli. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini perfettamente maturi, eleganti e di grana finissima si fondono alla perfezione nella matrice di stampo leggiadro e moderno snella e freschissima. Meglio dal 2024.
- Raffaele Vecchione
More immediate and open than the Casaccia, more agricultural, with dark, fresh, ripe fruit, and succulent, full-bodied, substantial palate. Acids are vibrant, and sapidity is high. Great length. Not convinced this is significantly better than the normale... but time will tell. Still excellent of course.
-John Szabo
Medium ruby red in colour. A mixture of dark blue florals and spicy herbs invites the imbiber to this new and futuristic voyage of discovery, this being the first vintage of this new Cru. Bing cherry, dewberry, spiced orange peel. Caressing tannins interplay with citrus infused acidity. A charming and pretty wine, Full of youthful intensity and promise. Balanced like a ballerina. A abyss of textural depth. Winemaking at its zenith.
- Tony Wood -
Glänzendes Rubingranat. Sehr ansprechende Nase mit satter roter Frucht, nach reifen Zwetschgen, etwas Waldhimbeere und duftenden Rosen blättern. Entfaltet sich am Gaumen mit griffigem, festem Tannin, ummantelt von feinem Schmelz, im Finale leicht trocknend, braucht noch weitere Lagerung.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Ungemein dicht und komplex, satte Frucht nach kandierten Kirschen und blauen Beeren. Saftig-dichter Gaumen, tiefgestaffelt, geschmeidige, süße Tannintextur, feine Sangiovese-Süße, schöne Präsenz und Griffigkeit, mundfüllende Stoffigkeit, Cassis, elegante Tanninstruktur.
Guida Bibenda 2024
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Preciso ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, prugne rosse, fragoline di bosco, buccia di limone, succo di pompelmo, timo selvatico, citronella e verbena. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini di grana finissima ed un finale succoso e leggiadro deciso e coinvolgente. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
A 1959 vineyard was no longer delivering any significant production and so it was re-planted in 2009 though this fruit joins the classic Brunello. The Montosoli fruit is from 1995-1996 vines and the total quantity is usually 35-40 hL of juice. Canalicchio di Sopra shares the hill/cru with several others including Altesino, Baricci, Caparzo, Casanova della Cerbaie, Le Gode, Le Ragnaie and Pietroso. The 2019 is not the most open expression of sangiovese but it is crunchy and saline Montosoli. Admittedly so young as a Vigna Brunello so take as much time as needed to breath in the air. Montosoli is clearly exceptional out of 2019 and tasted against La Casaccia it feels much more savoury and even a bit brooding. This is the relative assessment that makes Montosoli feel a bit salty. Drink 2026-2035.
- Michael Godel -
Intense ruby red in colour. Aromas of violet, hyacinth and distant gardenia. Wild cherry, loganberry, plum and citrus peel. Compact and crunchy tannins, tangy acidity, layered minerality. Secondary nuances of salty liquorice and dried Mediterranean herbs. Poised and polished yet tense and tight. Stunning wine that will greatly benefit from bottle age.
- Tony Wood -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdiger, ein Touch Jod, Granatapfel und Blutorange. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Im Mund saftiger Auftakt, dichtmaschig, kraftvoll und engmaschig, deutlich steiniger und «austere» im griffigen, aber langen und saftig-samtigen Finale. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft mit der Höhenlage und dem Lagencharakter. [2028 – 2040]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot mit funkelndem Kern. Minze in der Nase, Eukalyptus, ein Hauch vegetale Würze, frische Kirschfrucht, steinige Noten. Saftig am Gaumen, geradlinig, nicht schmal, sondern präzise, mit viel Spannung, druckvoll, mit engmaschigem Tannin, auf eisenhaltigen Tönen, im Finale leicht rau.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
The 2020 Montosoli is, like the 2019, more subtle and withholding than Canalicchio di Sopra’s two other vintage wines, with a nose of sun-warmed earth, straw and dried thyme, with heavy doses of rust. The palate reveals that the north-northwest facing Montosoli sites are probably where the energy in the annata blend comes from. Perfectly transparent, it vibrates with tight ridges of tannin and propulsive acidity. Fruit is still quiet at the moment, ceding the floor to bay leaf, camphor, dried sage and a delicate bergamot citrus. The finish is austere, its acidity further sharpening notes of petrichor, sea spray and rust. Drink 2028 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
Maturo ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, amarene, buccia di mandarini, lime e bergamotto. Corpo medio-pieno, armonico e bilanciato nel sorso chiude succoso e di ottima personalità. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
3 Stelle Oro
This cru bottling is crafted from Filari Lunghi, one of four contiguous estate plots on the northwest flank of the Montosoli hill. In 2020, it was picked on 22 September, before a period of intense rain. A focused nose demonstrating its breed plays to its floral and mineral elements. Thyme blossom and pressed violet meet smoky flint, wet stone and iron. The palate expands on a scrim of black raspberry, its debonair tannins speaking to a gentle hand, though still with ample textural intricacy in this attractively sculpted Brunello. Drinking window 2026 – 2037.
- Michaela Morris -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdig-mineralischer, in gewisser Weise «männlicher» als der La Casaccia, Granatapfel und Blutorange animieren, zart staubige Anklänge. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Dichtmaschig und zupackend, gebündelt und kraftvoll, bleibt aber engmaschig, deutlich steiniger, zwar nicht ganz so «austere» wie im Vorjahr, aber dennoch griffig wie eh und je, saftig-samtiges Finale mit mineralischen Noten. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft und Höhenlage. Fantastischer Charakter-Brunello! Liegen lassen. [2027 – 2042]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Hochelegant, reife Beere, lebendige Säure, sehr komplett: Man schmeckt die Magie der Lage Montosoli. Ganz eigene Stilistik.
- Jens Priewe -
The Vigna Montosoli, which lends its name to a Montosoli Cru, represents our desire to valorize the uniqueness of a vineyard that is able to maintain its strong identity and quality of being recognizable even in different vintages. Over the years, it has been the vineyard that enhances the flavor and verticality of our Sangiovese.
DOC
Sangiovese 100%
From 255 to 215 masl
Vigna Montosoli Filari Lunghi
1997
At higher elevations, marl with very high mineral components, clay loam texture with higher levels of lime. The significant pebbly texture increases the ph of the soil. Wines of a great structure, marked minerality and sapidity sustained by an optimal acidity, ideal for long ageing.
Cordon trained and spur pruned (Spurrend cordon)
336° NNW
2.90 m X 0.80 m
In steel tanks with fermentation temperature control, daily soft pumping over. Maceration on the skins for 25 days
36 months in slavonian Oak casks
2018
3733 Bottles by750 ml
200 Bottles by 1500 ml
14.50%
From a climactic point of view, 2018 can be defined as a fresh year with above-average rainy trends compared to previous years, but which benefited from the effects of the wind in the month of September, which was a precious ally in guaranteeing proper balance in the weight of the grapes, bringing technological and phenolic balance. The winemaker’s choice to leave on the vines the quantity of grapes necessary for “big” maturation in the perspective of balance between structure and acidity was fundamental.
The winter was characterized by abundant precipitation (which re-balanced the water reserves in the soil that had been dried out by arid conditions in 2017) and cooler temperatures which ensured a subsequent vegetative regrowth with optimal healthy vines.
Spring saw cool temperatures and rainfall which delayed the bud break and flowering a few days.
Summer was characterized by high but never scorching temperatures that only rarely peaked above 30°C. Temperatures did reach 30°C practically every day from mid-June to the end of August and ensured a regular and continuous maturation in the vines. Apart from 2-3 days of the highest temperatures at 35°-36°C, the summer was consistently mild with significant diurnal temperature ranges that guaranteed a constant and uniform technological maturation.
In the first two weeks of September, there were big two rainfalls of 20mm on September 1 and 35mm on September 17. These rains could have compromised the quality of the vintage with an increase in the weight of the bunches and the natural dilution of the concentration and structure of the grapes. Fortunately, the Tramontana and Grecale winds from the north and northeast which accompanied the rainfall effectively dried out the excess water load from the bunches and brought the weight of the berries into balance, ensuring an optimal concentration and protecting the acidity at the same time.
In the 30 days preceding the harvest, there were significant diurnal temperature ranges which guaranteed the achievement of an elevated value on the Fregoni Index (above 500) which places the vintage among those with great ageing potential.
The harvest took place from September 28 to October 5 under sunny skies with significant diurnal temperature ranges and nighttime temperatures that were often below 10°C, which allowed us to bring healthy grapes into the cellar with an aromatic profile that was floral and fragrant with an optimal pureness of the fruit.
2018: A TRANSPARENT VINTAGE
We like to define the 2018 vintage as a TRANSPARENT vintage, wanting to capture the meaning of this term that refers to this vintage’s great capacity to let the uniqueness and the characteristics of the lands where the wines originated transpire in each bottle. In the concept of valorization, which is at the heart of our productive philosophy, several factors come into play: HUMAN EXPERIENCE, CLIMATE AND THE TERRAIN. We believe that the 2018 vintage clearly and distinctly brings out the third component, the TERRAIN, having been, in complete contrast to the latest vintages, a cooler and slightly rainier than average vintage in which the climate did not have a uniform standardizing effect but, on the contrary, let the features of the different soil types where the grapes originated “transpire” in the wine. Daring to make a comparison, the 2018 presents as a mix centered around the elegance and the tension between the fresh 2018 vintage and the classic 2013 vintage, creating a perfect balance between the two which translates into freshness, minerality, and tannin length without neglecting fullness and depth: a perfect mix to classify 2018 as a wine for long ageing and also of great pleasure that pairs extremely well.
In every vintage, there are two turning points, crucial moments which characterize the final result, its identity, and its main qualities: moments without which the results would have been very different. The turning point in the 2018 vintage came before the harvest when the Grecale and Tramontana winds from the north and northeast started blowing continuously and strongly, concentrating the grapes which, until that moment, had been slightly above average in weight after the rains in September. These conditions resulted in the drying and loss of a percentage of water that balanced the technological and phenolic maturation, ensuring optimal balance and maturation while preserving the acidity at the same time. Sunny days with significant diurnal temperature ranges during the harvest ensured an aromatic profile in the grapes that was floral and elegant, fresh and balsamic, that connects with a vibrant and full palate, long and sapid that plays on pleasantness and balance. The practice of reducing the bunches, removing those that were behind in maturation, in addition to a meticulous selection on the sorting table in the cellar guaranteed concentration and optimal phenolic maturation in the grapes that were brought into the cellar.
The harvest, precisely for of its quality of freshness, started a little later than the trend in previous years, during a period of cooler temperatures from September 28 to October 5.
The 2018 harvest was the first in the new Canalicchio di Sopra cellar, which was inaugurated specifically for the harvest.
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli DOCG is our latest addition and the fulfillment of our winery’s zoning project which has seen 15 years of experimenting on a quest to understand the characteristics of our terroir and, therefore, our vineyards. There is a tendency to wait for a vintage with great fruit and opulence to launch a new wine on the market with the hopes of making an impact that astonishes after just the first taste. But our concept of the single vineyard is a concept which pursues those characteristics that make a vineyard unique and recognizable even in diverse vintages. From here comes the choice of selecting a vintage which we have defined as “transparent” as the first vintage of this new single vineyard wine, a vintage that makes it very possible to clearly and distinctly see the minerality, sapidity, tension, and depth of this terroir without the influence of a fruit that is too primary, which could have taken the attention away from the qualities that characterize the Montosoli zone. Produced from the Vigneto Filari Lunghi vineyard on the Montosoli hill which sits on marly terrain at a high altitude with a very high mineral component and high quantity of silt, this vineyard gives expression to wines that are bright, delicately salty, and vibrant, with great length and vibrant acidity that dances on the palate
Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2018 Vigna Montosoli, its debut single-vineyard bottling from this celebrated hill, is drop-dead gorgeous. Fragrant and all about elegance, it opens with enticing scents of wild rose, botanical herb, new leather and forest berry. Seamlessly fusing finesse and structure, the delicious palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, raspberry sprinkled with cinnamon, rosemary and thyme before a savory saline mineral finish. It boats great energy and impeccable balance, with taut, refined tannins and vibrant acidity. I just love it. Drink 2025–2038.
- Kerin O'Keefe
Here's an exciting new addition to the growing Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio. With fruit from one of the most celebrated subzones in the appellation, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli shows a unique profile. The wine opens to a solid core of red and purple fruits, all framed by light spice, crushed stone or chalky limestone. The fiber of this wine is lean, tight and elegantly streamlined. It hits the palate with intensity and softness, and it delivers especially fine tannins. Francesco Ripaccioli made 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums.
-Monica Larner
Medium bodied and open knit, offering tomato leaf, plum, cherry, licorice, earth
and spice flavors Stays focused, courtesy of good cut, with a silky texture and
tannins that leave a slight sinewy feel on the finish. Overall, this is harmonious, complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit. Drinking window 2027-2042.
- Eric Guido -
This is a gorgeous wine that really takes off in this vintage. It starts off with gentle floral aromas of lilac or dried violet and a hint of fragrant rose. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli boasts an impeccable nose with elegant berry fruit and light minerality. All this beauty is transferred to the palate, where the wine shows very fine-grained tannins. The fruit flows steadily over a long, rich finish. The challenge is to get a fruit finish this long, considering Brunello's strong tannins, but this wine definitely succeeds. Production is 7,200 bottles plus larger formats. Drink Date 2025 - 2045.
- Monica Larner -
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is dreamy, with a darkly floral bouquet that blends dried rose and violet with hints of sour cherry, blackberry and Tuscan dust. This is silky-smooth and round in feel, with fresh acidity that adds a lovely lift as vibrant wild berry fruits swirl throughout. Tactile mineral tones add traction as the 2020 finishes long and staining, with coating of fine-grained tannins that gently tug at the palate. This is a radiant and generous Montosoli with the balance necessary to mature beautifully in the cellar. Drinking window 2027 – 2038.
- Reviewed by Eric Guido -
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is quite Burgundian in style, slowly awakening in the glass with a delicate mix of sweet herbs, crushed violet candies, hints of spiced orange and wild strawberries. It boasts a stunning purity of fruit and inner sweetness, seeming to hover across the palate, as red berries and saline-minerals slowly saturate under a purple-tinged air of inner florals. The 2018 leaves a grippy coating of fine tannins, yet balances them with a residual bump of zesty acidity, finishing long, lightly structured and with immaculate balance. This is the first official vintage of Vigna Montosoli, a wine that I’ve been following now for over two years, and each time it seems to only grow in both volume and depth.
- Eric Guido
The first release of Canalicchio di Sopra’s Montosoli bottling comes from the estate’s Filari Lunghi vineyard, a pebbly, northwest-facing plot reaching 255 metres. This gives way slowly but steadily, exposing heady rose, wet stone and fragrant porcini. Decidedly mineral-driven, the palate performs with precision and depth. Tight tannins are fine-boned, and the appetising finish lingers with a salty stoniness that makes you salivate. It's impossible not to admire the elegance here.
-Michaela Morris
Dark ruby with orange tinges. Complex, deep nose of cherry with a touch of exotic spice. The nose oozes class. Compact and finely balanced on the palate with finely chiselled tannins that follow the fruit rather than taking the upper hand. Very long and complex, and not ready by far. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
This red shows some distinctive balsamic notes – tomato leaf, eucalyptus and mint – that mingle with the cherry and strawberry fruit. Iron and tobacco accents chime in as this builds to the long, sinewy finish. All the elements are there, but this just needs a few years to integrate. Best from 2027 through 2043, 137 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
There's no doubt that Vigna Montosoli is the hottest vineyard site in the appellation at the moment, and it remains virtually impossible to purchase land in this prized subzone. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli has a distinct character with reinforced concentration and bold black fruit flavors. I get a hint of Turkish coffee and sweet earth. The bouquet also reveals a mineral side with petrichor, iron ore and peat moss. Of the new releases in this portfolio, I think you will find this wine to be the most complete and age-worthy. Sadly, only 4,133 bottles were created. Drink Date 2026 – 2045.
- Monica Larner -
A pretty red, this exhibits cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral notes, with hints of fresh herbs. Harmonious, and all of its components are in the right place. This is also open and succulent. Enjoyable now if decanted for an hour or two. Best from 2027 through 2045. [344 cases made - 77 cases imported]
- Bruce Sanderson -
Bright dark red. A very strong note of blood orange lifts nuances of ripe sweet red cherry, sandalwood, flint and violet on the enticing nose. Multilayered, fleshy and very polished, this finishes long with a savory twinge at the back. One of the wines of the vintage. Drinking window: 2027-2036.
- Ian D'Agata -
Canalicchio di Sopra’s increasing focus on cru wines has been many years in the making. Fruit from its Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards have historically been blended for the estate Brunello, but proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli has been experimenting with bottling single-site Riservas since the early 2010s. The Montosoli shows the power and savouriness of its west-facing, well-drained rocky site. The charred meat on the first nose quickly rolls into warm, concentrated plum confit with shades of damp earth, mushroom and creosote. A mouth-filling start delivers cherry fruit with a level of acidity that radiates through to the mid-palate. There are powdery tannins form a fine-boned structure. Ethereal herbal notes of camphor and chrysanthemum linger on the finish
- Sarah Heller MW -
Aromas of sweet berries, flowers, sandalwood and ink follow through to a medium body with firm, silky tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Savory at the end. Linear and racy. Best in two or three years and onwards.
- James Suckling -
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino and soils with a prevalence of galestro, an interpretation of verticality and sapidity. Notes of red mulberry on the nose, with touches of clementine peel and sage, great freshness-juiciness on the palate and savory tannins, with a finish of persistence.
- Luca Gardini -
Boasting aromas of new leather, eucalyptus, violet, forest floor and spice, the stunning 2019 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is an excellent expression of this celebrated site, great vintage and historic winery. Firm and youthfully austere, it delivers ripe raspberry, blackberry, tobacco and licorice before a salty finish. Framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins, it’s elegantly structured, packed with energy and intensity, with bright acidity that also keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2039–2044.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Dark red- ruby. Very spicy, herbal nose only hints at dark plum and cherry. Then big thick and layered, with a mouthcating richness to its dark plum and herb flavours that are long on power but short on finesse. Strange as it seems, this is actually bigger and meatier than the La Casaccia: I have no doubts it will be scored higher by almost every wine writer out there, but mark my words, it is La Casaccia that is the greater of the two wines. Down the road, all those who prefer the Montosoli today will change their minds. Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2019 Montosoli Brunello will need plenty of time in a good cellar before being fully approachable and revealing of all it has to offer. Drinking window: 2034- 2045.
One of fewer than 10 producers with precious holdings on the Montosoli hill, Canalicchio di Sopra owns six hectares, contiguous with Le Gode. The second vintage of this cru bottling comes from a northwest-facing plot planted in 1997. Almost painfully young, its gradually emerging, alluring scents flit between dry and wet earth as dusty stone mingles with forest undergrowth and liquorice root. Crispness of acidity and vertical, edgy tannins makes for an austere palate now, but the structure is in step with the underlying tight yet pure and sapid red berry core. Finishes with lingering orange bitters. Drinking Window: 2027 - 2042
- Michaela Morris -
Of the two cru wines at Canalicchio di Sopra, Montosoli is from a slightly lower altitude (215–255m [700–840ft]), with free-draining, pebbly soils, but has a cooler north-northwest exposure, coming from a single long, narrow vineyard called Filari Lunghi within the Montosoli cru. The nose opens with a hint of Parmesan rind and a sauna-stone/volcanic warmth, followed by a solid punch of morello cherry fruit that is sharpened by rosemary and eucalyptus. The entry wraps a satiny outer layer of glycerol over furry, suede-like tannins – extracted over a prolonged maceration of 40+ days – while acidity is razor-sharp within. The translucent mid-palate is airy and broad, while the finish is quite tannic and more reserved, ferrous-toned and quiet in its fruit. With its initial sense of grandiosity thoroughly offset by austerity on the finish, this seems more backwards than the annata and Casaccia. Drink 2026 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
A medium-bodied red with plum and orange-peel character. Ripe, polished tannins and plenty of energy at the end, suggesting that three or four years of bottle age will improve this. A structured and energetic young Brunello from a top vineyard site. Better after 2027.
- James Suckling -
Combining power and finesse, the fragrant 2020 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is a great expression of the vintage and the vineyard. It has aromas of blue flower, ripe black plum, grilled rosemary, dark exotic spice and the barest hint of tar while the full-bodied, delicious boasts weightless concentration, delivering fleshy raspberry, ripe Morello cherry, cake spice and a hint of licorice. Velvety tannins provide polished support. Already tempting, hold for even more complexity. Drink 2028–2034.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Vineyard Filari Lunghi, soils predominantly of Galestro, an imposing wine, intense and juicy. Pomegranate on the nose, hints of chinotto, touches of eucalyptus and wild iris. The drink has a citrus and balsamic appeal, with red fruits and balsamic notes. Great length.
- Luca Gardini -
Mid ruby with orange tinges. Deep, ripe and alluring but with some progress already noticeable on the nose. Supple and polished sweet-sour cherry on the palate. Well balanced, the fruit is complemented by gorgeous, gravelly tannins. Ends a tiny bit warm. Drink 2025 – 2034.
- Walter Speller -
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is from more schist-based soils and displays a deep ruby/magenta color with a touch more pigment. Opening to sunny aromas of kirsch, lavender, crushed pine needles, licorice, and sappy earth, it’s full-bodied and offers dark mineral undertones that carry through the palate with rich tannins while retaining good freshness, and it has a robust and warming finish. For my taste, I somewhat prefer the Casaccia for its more buoyant nature, but the Montosoli is quite compelling and is not to be overlooked,since it may just need time to reveal its full potential. Drink 2026-2046.
- Audrey Frick -
Deep red. Floral and herbal rather than overtly fruit on the nose and in the mouth, hinting at red cherry, dried herb, camphor, licorice and woodsy aromas and flavours. Nicely polished and full on the long finish. Boasts a completely different organoleptic profile from his stablemate, the 2020 La Casaccia Brunello, and so it should given the different positions, soils and exposures of the two vineyards. This is less forward than that wine presently, but will age longer. Drinking window: 2032-2042.
- Ian D’Agata -
Montosoli the northerly Montalcino mound, the hill of freshness, the knoll where sangiovese gains grip, savour and elegance, where Canalicchio di Sopra’s Vigna designate Brunello from six hectares delivers approximately five into this wine. The precision and fluidity of this ‘20 is just about as fine and graceful as the Ripaccioli have ever produced. Literally the juice or blood of Montosoli’s Galestro, a clay-schist flaking at the surface bleeding back down into the earth, acquired by the roots, vacuumed back up into the vines and gifted to the brunches. Sapidity is similar to 2018 and that year was cold(er) which explains how soil is such the driver, especially for Montosoli. This tastes as you might expect, concentrated, texturally full and without pause. Incredible Brunello. Poised, seemingly ready but not, looking ahead two decades, maybe more. With thanks to perfectly restrained cellar work, timing and decision making. In this moment, at least in terms of clarity, 2020 is a Montosoli vintage. Drink 2026-2036.
- Michael Godel -
Taking things to the next level, the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is outstanding, with fleshy red cherry, menthol, cedar, and forest floor. It is full-bodied, though more savory and compact in nature than the base Brunello Di Montalcino, with sage, dried herbs, graphite, dark earth, and plum pit. It is coiled and needs time in the cellar before drinking, and although it is less obvious in this wine, I think it will be the winner long term. Drink 2025-2040.
- Audrey Frick -
The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli displays a bright red/orange-tinged color and is bright with notes of pomegranate, raspberries, tangerine, dusty earth, and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, it's elegant and refined, with ultra-fine tannins, even acidity, and a floating feel that's balanced and never austere. A very pretty wine, it has a haunting perfume on the back palate and is delicious now, although it should age gracefully over the next two decades. Maturity 2025 – 2045.
- Audrey Frick -
Funkelndes Rubinrot mit Randaufhellungen. In der Nase reife Frucht sowie ein Hauch von Tabak und Bitterschokolade, dezent nach Siegellack im Nachgang. Am Gaumen warmherzig und kompakt, viel Struktur, satte Gerbstoffe und harmonische, aber präsente Säure, würziges, gerbstoffbetontes Finale, leicht wärmend.
- Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler -
Lustrous ruby with narrow bricky rim. Very composed but with lots of hidden depths at this moment. Definitely minerally but not showing it all right now. With aeration increasingly complex and balsamic with a suggestion of stones and the prickle of mostarda. Gorgeous supple fruit with fine coating tannins. Elegant.
-Walter Speller
Enticing nose of bergamot, burdock root, dried and sour cherries, licorice and raw walnuts. Powerful, with a full body and firm, well-integrated and polished tannins supporting a compact core of spice and wild cherry fruit. Plenty of depth. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling
From one of the most renowned crus of Montalcino, grown on soils very rich in galestro, this reading of verticality and sapidity is born. Black mulberry to the nose with touches of clementina zest and marjoram. Great freshness and juiciness to the palate, with sapid tannins. Citrusy-fruity finish.
- Luca Gardini
Estremamente affascinante e nobile mostra classicismo e dinamicità nelle note rosse e nere che ricordano le rose, il melograno, il tiglio, il pompelmo, la buccia di limone, il mirto selvatico, l’incenso e la terra bagnata. Il bergamotto in sottofondo regala toni mediterranei che raccontano a pieno l’energia di Montosoli. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini perfettamente maturi, eleganti e di grana finissima si fondono alla perfezione nella matrice di stampo leggiadro e moderno snella e freschissima. Meglio dal 2024.
- Raffaele Vecchione
More immediate and open than the Casaccia, more agricultural, with dark, fresh, ripe fruit, and succulent, full-bodied, substantial palate. Acids are vibrant, and sapidity is high. Great length. Not convinced this is significantly better than the normale... but time will tell. Still excellent of course.
-John Szabo
Medium ruby red in colour. A mixture of dark blue florals and spicy herbs invites the imbiber to this new and futuristic voyage of discovery, this being the first vintage of this new Cru. Bing cherry, dewberry, spiced orange peel. Caressing tannins interplay with citrus infused acidity. A charming and pretty wine, Full of youthful intensity and promise. Balanced like a ballerina. A abyss of textural depth. Winemaking at its zenith.
- Tony Wood -
Glänzendes Rubingranat. Sehr ansprechende Nase mit satter roter Frucht, nach reifen Zwetschgen, etwas Waldhimbeere und duftenden Rosen blättern. Entfaltet sich am Gaumen mit griffigem, festem Tannin, ummantelt von feinem Schmelz, im Finale leicht trocknend, braucht noch weitere Lagerung.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Ungemein dicht und komplex, satte Frucht nach kandierten Kirschen und blauen Beeren. Saftig-dichter Gaumen, tiefgestaffelt, geschmeidige, süße Tannintextur, feine Sangiovese-Süße, schöne Präsenz und Griffigkeit, mundfüllende Stoffigkeit, Cassis, elegante Tanninstruktur.
Guida Bibenda 2024
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Preciso ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, prugne rosse, fragoline di bosco, buccia di limone, succo di pompelmo, timo selvatico, citronella e verbena. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini di grana finissima ed un finale succoso e leggiadro deciso e coinvolgente. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
A 1959 vineyard was no longer delivering any significant production and so it was re-planted in 2009 though this fruit joins the classic Brunello. The Montosoli fruit is from 1995-1996 vines and the total quantity is usually 35-40 hL of juice. Canalicchio di Sopra shares the hill/cru with several others including Altesino, Baricci, Caparzo, Casanova della Cerbaie, Le Gode, Le Ragnaie and Pietroso. The 2019 is not the most open expression of sangiovese but it is crunchy and saline Montosoli. Admittedly so young as a Vigna Brunello so take as much time as needed to breath in the air. Montosoli is clearly exceptional out of 2019 and tasted against La Casaccia it feels much more savoury and even a bit brooding. This is the relative assessment that makes Montosoli feel a bit salty. Drink 2026-2035.
- Michael Godel -
Intense ruby red in colour. Aromas of violet, hyacinth and distant gardenia. Wild cherry, loganberry, plum and citrus peel. Compact and crunchy tannins, tangy acidity, layered minerality. Secondary nuances of salty liquorice and dried Mediterranean herbs. Poised and polished yet tense and tight. Stunning wine that will greatly benefit from bottle age.
- Tony Wood -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdiger, ein Touch Jod, Granatapfel und Blutorange. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Im Mund saftiger Auftakt, dichtmaschig, kraftvoll und engmaschig, deutlich steiniger und «austere» im griffigen, aber langen und saftig-samtigen Finale. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft mit der Höhenlage und dem Lagencharakter. [2028 – 2040]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot mit funkelndem Kern. Minze in der Nase, Eukalyptus, ein Hauch vegetale Würze, frische Kirschfrucht, steinige Noten. Saftig am Gaumen, geradlinig, nicht schmal, sondern präzise, mit viel Spannung, druckvoll, mit engmaschigem Tannin, auf eisenhaltigen Tönen, im Finale leicht rau.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
The 2020 Montosoli is, like the 2019, more subtle and withholding than Canalicchio di Sopra’s two other vintage wines, with a nose of sun-warmed earth, straw and dried thyme, with heavy doses of rust. The palate reveals that the north-northwest facing Montosoli sites are probably where the energy in the annata blend comes from. Perfectly transparent, it vibrates with tight ridges of tannin and propulsive acidity. Fruit is still quiet at the moment, ceding the floor to bay leaf, camphor, dried sage and a delicate bergamot citrus. The finish is austere, its acidity further sharpening notes of petrichor, sea spray and rust. Drink 2028 – 2044.
- Sarah Heller MW -
Maturo ed essenziale nel profilo sensoriale mostra note di ciliegie, amarene, buccia di mandarini, lime e bergamotto. Corpo medio-pieno, armonico e bilanciato nel sorso chiude succoso e di ottima personalità. Meglio dal 2026.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
3 Stelle Oro
This cru bottling is crafted from Filari Lunghi, one of four contiguous estate plots on the northwest flank of the Montosoli hill. In 2020, it was picked on 22 September, before a period of intense rain. A focused nose demonstrating its breed plays to its floral and mineral elements. Thyme blossom and pressed violet meet smoky flint, wet stone and iron. The palate expands on a scrim of black raspberry, its debonair tannins speaking to a gentle hand, though still with ample textural intricacy in this attractively sculpted Brunello. Drinking window 2026 – 2037.
- Michaela Morris -
Wirkt im ersten Moment kraftvoller, dunkler und erdig-mineralischer, in gewisser Weise «männlicher» als der La Casaccia, Granatapfel und Blutorange animieren, zart staubige Anklänge. Sehr tiefgestaffelt und geheimnisvoll. Zeigt viel mehr ätherische Noten, Waldboden, mediterrane Macchia, aber auch wunderbare florale Nuancen und herrliche Lakritznoten, die auch im Mund deutlich auftreten. Dichtmaschig und zupackend, gebündelt und kraftvoll, bleibt aber engmaschig, deutlich steiniger, zwar nicht ganz so «austere» wie im Vorjahr, aber dennoch griffig wie eh und je, saftig-samtiges Finale mit mineralischen Noten. Zeigt sehr schön die kühlere Herkunft und Höhenlage. Fantastischer Charakter-Brunello! Liegen lassen. [2027 – 2042]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Hochelegant, reife Beere, lebendige Säure, sehr komplett: Man schmeckt die Magie der Lage Montosoli. Ganz eigene Stilistik.
- Jens Priewe -
