A significant new release for Canalicchio di Sopra, La Casaccia is a single vineyard close to the winery in the district of Canalicchio, north of the town of Montalcino. Comparing it to his plots in Montosoli, owner Francesco Ripaccioli describes the soil here as a heavier brown clay with lots of magnesium giving more generous growth. It produces a relatively weighty, substantial wine with firm, sturdy tannins and balancing acidity. Notes of sage, tobacco, liquorice root and heather weave through the plush dark currant fruit. Both this and the classic Brunello are equally accomplished, however I suspect La Casaccia may have longer ageing capacity.
- Michaela Morris
With this wine, Canalicchio di Sopra marks its 50th vintage of Brunello. It is a superb tip of the hat to founder Primo Pacenti by his highly capable grandchildren Francesco, Marco and Simonetta Ripaccioli, who now run the property. It expresses gradually and graciously both on the nose and the palate with wild flowers, forest berries and fresh earth emerging out of a sapid and minerally core. Brilliantly mid-weight but not lacking depth, this demonstrates brightness of fruit, delectable acidity, plenty of fine-grained tannins and a lingering finish.
- Michaela Morris
Sourced from the estate’s youngest vines and aged in a combination of large-format Slavonian oak casks and small French oak barrels. A delightful, mid-weight red with strawberry, red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and underlying black tea. Crunchy and carried by lively, refreshing acidity. Recently bottled, this needs a few months to come together.
- Michaela Morris
This year's Riserva comes from the estate's two oldest vineyards. The north-facing Vigna Vecchia Mercatale makes up the backbone, with the remaining 20% coming from Vigna Casaccia, which will be bottled as a single vineyard Brunello in the future. There is a wild gaminess on the nose, countered by scents of lavender, tobacco and intense balsamic herbs. On the palate, powdery tannins frame compact fruit and the finish reverberates with a captivating minerality.
- Michaela Morris
Francesco Ripaccioli only has 11 harvests under his belt but calls 2013 the most beautiful one so far. This is also the first year in which the estate's Riserva comes exclusively from the Montosoli cru. Planted in 1995, these are the oldest vines in their stable. Even more thrilling than the winery's 2012, the 2013 Riserva is a model of precision, exquisite balance and razor-sharp linearity. Dense without being heavy, this is buoyed by vivacious acidity and wrapped in commanding yet fine-grained tannins. It unfolds slowly, revealing notes of mineral, sweet dark earth, rosehip, violet and sage blossom - but it promises even more in the years ahead.
- Michaela Morris
On the northern slopes of Montalcino, Canalicchio di Sopra's Brunello is crafted from two plots. The home site is clay, rich in magnesium, iron and manganese, while Le Gode di Montosoli is distinguished as classic galestro. Gorgeously fresh and youthful, this has well-defined scents of pepper and fennel. The palate possesses similar vibrancy, where wild strawberry, mineral and balsamic notes build on the finish. Refined yet firm tannins give plenty of confidence for ageing.
- Michaela Morris
Francesco Ripaccioli called the 2014 harvest never-ending. After dropping any unhealthy grapes mid-September, 80% of what remained was picked for the Rosso on 25 September. The Brunello harvest, beginning on 5 Oct, consisted of only the smallest, most concentrated bunches, which in other years would 'give marmalade', notes Ripaccioli. The resulting wine is one of the successes of the vintage. Quite piercing and perfumed, its floral and red fruit tones are countered by touches of smoke and earth which linger remarkably. There's plenty of nerve and fine-boned tannin to support. Without lacking substance, this captures Sangiovese's glorious lightness of being.
- Michaela Morris
Canalicchio di Sopra’s estate Brunello is a blend of plots from its home base in Canalicchio, as well as holdings on the Montosoli hill. The 2016 allies the restrained fleshiness of the former and the salinity of the latter with a balsamic dash. Scents of lilac and bay laurel turn to pure dark cherry on the palate, which is laced with liquorice and stone. Suave tannins maintain a grainy grip and there is no lack of mouthwatering acidity. Thrilling umami finish!
Drinking Window 2023 - 2035
- Michaela Morris
The second release of this single vineyard, La Casaccia was planted in 1990. At an average altitude of 300 metres, it sits on predominantly clay soils and is bathed in sun from morning until evening. This doesn’t have quite the plushness or gregarious personality of the 2015 but takes on the 2016 vintage’s more vertical path, opening slowly. Aromas are evocative of pine, cedar and sage. Full but not weighty, the palate brings in earthy nuances with wild berries.
Acidity is cleansing, and silky tannins build up to a powerful finish.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2040
- Michaela Morris
In years it's produced, Canalicchio di Sopra crafts its Riserva from a single vineyard of the estate’s oldest vines. In 2015, it hails from Vigna Vecchia Mercatale, which countered the vintage’s warmth with its north-facing, breezy exposure. Opening slowly, it marries lifted liquorice, dried flowers and baking spice with forest undergrowth and leather. There's plenty of character here with a mouthful of dusty red currants and red cherries. Chewy and vigorous, it
really keeps improving in the glass - but I would put it away for a few more years.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2038
- Michaela Morris
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
Canalicchio di Sopra has put out a strong set of Brunello from the 2018 vintage, including this particularly impressive 'classic' bottling. As is customary, it blends fruit from holdings on the hill of Montosoli with plots in Canalicchio. The most immediately expressive vintage I have tasted from the estate, the 2018 also packs plenty of promise. Iris, liquorice and balsamic notes are underscored by an alluring truffle accent. The palate is fluid and charming, with chalky tannins that sneak up but remain velvety. Sweet forest berries are countered by minty green freshness, and the finish is positively crisp with tangy cranberry.
- Michaela Morris
Francesco Ripaccioli explains that La Casaccia’s clay soils absorbed the rains of September, initially diluting the grapes. He credits the subsequent dry northern winds with concentrating the berries as the estate waited until 28 September to pick. The resulting wine is certainly one of the vintage’s more solidly structured Brunello and also displays the darkest fruit of the estate’s trio of bottlings. Cherry and even blackcurrant are met with sage, rosemary and wet soil. The firmly built palate of dense fruit is framed by clingy tannins, while underlying juiciness keeps it bright and buoyant.
- Michaela Morris
After excellent showings from the 2018 vintage, Canalicchio di Sopra follows up with an impressive trio of 2019s. There is also a highly promising Riserva waiting in the wings... In the meantime, the current releases kick off with the estate Brunello, which is assembled from vines that are at least a decade old. It's a model of freshness and energy, backed by substance and staying power. Aromas of mint, lavender and tobacco lead to a radiant core of warm stone and red currants. The tannins are direct and linear, giving a firm grip to the dense fruit. Bitter citrus to finish. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2037
- Michaela Morris -
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 -
Produced since the 2015 vintage, Vigna Casaccia is fashioned from 30-year-old vines of the BBS11 clone. Reaching 315 metres, the plot is characterised by a high percentage of brown, magnesium-rich clay. Surely the most impressive release yet, the 2019 exhibits the cru’s intrinsic sumptuous character and girth, along with telltale resinous herb nuances of rosemary, thyme and eucalyptus. yet this year, there is an extra spark. Through that expansiveness, an underlying firmness keeps this from overflowing its limits. Plump fruit marked with a mineral lick and terracotta earthiness is all wrapped up in smooth, velvety tannins, and it carries its 15% alcohol with ease and grace. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2041
- Michaela Morris -
Guida Bibenda 2024
English:
Sparkling, dark ruby with a shimmering garnet edge. Compact, somewhat closed nose with notes of dark blackberries and cherries, a fine nougat note in the background. Blooms great on the palate, tightly meshed, substantial tannin, embedded in fine fruit melt, salty and juicy, is still very young, but has a long life ahead of it.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Deutsche:
Funkelndes, dunkles Rubin mit schillerndem Granatrand. Kompakte, etwas verschlossene Nase mit Noten nach dunklen Brombeeren und Kirschen, im Hintergrund feiner Nougatton. Blüht am Gaumen toll auf, dichtmaschiges, stoffiges Tannin, eingebettet in feinen Fruchtschmelz, salzig und saftig, zeigt sich noch sehr jung, hat aber ein langes Leben vor sich.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
English:
Powerful, sparkling ruby garnet. Slightly restrained nose with finely drawn notes of cherry jam and blackberry, behind it some leather and smoke. Grippy, dense tannin, shows a lot of power, gripping, firm pressure in the end.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Deutsche:
Kraftvolles, funkelndes Rubin-Granat. Etwas zurückhaltende Nase mit fein gezeichneten Noten nach Kirschenmarmelade und Brombeere, dahinter etwas Leder und Rauch. Griffiges, dichtmaschiges Tannin, zeigt viel Kraft, zupackend, im Finale fester Druck.
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Funkelndes Rubingranat mit aufhellendem Rand. Intensive und viel schichtige Nase mit feinen Noten nach Waldhimbeere, Schwarzkirsche und Rosen, im Hintergrund etwas Rauch. Kompakt in Ansatz und Verlauf, zeigt schöne reife Frucht, griffiges, dichtmaschiges Tannin, baut sich in vielen Schichten auf.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot. In der Nase auf erdigen Tönen, satter Kirschfrucht, etwas Blutorange, nicht ganz präzise, wenngleich in sich stimmig. Am Gaumen geschliffen, elegant, mit engmaschigem, packendem Tannin, kompakt, sehr saftig, toller Stil, druckvoll, mit anhaltendem Abgang.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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 -
Leuchtendes Rubinrot, funkelnd. Duftend, saftige Kirsche in der Nase, nach süßem Gewürz, Brombeere, sehr fein und einladend, tief, getrocknete Blütenblätter. Saftig am Gaumen, mit toller Spannung und geschliffenem Tannin, mit Zug und klarer Frucht, griffiges Finish. Sehr gut gelungen, toller Brunello.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
Strahlendes Rubinrot mit purpurfarbenen Reflexen. Ansprechende Nase nach Zwetschken, schwarzen Oliven, im Nachhall dezent feine Würze. Am Gaumen mit guter Saftigkeit und festem Druck, eingewobenes Tannin in cremigem Fruchtschmelz, ausgewogen und anhaltend.
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2024
- Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
A dense, plummy style, offering supporting notes of tobacco, underbrush, earth and mineral. Ripe and balanced, with lively acidity and assertive tannins shoring up the finish. Needs some time, but the equilibrium is there. Best from 2019 through 2033. 833 cases made.
Bruce Sanderson
Ripe, lush and polished, this red is fresh and lively, showcasing plum, cherry, leather, spice and chocolate flavors on a sleek frame. Lacks cohesion on the finish for now, but should come together with age. Best from 2016 through 2032.
Bruce Sanderson
This is spicy in style, with vanilla, cedar and clove aromas and flavors accenting a core of cherry and tobacco. In the end, there's a purity to the fruit, but it needs time to find its balance. Structured and long. Best from 2014 through 2027. 420 cases made.
Bruce Sanderson
There's licorice on the nose, with some salt and ripe cherry, in this Brunello, which has very intense aromas that lead to a chewy, concentrated, full-bodied palate. A little rustic and overdone. But impressive nonetheless. There's lots of toasty oak--a little less new wood would make this even better. Best after 2013. 500 cases made.
James Suckling
Lots of blackberry, tar and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and a long finish. Chewy. Best after 2010. 330 cases made.
James Suckling
Supple and caressing, with plenty of violet, berry and cedar character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Best after 2005. 335 cases made.
James Suckling
Very fresh and fruity with refined tannins and a long finish. Medium- to full-bodied, silky texture. Another year of bottle age would bring it together. Best after 2004. 200 cases made.
James Suckling
Sweet, ripe cherry, spice, licorice and leather flavors course through the fleshy texture in this red. Balanced, with a dense matrix of tannins and fine length. Drink now through 2022. 3,500 cases made. Bruce Sanderson
Firm and tightly wound for now, yet features a solid beam of cherry and strawberry fruit, graced by iron, sanguine and leather accents. Lively acidity infuses this intense red with energy, driving the long finish. Best from 2023 through 2042. 3,127 cases made, 1,290 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
A mix of rose, strawberry and cherry flavors, this red is supple and elegant, with enough structure for balance. Firm finish. Drink now through 2021. 1,800 cases made, 800 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
A ripe, macerated version, displaying plum, cherry, tobacco, earth and spice flavors. A beam of lively acidity in the middle elevates this. Ends with elegance, supporting tannins and fine length. Best from 2022 through 2036. 600 cases made, 200 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
This is harmonious, featuring cherry, strawberry, plum and earth flavors that mesh with the supple texture and firm structure. Elements of iron, leather and tobacco emerge as this red stretches out on the tangy finish. Best from 2021 through 2040. 275 cases made, 100 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanserdon
A solid red, displaying cooked plum and cherry flavors on a bed of dense tannins. Tight and compact on the finish, where youthful, exuberant tannins reign. Stays long and balanced in the end. Best from 2019 through 2034. 3,333 cases made, 1,250 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
A perfumed version, this reveals cherry, strawberry, spice and leather flavors, with briar and tobacco accents. Firm and a bit gruff on the finish, but this hangs together in the end. Best from 2018 through 2027. 2,361 cases made, 700 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
Loads of balsamic aromas and flavors—juniper, rosemary, thyme, olive—along with cherry, sanguine and tobacco notes are the hallmarks of this intense red. Well-integrated and complex, building to a long aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2035. 3,400 cases made, 1,250 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
Plump and bursting with cherry, strawberry and mineral aromas and flavors, this racy red evokes harmony and freshness, with hints of spice, chocolate and tobacco as it plays out gracefully on the long aftertaste. There's structure here, with all the components integrated. Best from 2020 through 2035. 2,870 cases made, 1,100 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
Lean and sinewy, with savory flavors of loam, soy, tobacco and woodsy spice surrounding a core of cherry fruit. Subtle and firm, finishing with mineral and woodsy spice accents. Best from 2020 through 2032. 1,550 cases made, 300 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
This ripe red is bursting with plum, cherry, floral and mineral aromas and flavors. Succulent and balanced, with savory, sanguine and earthy accents, rolling on through the long, herb-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045.
- Bruce Sanderson
Luscious black cherry is the main theme in this racy red, accented by plum, licorice, tar and iron. This is dense, turning more austere as the tannins take hold of the long finish. Shows fine energy, balance and potential. Best from 2025 through 2048.
- Bruce Sanderson
This red evokes sweet, ripe fruit in the form of plum and cherry, complemented by accents of leather, almond, earth and autumn woods. The fruit is matched to a dense matrix of tannins, while the aftertaste lingers, echoing both fruit and savory elements. Best from 2024 through 2047.
- Bruce Sanderson
Needs air to reveal its pure cherry, strawberry, floral and tobacco flavors. Light in weight, yet has fine intensity, a core of ripe fruit and a long, vibrant finish. Drink now through 2025. 3,750 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.
-Bruce Sanderson
Leads off with high-toned cherry and strawberry flavors and savory, mineral elements, which are buoyed by vibrant acidity and solid tannins. This is still
very youthful and full of nerve, complexity. Reveals hints of soy and chocolate that add more detail on the long aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2043.
- Bruce Sanderson
Black cherry and blackberry flavors hold court in this dense, yet vibrant red, which is defined by brisk acidity. Stays beautifully integrated, harmonious and long, while earth and savory herb accents add depth. This should really sing in about 2-3 years. Best from 2024 through 2040.
- Bruce Sanderson
This red bursts with sweet, ripe cherry and plum fruit, with tobacco, leather and mineral elements adding depth as it builds to a lingering conclusion. Shows fine balance, a vibrant structure and excellent length. Spicy aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson
This sleek red is highlighted by a beam of macerated cherry. Reveals iron, juniper and shiso leaf accents, which add depth as this finds equilibrium and builds to a lingering finish. Firm, yet enjoyable now. Drink now through 2027. 2,700 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson
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
A delicate, graceful style, offering cherry, fruitcake, sage, eucalyptus, iron and leather flavors. Firm and nicely balanced, with a long, expanding aftertaste. Best from 2025 through 2042.
- Bruce Sanderson -
This juicy red is highlighted by plum, black cherry, tomato leaf, eucalyptus and mineral flavors. Starts out ripe and balanced, turning drier on the tobacco- and spice-tinged finish. Vibrant and long. Best from 2025 through 2040.
- Bruce Sanderson -
This red has a plush texture, along with lively acidity that focuses the black cherry, blackberry, plum, iron and underbrush flavors. Complex and solidly structured, with a long finish. Drink now through 2027.
- Bruce Sanderson -
Rich and velvety, with cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus and juniper aromas and flavors, this is backed by a dense, steely structure, whose tannins leave a strong grip on the finish. Balanced, complex and long, with a saline, mineral impression persisting on the aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2043, 147 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
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 -
This red sets cherry, plum, earth, iron and underbrush flavors against a fleshy texture and firm structure. A fresh version, with refined tannins supporting the long finish. Best from 2027 through 2042, 1.147 cases imported.
- Bruce Sanderson -
A dense and powerful red with tight and structured tannins. It's full yet sleek and lean. Very firm and long. A beautiful wine with real greatness. Clarity in the bottle. Drink now, but will improve for years ahead.
James Suckling
A wine that shows so much on the nose with dried-meat, wet-earth and fruit aromas and flavors. Changes all the time. Full body, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. Superb depth and length. Drink now or hold for as long as you'd like.
James Suckling
Shows excellent aromas of plums and light coffee that follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. A bit more on the finish would take it to a different level. Needs a year or two to soften.
James Suckling
This is very intense and rich with polished and velvety tannins. Full body, leather, berry and plum character. Hints of chocolate and meat. Drink now.
James Suckling
The intensity of fruit is staggering here, as this stacks up dried peaches, dried strawberries, red licorice, red-plum compote and glazed red cherries, in rapid succession. There’s a breadth of flavor to the palate that will take your breath away; muscular tannins draw in deeply set cherries, melding it together in a glistening coating of acidity, which only helps to carry it longer still. The finish is nearly endless. A stunning new single vineyard from Canalicchio di Sopra. Drink from 2026.
A red with cherry, walnut, bark and hints of dried flowers. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a tight finish. Really reserved now. Needs three or four years to open. Best after 2024.
- James Suckling
Ripe berry and cherry aromas with hints of spices and cedar. Dried flowers, too. Full-bodied, dense and layered. Fantastic richness and depth. Long, long finish. Best ever. Try after 2022.
- James Suckling
A dusty, tannic red with plum, red berry and cedar, chocolate and walnut undertones. It’s full-bodied, yet reserved and tight with ultra fine tannins and a vivid finish. A pretty, polished red. Drink after 2022.
- James Suckling
An opulent red with black-cherry and plum aromas and flavors with undertones of orange peel and porcini mushrooms. It’s full-bodied and layered with depth and intensity throughout. Solid and layered. Very structured. Give this at least three to four years of bottle age. Try after 2024.
- James Suckling
Riper and straightforward for a 2018 with a medium body, good fruit and a plum and light toffee aftertaste. Hint of juicy tannin at the end. Drink now.
- James Suckling
A fruity Rosso di Montalcino with notes of blueberry tart, violets, dried basil and thyme. The palate shows some excellent structure, supported by quite muscular tannins and guided along a line of fresh acidity to a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2020.
- James Suckling
There’s really good ripeness to this Rosso di Montalcino with orange rind, raspberries and spices, as well as undertones of tobacco. Real depth to the firm tannins and a medium-chewy finish. Drink now.
- James Suckling
Classically styled wine with a spicy and cedary nose as well as dried flowers and a little orange zest. The palate has a very smoothly rendered tannin bed and bright, succulent flavors of dried dark cherries. Pretty structure and depth. Try from 2022.
- James Suckling
This has tarry aromas with a wealth of ripe black cherries and a dusting of cocoa. The palate has a plush, ripe-berry core, as well as a neat frame of succulent tannins. Good cut and drive here. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling
Dark red cherries, plums, spices, mint, licorice and hard candy jump from the glass in the estate's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Ripe, juicy and deeply expressive, the 2010 boasts stunning mid-palate density. Even with all of its immediacy and voluptuousness, the 2010 has enough structure to drink well for another 20+ years. The Canalicchio Brunellos always offer power, but the 2010 overlays tons of finesse to round things out.
- James Suckling
A silky, refined red with plum, berry and cherry aromas and flavors. Full body. Lots of ripe fruit but not overdone. Chewy with polished tannins and a refined finish. Really excellent for the vintage. Needs a year or two to soften: better in 2017.
- James Suckling
Wonderfully aromatic and fresh with plum, flower and citrus character. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a delicious finish. So much finesse. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling
Ripe berry and dried orange peel character follow through to a full body, round and velvety tannins and a juicy finish. A more fruit-forward style for this estate. Better in 2019.
- James Suckling
There’s good energy in this Brunello with quite ripe red-fruit aromas leading to a palate that has handsomely grainy tannins and an impressively deep, red-cherry core. Nice structure and build. Drink or hold.
- James Suckling
Sweet cherries and berries with some walnut and orange peel. Medium-bodied, fresh and vivid. Lightly bitter finish. Drink now.
- James Suckling
"This shows beautiful balance and drinkability, with firm and slightly
chewy tannins, yet the fruit is pure and flavorful. Some bark and
crushed-stone undertones. Very drinkable now, but better in 2023."
- James Suckling
This shows the ripeness of the vintage, with ripe-berry, cherry and floral
aromas and flavors. Some cedar, too. It’s full and flavorful, with lots of chewy
yet polished and focused tannins. A little dusty in texture. Drinkable now,
but better in 2023.
- James Suckling
Lovely sweet black cherries and blackberries on the nose with lots of flowers. Full-bodied with fine, dusty tannins that are polished and beautiful. It’s very poised and pretty now, but will deliver so much more with bottle age. Goes on and on. Drink after 2024.
- James Suckling
A soft and easy red with cherry and orange-peel aromas and flavors. Light-to medium-bodied. Delicious. Drink now.
- James Suckling
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
Cedro peel, lavender, sour cherries, redcurrants and hints of lemongrass on the nose. Full-bodied, silky and perfumed, with a fine tannin backbone and a weightlessness to it. Swathes of creamy ripe fruit. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
Aromas of ripe red berries, sweet citrus peel, cocoa and bark, following through to a medium body with vivid fruit. Chalky and textured with a flavorful finish. Drink now.
- James Suckling -
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 -
Sweet sour cherries with rose stems and hints of green leaves on the nose. Medium body with firm, chewy tannins with some juicy fruit. Fresh and vivid. Better after two or three years.
- James Suckling -
Black cherry, black berry, and lead pencil on the nose. Some fresh bark too. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Linear tannins. Drink after 2026.
- James Suckling -
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is just as magnificent as it was last year. Since then, the 2010 has acquired an extra dimension of finesse it did not show last year. Powerful yet weightless in the style that is typical of the wines of the north, the Riserva exudes energy, tension and depth. Sweet dark cherry, lavender, herbs, mint and tobacco shape this deeply expressive, virile Riserva built on class. The new oak, which was evident last year, has not subsided and is really only evident in the wine's mid-palate sweetness and texture.
Antonio Galloni
Canalicchio di Sopra's 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva delivers the goods. A dark, enveloping wine, the Riserva is laced with black stone fruits, scorched earth, smoke, licorice and violets. As always, the style is intense and brooding to the core. In 2007, there is a little more raciness and early appeal to the Riserva than is often the case, but this remains a fairly muscular style of Brunello that will appeal most to readers who enjoy structured wines.
Antonio Galloni
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a big, broad-shouldered wine endowed with tremendous depth and richness. Black cherries, licorice, new leather and tobacco wrap around the palate in this dramatic, sweeping Brunello. Despite the wine's size, there is plenty of nuance and detail. The 2006 needed all of its 40 months in cask. This is a fabulous effort.
Antonio Galloni
The 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak.
Antonio Galloni
An absolutely compelling Brunello, Canalicchio's 2004 Riserva is magnificent from the very first taste. Rich and ample on the palate with silky tannins in support, the 2004 Riserva captures the very best qualities of a vintage in which the wines are sensual and finessed to the core. Still very, very young, the 2004 Riserva will drink well for another 20 years or more. Put quite simply, the 2004 Riserva is a knock out. This is a perfect example where the differences between the Brunello and the Riserva are more about stylistic and personal preferences rather than absolute quality.
Antonio Galloni
The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is in a beautiful spot today, now that the tannins have begun to soften a touch. Bold and broadly sketched, the 2001 Riserva shows the more voluptuous side of the year. This is a classic Canalicchio wine, but with a little more power, ripeness and richness than is often found. Black fruit, smoke, tobacco, licorice and game add the final layers of nuance.
Antonio Galloni
The 1995 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is quite a bit fresher than the straight Brunello bottling. As always, the wines of this era here show an element of rusticity, but within that context, the Riserva is quite pretty and expressive. Still vibrant, the 1995 Riserva will drink well for another decade or so.
Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia opens with an intense mix of zesty red fruits, spice and alluring sweet florals, backed by dark earth, crushed stone, hints of licorice, and a twang of savory herbs. On the palate, silky textures are contrasted by saline-minerals and brisk acids, as red berry fruits flood the senses along with savory herbs and spices, leaving a coating of fine-grained tannin. The finish is long, displaying lingering spiced red berries enlivened by resonating acids, saline-mineral tones and a hint of fine tannin. Talk about a great way to release a new single-vineyard bottling, The 2015 is classic to the core.
- Eric Guido
Lifting up with gorgeous floral perfumes and hints of white smoke, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia from Canalicchio di Sopra keeps you at the edge of your glass. It opens up with a dark and dramatic display of balsamic-tinged black cherry, sage and Indian spice, contrasted by savory notes of tobacco, rich earth tones and flowery undergrowth. There’s an amazing density of fruit here, offset by salty minerals, zesty acids and a hint of sour citrus. The textures are velvety-smooth, yet the expression remains feminine and lifted. In fact, you can hardly notice its underlying tannic heft until it’s too late, as the 2016 La Casaccia seems to youthfully fold in on itself, halting the expression but promising over a decade of further development.
- Eric Guido
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino from Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli is superb. The nose is dark and mineral-inflected with a blast of crushed raspberry, cherry and darker blackberry fruits wafting up from the glass, as sweet florals, underscored by moist soil and hints of cedar amass. On the palate, silky, almost creamy textures, offset by a stunning mix of salty-minerals and acids with savory herbs, and inner earth tones tempted the senses for another sip. The finish is remarkably long, resonating on minerals and dark fruits, almost balsamic and spicy, as its tannic structure comes forward and reminds me that this Brunello is still just a baby. What a gorgeous expression of Sangiovese.
- Eric Guido
The 2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino is flat-out stunning, remarkably vibrant and an almost-ethereal expression. There’s an exotic citrusy tinge to its ripe black cherries, taking on hints of sage, cedar and allspice, all grounded by moist earth tones. It’s focused and remarkably pure with a noticeable inner sweetness to the red and hints of blackberry fruit, all cast across a silky, feminine frame. The structure builds like a crescendo, as minerals fade to youthful tannins. Juicy acids maintain perfect balance from start to finish, making for a surprisingly fresh expression yet with amazing length. There’s simply so much going on here, and there are promises of more good things to come.
- Eric Guido
The 2015 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark and exotic expression of Sangiovese. It pulls you closer to the glass with an alluring display, showing medicinal cherry, plum, a sweet dusting of cinnamon, clove and finally crushed violets. The textures are like pure silk being slowly draped across your palate, offset by tart red and black fruits, as a complex web of acids, minerals and tannins saturate, clamping down toward the close. Structured and tart, as it should be at this youthful phase, the 2015 is still just an infant, with the potential for over a decade’s worth of positive evolution. This year’s Riserva hails from fruit exclusively from the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard within the Canalicchio cru, and it spends only two extra months in 2,500-liter Slavonian oak casks prior to bottling. Tasted over the course of two days it got better each time I revisited it.
- Eric Guido
Vibrant red. Flinty red berries, violet and spices dominate the knockout nose. Then very pure, boasting a steely core of red fruit and floral flavors that linger impressively on the refined finish. One of the best Rossos of the vintage.
- Ian D'Agata
The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino is a fabulous wine that could very well turn out to be even better than this note suggests once it softens a bit. A rush of sweet tobacco, licorice, black cherry, menthol and dark spice infuse this dark, potent Rosso with tons of character. Big yet well-integrated tannins suggest the 2016 will enjoy a long life in the cellar. In a word: superb!
- Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Rosso di Montalcino is positively gorgeous. Rich, racy and beautifully perfumed, the 2017 captures all of the radiance of the year in a mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. Even with all of its intensity, the 2017 offers terrific freshness. This is such an arrestingly beautiful wine.
- Antonio Galloni
Good full red. Clean, focused aromas and ripe flavors of strawberry, blood orange, peppery spices and underbrush. Dense, ripe and savory but virtually weightless, delivering outstanding energy, depth and inner-mouth perfume. There's a lovely core of sweetness here, but the wine stands out today for its savoriness and youthful firmness. Finishes subtle and very long, displaying polished, suave tannins. This is yet another noteworthy 2012 Brunello Riserva.
- Ian D'Agata
Deep red. An inviting nose of red cherry, gardenia, lily of the valley, and minerals leads to a creamy, expansive yet ultra-buoyant palate. A hint of salinity complements flavors similar to the aromas adding freshness and extending them on the long finish.
- Ian D'Agata
Dark red cherries, plums, spices, mint, licorice and hard candy jump from the glass in the estate's 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Ripe, juicy and deeply expressive, the 2010 boasts stunning mid-palate density. Even with all of its immediacy and voluptuousness, the 2010 has enough structure to drink well for another 20+ years. The Canalicchio Brunellos always offer power, but the 2010 overlays tons of finesse to round things out.
- Antonio Galloni
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a gorgeous, striking wine. Sweet macerated cherries, tobacco, licorice, spice and mint are all laced together in a super-expressive, resonant Brunello endowed with real class. Open-knit and seductive, the 2011 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is an especially delicate, sensual Brunello that speaks to the finesse that is possible on the northern side of Montalcino, and a terrific example of the year at its very best. With time in the glass, the 2011 starts to shut down, which may be a very good sign of its potential longevity. In any event, the 2011 Brunello is a winner. Proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli gave the 2011 a bit less time in oak than is customary. Production was just 28,000 bottles as opposed to the 50,000 bottles that were produced between the straight Brunello and Riserva in 2010 (there is no Riserva in 2011.)
- Antonio Galloni
Luminous red. Intense aromas of red cherry, licorice and tar are complicated by a strong note of torrefaction. Deep dense and suave, with youthfully chewy tannins and a slightly herbal nuance to the dark plum and coffee flavors. Still more notes of torrefaction and coffee emerge with aeration. This brooding, strapping Brunello will require patience.
- Ian D'Agata
Vivid medium-dark red. Hints at black and red fruits on the delicate, refined nose, complicated by nuances of violet and flint. Then smooth and suave in the mouth, with outstanding breadth to the blueberry, sour red cherry, potpourri and floral flavors. Penetrating minerality contributes to the lasting impression of precision and verve. The noble, mouth-coating tannins provide backbone and noteworthy aging potential to this extremely elegant, pure, dense wine. One of the top eight or so Brunellos of the 2013 vintage.
- Ian D'Agata
Good deep red. Perfumed aromas of musky raspberry, cherry cola spices and flowers. Round and deep in the mouth, with lovely sweetness and a light touch to the red fruit and cedar flavors. Finishes long, pure and linear. The youthful, chewy but noble tannins will reward mid-term aging.
- Ian D'Agata
The 2019 Rosso di Montalcino requires a bit of time to blossom in the glass; yet patience is rewarded, as an air of smoky minerals and peppery herbs slowly evolves into a perfumed display of wild strawberries, rose hips and flowery undergrowth. This is soft and supple, seeming almost fleshy at first, yet it gains harmony through a savory mix of mineral-tinged red berries and spices. A subtle film of fine tannin lingers, yet the mouth waters for more, as this literally buzzes with residual energy while inner florals slowly fade.
- Eric Guido
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is wildly perfumed, dusty and exotic, with balsam herbs, savory spices, red currants and plums coming across as so pretty yet rich and potent. A silky display of sour wild berries contrasted by candied citrus wows the senses as the 2017 plays a zesty sweet-and-sour act upon the palate. It’s long, youthfully chewy, yet still remarkably fresh, with rosy florals and tart, tart cherries giving way to chiseled tannins through the finale. This is a beautiful rendition of the 2017 vintage, one that takes the dry warmth of the year and expresses it with tremendous energy and verve. What's more, I revisited this bottle over the course of 36 hours and it only got better with time.
- Eric Guido
The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia is aromatically stunning, blasting up mineral in style, with a dark floral and balsam lift, giving way to licorice, black cherry and hints of camphor. It gains further depth and volume the longer it sits in the glass. The textures are silken, fleshy and pliant at first, as contrasting tart red fruits and minty herbal tones come through, saturating the palate with primary concentration. This is even savory at times and displays smoother contours than past vintages, yet it’s supremely balanced and pure. Repeating minerality comes through in spades and this turns youthfully dry and perfumed, yet still juicy and classic in feel. La Casaccia is a huge success for the vintage.
- Eric Guido
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark, floral and exotic, even sultry at times, presenting a bouquet of black currant, animal musk and savory, crushed ashen stone. The textures are silky yet dense, showing mineral-webbed woodland berries and balsamic spices. The tannic heft mounts toward the close, penetrating deeply, but with brisk acids to balance. The 2016 is animalistic in nature, yet crystalline and fresh, tapering off structured and incredibly long, leaving licorice and balsam herbs to linger. In 2016, Francesco Ripaccioli decided to use fruit from both the Vigna Vecchia and Mercatale vineyards in the Riserva, which is typically the richer and bolder expression of Brunello at Canalicchio di Sopra, but in 2016, it's totally classic in every possible way. What a glorious wine!
- Eric Guido
The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino is deep, dark and almost sensual in the glass, as black cherries and minty herbs give way to hints of worn leather and spice. It coasts along the palate with silken waves of ripe red berries, coming across as supremely soft and pliant, yet all kept in balance by saline-tinged acids. Rosy florals and hints of licorice linger, as the 2020 tapers off fresh yet potent and long. This is an elegant beauty.
- Eric Guido
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is understated in the glass, as swirling brings forward nuances of mint, white pepper, dusty black cherries and flowery underbrush. This is a soft and delicate Brunello from Canalicchio di Sopra, also quite mineral in style, impressing with its smooth contours and finesse, while showing rose-tinged red berries and hints of spice. A coating of gentle tannin lingers through the medium-length finale, along with hints of licorice, as the mouth is left watering for more. The 2018 is a total charmer with a beautiful balance, bolstered by the juice that would usually go into the Riserva.
- Eric Guido
A dark mix of crushed rocks and flowery underbrush is lifted by nuances of dried strawberry and worn leather as the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia smolders up from the glass. It’s silky in feel, communicating a wonderful elegance, with ripe red and hints of blue fruits accentuated by inner violet tones. This is potent and long through the finale, with sneaky tannins, staining the palate with liquid florals, as a hint of citrus-tinged black currant slowly fades. The 2018 is a beautifully balanced Brunello of this vintage.
- 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 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casaccia is impossible to ignore; it is earthy and mineral, almost smoky and animal in nature. Ashes stones, violets and balsam herbs complicate depths of dried black cherries, sage and clove. This is deeply textural and seductive, balancing ripe red and black fruits with sweet spice and minty herbal tones that create a kaleidoscope of sensation on the palate. A salty flourish shines through the finale, along with a crunchy tinge of blackberry seeds to contrast, as fine-grained tannins wrap the sense with youthful poise and a bitter twang resonates. The 2019 may be immortal. La Casaccia is a showstopper. Drinking window 2026-2040.
- Eric Guido -
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 -
Dusty violets, lavender and cloves accentuate dried black cherries as the dramatic 2019 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass. This is impossible to ignore, bursting with energy as depths of ripe red fruits, chalky minerals and exotic spices saturate all they touch, balanced by textures of pure silk. The 2019 finishes with fantastic length and concentration, leaving a staining of tart blackberry and hints of orange that curl the tongue as crunchy tannins tug at the palate. It's rare to see such a combination of vibrancy and power. Canalicchio di Sopra nailed it in 2019. Wow. Drinking window 2026-2042
Remarkably pretty and spicy to the core, the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino blossoms in the glass with a bouquet of rose petals and wild strawberries offset by white pepper. This is lifted and graceful in style with a salty, saline core that grumbles beneath its ripe wild berry fruits. It finishes tense and structured, with a trace of sour cranberry and citrus that tugs at the cheeks. The purity of Sangiovese is on full display here. Have patience with the 2022 because the best is yet to come.
- Eric Guido -
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is one of my favorite wines of the year. It gets as close to Brunello perfection as vinously possible. Fruit is sourced exclusively from the estate's oldest vines in the Vigna Vecchia Mercatale vineyard, the oldest Canalicchio cru. The vines were planted in 1987-1988. They are in their prime production years right now. This is first time the Riserva is made exclusively from that site. The depth of this wine is extraordinary. The wine starts with a playful offering of red fruit and cherry. Like many of the wines from this vintage, the bouquet takes a while to arrive at full intensity.
That margin should shorten as the wine continues its cellar aging and evolution. Yet, the slow start to the bouquet is ultimately what drives your interest in this wine. The mouthfeel is exceptional with tannins that are both silky and firm at the same time.
My visit to Canalicchio di Sopra was one of the most complete and satisfying of the Montalcino region. Francesco Ripaccioli offered a tasting of his current releases and a fascinating look at Brunello from the Vigna Casaccia from 2013, 2014 and 2015 (before malolactic fermentation). With the memory of that tasting firmly in mind, I enjoyed a second tasting of his new wines at home. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is among my top five favorite wines of the vintage joining in the company of Il Marroneto, Casanova di Neri, Pian dell'Orino and Salvioni.
Monica Larner
Tasted next to the 2006, the 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes across as relatively soft and easygoing. Ripe, silky tannins provide the framework for layers of expressive fruit in a sophisticated Brunello with plenty of early appeal. I suggest drinking the 2007 while the 2006 ages. Both are fabulous. The 2007 spent six months in 750-liter French oak barrels followed by 36 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully.
Antonio Galloni
One of the truly exciting wines of the year, the 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva boasts superb richness, power and depth from start to finish. Cloves, violets, incense, plums, black cherries and menthol all explode from the glass in a virile, towering Brunello endowed with massive structure. Fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated, this drop-dead gorgeous Riserva has more than enough stuffing to drink well for two decades. The estate gave the 2006 Riserva 42 months in oak, all of which it handled beautifully. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully.
Antonio Galloni
he 2005 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is terrific. Freshly cut roses, sweet red fruits, tobacco and licorice emerge gracefully from this refined, utterly impeccable Brunello. Sweet, elegant tannins frame the fruit beautifully through to the finish. The 2005 Riserva remains a typical, mineral-laced, taut wine from the northern district. Its potential for continued positive development in bottle seems excellent. The estate gave the Riserva 40 months in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way.
Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.
Antonio Galloni
There is something rustic yet deeply satisfying about Canalicchio di Sopra’s highly idiosyncratic Brunellos that makes them compelling to drink. The intense 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is loaded with black cherries, earthiness, tobacco and spices. A dark, brooding, powerful wine, it isn’t especially approachable today, but it should offer terrific drinking with another year or two of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.
Antonio Galloni
The 1999 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva made a terrific showing thanks to its all-embracing personality. There’s a real sense of abundance and generosity here that starts with the wine’s richly textured mouthfeel and darkly concentrated appearance. The aromas have certainly moved into the third and final stage of their evolution with smoked bacon and saddle bag but there’s enough pressed fruit and crushed flower to keep it from feeling one-dimensional. The mouthfeel is lean and elegant with surprising focus and clarity. Decant the wine three to four hours prior to serving. Drink: 2014-2028.
Monica Larner
The 1998 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is dark in color, ripe and full on the nose with abundant sensations of caramel, chocolate, and tar, and a rich, firm, ample palate which features plenty of grip and authority on the finish. Drink: 2005-2016.
Daniel Thomases
The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a wine that totally took me off guard. I associate Canalicchio di Sopra with a classic, so-called “traditional” style that puts an emphasis on the smallest details like delicate nuances and lithe sensations. This wine is obviously born from a very different mindset, a more powerful vintage. Bold and broad-shouldered, it is packed tight with pressed cherry, anise seed, tar and black licorice. It changes tune slightly in the mouth where it walks with quieter footsteps. This wine is at its peak performance right now and may fade fast. I recommend a shorter decanting. Drink: 2014-2019.
Monica Larner
Canalicchio di Sopra completes three rounds of bottling for this wine (in October, January and March). I tasted samples of the 2014 Rosso di Montalcino from both the first two rounds. This vintage saw a big Rosso di Montalcino production, as much of the fruit that may have been selected for the Brunello was put here instead. The wine is really very good and should offer great value for those looking for a delicious taste of Sangiovese in this difficult vintage. It is thick, bright and loaded with cherry and blueberry flavors. Considering the many challenges of the growing season, this estate has created a wonderfully fresh and forthcoming red wine. Monica Larner
The 2013 Rosso di Montalcino shows soft tones of red cherry, wet earth, raspberry and blanched almond. There's a great sense of tightness and energy here that you don't get with many of the other Rosso wines of this warm vintage. The wine is aged one year, in both French and Slavonian oak respectively. There's isn't much heft in the mouth, but you get just enough to pair with egg fettuccine with butter and grated Parmigiano. Monica Larner
The 2012 Rosso di Montalcino is representative of an estate that has always taken great care to safeguard this often overlooked relative of Brunello. Having said that, the 2012 does not quiet live up to the fabulous 2011 Rosso - a wine I found immensely enjoyable. This is a deep and nicely saturated Rosso with ripe notes of spice, dark cherry, blackberry and distant hints of smoked bacon that fill in the rear. It's relatively straightforward (it macerates on the skins for 15 days and later ages for 12 months in oak cask) with soft layers of fresh fruit. Drink: 2014-2018. Monica Larner
The estate’s 2011 Rosso di Montalcino is endowed with serious complexity and character. Tobacco, savory herbs, mint, anise and underbrush are some of the many aromas and flavors found in this Rosso, a wine that stands out for its personality. Rosso is often sold as a mini-Brunello, a label that unfortunately applies to only a small number of wines. Not here. This is a Rosso of unusual pedigree and distinction. I imagine the 2011 will drink well to age ten, perhaps beyond. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. Antonio Galloni
The 2009 Rosso di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine bursting with dark red fruit. It shows plenty of harmony and fine overall balance. Sweet spices and flowers linger on the warm, radiant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way. Antonio Galloni
The 2008 Rosso di Montalcino is one of the better versions in this tricky vintage. A gorgeous bouquet bristling with Sangiovese aromas leads to red cherries, tobacco and earthiness. There is a plumpness and juiciness I find very attractive here. Some of the wilder, gamier notes typical of Sangiovese come through from time to time, but that notwithstanding, this is a lovely effort. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2013. Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask. Antonio Galloni
The soft, herbaceous, seductive 2000 Rosso di Montalcino is easy to drink as well as appreciate. It will not make old bones, but for enjoying over the next 2-3 years, this is a round, fruit-driven, cleanly made, charming Rosso. Robert M. Parker Jr.
Canalicchio di Sopra is high on my shortlist of favorite producers in Montalcino. The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino is a sumptuous wine made according to carefully considered criteria. Every step of the winemaking process represents a selection of sorts, culminating in an expression of extremes. The precision, the focus and the pristine nature of the aromas cannot be exaggerated. It is such a pleasure to taste a wine of this caliber and distinction. Aromas of dark fruit and savory spice find seamless integration. Background tones of balsam herb, cola and licorice add a superior level of complexity. In the mouth, the wine is polished, fine and silky. The mouthfeel is thinner compared to 2011 and 2010. Otherwise, this is a fabulously elegant Brunello. Monica Larner
The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a beautifully round and opulent wine that bursts open with vitality and a rush of immediate fruit. It shows lasting intensity with dried cherry, plum, blackberry, spice, leather and tobacco. Generally speaking, the aromas are soft and enduring. This wine offers enormous pleasure upfront and can be consumed within the next ten years. The wine is less adapted for long aging given the approachable tannins and ripe fruit flavors. In its current form, it is a delicious Brunello. Monica Larner
The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino will blow you away. This is a delightful expression that boasts its extreme quality from the minute the wine is poured from the bottle. As you should expect, it just gets better and better with each additional minute in the glass. It opens to a vibrant dark ruby color and blackish-garnet hues. The bouquet is ever changing and shows a long succession of aromatic characteristics that rage from dark fruit, plum, spice, leather, licorice, red rose, balsam and grilled herb. It's textbook Brunello from a great vintage and this side of the appellation (on the northeastern side) performs fantastically in 2010. This beauty should hold fifteen years or more. Monica Larner
The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino is a standout expression with long and polished notes of dried fruit and tobacco presented in a smooth and seamless fashion. It shows good structure and balance but an even prettier nose with ethereal balsam herbs, tar, licorice and pressed violets that emerge as the wine evolves in the glass. The wine hints at a greater evolution to come. Drink: 2017-2022. Monica Larner
The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino is fabulous. An exciting melange of dark cherries, plums, tobacco, licorice, mocha and herbs take shape in the glass. Powerful, rich and structured, the 2008 wraps around the palate with serious depth. The Canalicchio Brunellos often have an element of wildness to them, as does the 2008, but the wine also has a track record of aging very well. This is an intriguing Brunello, to say the least. The 2008 has more than enough depth to stand up to 36 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. Canalicchio di Sopra is one of my favorite properties in Montalcino. The wines are consistently outstanding, have plenty of personality and also age beautifully. Antonio Galloni
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia represents a new chapter in this estate's long history. This is a single-vineyard expression from the Canalicchio area, one of the most interesting subzones on the northeast side of Montalcino. Giving identity to individual parcels gives an estate like this huge potential for further expression and experimentation. The site is a little over two hectares, and it has dense, mineral-rich clay soils that add more power and a heavier center of gravity. The vines were planted in 1990. I notice slightly firmer tannin here, with a very distinct level of acidity purity. You also get lasting berry fruit favors with blueberry and dried raspberry followed by spice, licorice and lavender buds from the south of France and the rim of the Mediterranean. The wine is distinguished by endnotes of balsam or medicinal herb that grow in strength with time. It offers plenty of volume and weight. Not counting the various large format bottles made, only 3,610 750-milliliter bottles were produced. They were filled in May 2019, and the wine hit the market in January 2020.
- Monica Larner
This is a newish single-vineyard wine (it's the second vintage) created by Francesco Ripaccioli and the team at Canalicchio di Sopra at the conclusion of an ambitious estate-wide mapping project. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia draws its fruit from a two-hectare site planted in 1990 with clay soils and rich in mineral components. A precious 4,133 bottles were made. What I like most is the tightness of the fruit, which you chip away at slowly as the wine softens and yields in the glass. Each layer brings you forest fruit, sour cherry, almond, lilac and candied orange peel. On a second swirl, you might get black olive, bay leaf and scorched earth. There are subtle mineral notes, but what La Casaccia ultimately offers is that uniquely compact and extremely polished quality of fruit.
-Monica Larner
This bottle marks the special 50th anniversary of this wine. A little red sticker on the front label commemorates the five decades that have passed since grandfather Primo Pacenti did his first harvest. The medium-weight Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows a generous spread of forest fruit, licorice, blue flower, bay leaf, Provence herbs and fragrant wet soil aromas. There is a touch of earthy muskiness that some like to refer to as "foxy." Fruit for this Brunello represents a selection of clusters harvested over 10 hectares at 300 to 320 meters above sea level in two sites: Canalicchio and Montosoli. Canalicchio has clay soils for the structure of the wine, and Montosoli adds to the clarity of the aromas. All the vines are over 10 years old. Fermentation is in stainless steel, and aging spans 36 months in Slavonian oak casks. This wine from the warm and sunny 2015 vintage maintains its trademark crispness and freshness nonetheless. This vintage is available in bottles of various sizes, with more large formats filled to celebrate this 50th anniversary. It was bottled in May 2019 (37,520 750-millilter bottles were produced, not counting the large formats) and released in January 2020.
- Monica Larner
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows balance and symmetry with that difficult twofold delivery of power and elegance. This terrific new release shows dark fruit and tart cherry, but then unwinds slowly to reveal light spice, toasted nut, blue flower and crushed limestone. The wine affords a genuine sense of place with roots in the northern half of the appellation where the light is whiter and the nights are cooler. That brilliant luminosity appears in the pure quality of fruit and the sharp focus of the mouthfeel, driven by balanced tannins and acidity. The sensation it gives is compact and long, without too much extra volume or padding. This wine is like a contoured, chiseled and carefully polished marble statue that you would see in a Renaissance church. Production is an ample 44,218 bottles.
- Monica Larner
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beauty. It offers a brilliant interpretation of a warm and sunny vintage from cool, mineral-rich soils in an area with steep shifts between day and nighttime temperatures. This is one of those special wines in which the vintage characteristics fit the territory with the precision of a jigsaw puzzle. The bouquet is fluid and complex with tart cherry fruit, cola, licorice, aniseed and blue flower. That aniseed comes around a second time. The arrangement and order of those aromas changes with each successive swirl of the glass. This Riserva is fermented in stainless steel and aged in Slavonian oak casks for 36 months. Bottle production is shy of 7,000.
- Monica Larner
This is a terrific wine that is one big step above your standard Rosso and one tiny step below your standard Brunello. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is a fresh and versatile wine. The 2018 vintage was cool and had more rainfall than average. Windy conditions dried and helped to concentrate the fruit right before harvest. This wine is made from a selection of the estate's youngest vines, with about 90% of the fruit coming from the Canalicchio area and 10% from Montosoli. I had a glass with a delicious plate of vegetarian lasagna. This wine moves across the palate with steely precision, breaking up any cheese, butter or olive oil flavors along the way. It offers a snappy, lean to medium-weight drinking style with lots of freshness and enough texture to withstand some near-term cellar aging. This Rosso was bottled in November 2019 and released in January 2020. Not counting large format bottles, some 40,800 regular-sized bottles were produced.
- Monica Larner
This is a terrific new release from Canalicchio di Sopra that arrived just as we were going to print. The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino opens to an extraordinary nose that is tart and sweet, fruity and spicy all at once. The wine is so full and generous, it almost comes out of left field. I guarantee that you would not recognize it as a Rosso in a blind tasting. The mouthfeel is tight, compact and slightly sour or bitter, but the energy generated from all the volume on the bouquet is enough to win your heart and mind. This is one of the best Rossos I have ever tried. It's a super deal (some 22,300 were made) so grab a bottle before it disappears.
- Monica Larner
Canalicchio di Sopra pays special attention to its lower-end wines. I always like to point this out to readers in the search for great value from Tuscany. The 2017 Rosso di Montalcino is an immediate and enticing expression with soft layers of ripe cherry and black fruit. The wine is soft and velvety in texture with easy endnotes of cherry confit and crème de cassis. This is a great food wine. Some 25,675 bottles and 762 magnums were made.
- Monica Larner
The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a beautifully saturated expression, with gorgeous density and presence. The bouquet is carefully considered in terms of its power and intensity (remember, this was a hot and dry vintage, and ripening was accelerated as a result). It shows lots of varietal character and definition without ever going overboard or feeling too soft or ripe. In fact, this Riserva is surprisingly tonic and firm deep down. It sweeps over the palate with sweet, plush and softly velvety waves of fruity flavors.
- Monica Larner
The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a tremendous wine that delivers a deep sense of inner gravity and balance. That, in a nutshell, is the secret of the top-end wines made at the exciting Canalicchio di Sopra estate. The wines made here always exhibit carefully measured balance in the classic vintages (like 2013) and in the difficult years as well. That extreme balance is exactly why you taste the vintage variation with such distinction. This expression from 2013 is remarkably smooth and silky with a steady succession of traditional Sangiovese aromas that span from wild berry, forest floor, wet earth, pressed flower and hints of tangy licorice or aniseed. This is a mid-weight Brunello that glides over the palate with precise, delicate and long lasting waves of intensity. Some 3,185 bottles, 174 magnums and 30 double magnums were made.
- Monica Larner
Canalicchio di Sopra's 2013 Brunello di Montalcino is tight and firm at its core, with qualities that bode very well for its aging potential. That compact core is surrounded by many thick layers of dark fruit and spice that are expressive and expansive. Those outer layers give the wine softness and some immediate accessibility, even at this early stage in its life. All summed up, this is a very complete and characteristic Brunello that offers stunning quality for medium or long-term drinking.
- Monica Larner
The 2014 Brunello di Montalcino definitely shows the more accessible and easy-drinking side of this celebrated Sangiovese-based appellation in southern Tuscany. The wine offers all the prerequisite Brunello characteristics of wild berry and tobacco with pressed violets and fresh potting soil. However, those characteristics are presented at a notch or two of decreased intensity. This is quality common to the great majority of Brunellos I tasted from the 2014 vintage. I recommend this wine to lovers of Brunello looking for a wine to drink within the next ten years. Some 15,037 bottles were made.
- Monica Larner
Canalicchio di Sopra is faithful to the concept of Riserva, and there is always a marked, but proportional, stylistic difference between this wine (which is aged for 36 months in Slavonian casks) and the annata release. This is exact how it should be. Riserva is an extension of annata, not an exaggeration of it. From a classic vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a special and highly collectible bottle. It shows depth and profound fruit with bright cherry, plum and crushed flower. It also manages greater concentration and density while maintaining its graceful personality. You'll need to add quite a few years of age to this wine. Production is a mere 4,133 bottles.
- Monica Larner
This is a relatively new addition to the Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio, and even its modern graphic label design represents a break from the rest of the line, which has more nostalgic labels that feature Montalcino's medieval main square. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia takes a little longer to open, but it ultimately reveals the elegance and energy that comes with the house style. Wild cherry, ash and balsam herb drive a long, very polished finish. The La Casaccia site is distinguished by mineral-rich clay soils, which give this wine its power and density. Production is limited to 4,133 bottles in this vintage
- Monica Larner
As you drive downhill from the hamlet of Montalcino on its north side, you pass the Canalicchio di Sopra winery, which is located in a shallow, sun-lit basin of vines. This estate is meticulous and studied in its winemaking philosophy, and the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an expression of that concentration. This warm-climate Brunello reveals awesome purity and intensity with wild cherry, almond and lilac spread over a tonic, mid-weight finish. This wine awards plenty of elegance in a vintage that was not easy and not prone to such nuance. Production is exactly 39,989 bottles.
-Monica Larner
Proprietor Francesco Ripaccioli was kind enough to submit two vintages of his Rosso for review. Rosso sees its commercial release at a different time than Brunello, so it's hard to be timely with one set of reviews without being behind on the others. Hitting the market soon, the warm-vintage Canalicchio di Sopra 2020 Rosso di Montalcino is supple and rich. This wine shows rich fruit weight and soft aromas of baked cherry and plum. The alcohol content is a decisive 14.5% on this 33,330-bottle production.
- Monica Larner
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Rosso di Montalcino is a balanced wine with pretty purity and freshness. This estate does a great job with its Rosso and has believed in this category of wine even when others were less enthusiastic. That loyalty shows here in this confident and authentic wine that aspires to ease-of-drinking, acidity and bright primary fruit.
- Monica Larner
Canalicchio di Sopra takes great care with its entry-level wine, the 2021 Rosso di Montalcino. It displays a warm and generous personality despite its petite stature and pleasantly streamlined mouthfeel. Along the way, this Sangiovese emits dark cherry, cassis, blue flower, iris root and a rusty-mineral note. There is structure here and good fruit weight, which makes this much more than your standard Rosso.
- Monica Larner
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is elegant and tight with dried cherry, earthy root, pressed violet and exotic spice. The wine's long mandatory aging period has added to its aromatic intensity and textural weight. You also recognize that special complexity that comes with Sangiovese when grown in this sunny appellation on the southern side of Tuscany. This is a solid wine with 36,237 bottles released.
-Monica Larner
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2018 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia reveals medium-dark fruit and an open-knit approach with broad brushstrokes of black cherry, baked plum and spice. The alcohol content is too high at 15%, and that added power takes away from the finer nuances of the fruit. It ages in Slavonian oak for 36 months; however, the freshness is good in this wine. This is a limited release of 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums.
-Monica Larner
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
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 -
Whereas Montosoli is more mineral-driven and finely stitched together, this wine is broad, big and driven by balsamic tones, vapor rub and dried rosemary.
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia, however, is more explosive with spice, toasted coffee, black licorice, cherry cola and rich cherry. The tannins feel chalky, although they are fine-grained, but they play a bigger role against the concentrated fruit. Only 7,200 bottles and larger formats were made. Drink Date 2025 - 2042.
- Monica Larner -
With a hint of candied cherry, grenadine or Shirley Temple, the Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino reveals purple blossom, dried flower, cough drop and balsam herb. The wine is very nicely stitched together with integrated oak that comes through in a structural way but not too much on the bouquet. The tannins do feel dry on the mid-palate, but they remain fine and tight. The alcohol is a bit high in this vintage at 15%. Production is 47,321 bottles. Drink Date 2025 - 2040.
- Monica Larner -
Forest floor, dark-skinned berry, iris and new leather aromas lead the nose. The full-bodied juicy palate offers ripe wild cherry, star anise and a hint of pipe tobacco alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2023–2030.KERIN O’KEEFE
Underbrush, tobacco, new leather and chopped herb aromas unfold in the glass. Full bodied and tightly wound, the palate delivers Marasca cherry, pomegranate, licorice and orange zest framed in taut fine-grained tannins. Give this several more years to come around then drink or hold for even more complexity. Drink from 2022 through 2032. KERIN O’KEEFE
Enticing scents of red berry, white pepper, chopped herb and purple flower take center stage on this vibrant red. The luminous palate doles out tart cherry, crushed raspberry and a hint of star anise while racy acidity and polished tannins provide support. Drink through 2017. KERIN O’KEEFE
Wild berry, dark spice and Mediterranean herb aromas lift out of the glass, accented by a whiff of new leather. The enveloping, full-bodied palate doles out fleshy black cherry, star anise, pipe tobacco and cinnamon notes, framed by chewy tannins. Drink 2020–2027. KERIN O’KEEFE
This warm Rosso starts with aromas of toast, woodland berries and cake spices. The juicy palate offers dense black cherry accented with notes of vanilla, mocha and clove alongside assertive tannins. Enjoy it soon. KERIN O’KEEFE
Wild berry, leafy underbrush, truffle, scorched earth and dark spice aromas unfold on this classic red. The full-bodied palate offers fleshy black cherry, clove, ground pepper and anise alongside firm, ripe tannins. Let the tannins unwind for a few more years then enjoy. KERIN O’KEEFE
This spicy rosso combines structure with sheer drinkability. It offers a beautiful bouquet of rose, violet and strawberry, while the palate reveals ripe black cherry, white pepper, tea and cinnamon flavors wrapped up in silky tannins. This is easily drinkable now, and best enjoyed young. KERIN O’KEEFE
Underbrush, truffle, pressed violet, tilled soil, eucalyptus and mature berry aromas unfold on this structured, elegant red. It is still young and primary, offering red cherry, black raspberry, menthol, licorice and dried herb alongside youthfully austere tannins that need to unwind. This will benefit from another decade of cellaring. KERIN O’KEEFE
Aromas of dark berry, mint, savory herb, blue flower and a balsamic note lead the nose. On the concentrated palate, notes of white pepper, cinnamon, clove, licorice and tobacco add depth to the black cherry core. Youthfully austere but fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity support the juicy flavors. Give this time to open and develop complexity. KERIN O’KEEFE
This wine is a bright, plump and succulent expression of Sangiovese Grosso, showing easy, crisp structure enhanced by bold aromas of plum, leather and spice. There's a silky, fine nature to the polished tannins.
Opening aromas recall underbrush, red berry, white mushroom, truffle and thyme with a whiff of leather. The palate offers restrained wild cherry accented with white pepper, mint and sage alongside tightly knit tannins. While the tannins need to unwind, this wine isn't made for long-term cellaring. Drink 2015–2019. KERIN O’KEEFE
Coffee, leather, licorice and plum cake flavors are deeply concentrated on this rich, opulent wine. There's fruit here too, in the form of cherry liqueur and blackberry pie. This is a robust and generous wine that will appeal to those who appreciate a darker side of Brunello.
You could easily pair this food-friendly Rosso di Montalcino with roasted chicken with rosemary potatoes and garlic. The nose here is bright and penetrating with earthy notes, mineral tones and loads of bright berry fruit. The mouthfeel is smooth and there's a touch of cherry sweetness as well.
This riserva Brunello delivers a dark and masculine approach with brawny aromas of cured meat, spice, black fruit and prune. Both the density and persistency are impressive and the wine ends with inky concentration and finely textured tannins.
Here is a generous, modern and bold expression of Sangiovese Grosso whose soft layers of chocolate and dark cherry fruit help soften the natural acidity and structure of the 2006 vintage. A polished mineral note adds attractive definition on the finish. Tight and very firm; age this wine 10–20 years.
This is a nicely balanced wine with bright cherry and berry flavors that are offset by sweet spice, almond and toasted oak. The wood elements already show integration and will continue to diminish with time. Give this wine five or so more years of cellar aging.
This is a very pleasurable, smooth and rich Riserva that lavishes layers of chocolate fudge, vanilla bean and bright cherry. Overall, it shows good intensity and smooth consistency.
Here's a tight and compact expression from Montalcino with bright tones of cherry wood, wild berries and violets that are delivered in steady aromatic pulses. The finish is not too long or persistent, but the flavors are fresh and very tasty while they last.
Here's another superstar Brunello Riserva from the excellent 2004 vintage. The aromas are rich and penetrating and recall cherry liqueur, cola, mesquite, cedar, wet earth and pressed violets. The wine's texture is streamlined and compact with polished tannins.
Here's a Brunello with thick concentration and broad aromas of mesquite smoke, black cherry and Indian spice. Despite that bold bouquet the wine is actually tight and compact in the mouth, where it performs with easy elegance thanks to its bright acidity and lively wild berry flavors.
Woodland-berry, forest-floor, Mediterranean herb and blue-flower aromas mingle with whiffs of dark spice and leather. Savory and loaded with finesse, the focused palate delivers black cherry, cranberry, baking spice and tobacco set against tightly knit polished tannins. It's balanced, with bright acidity. Drink 2023–2030.
- Kerin 0'Keefe
This fragrant red opens with scents that evoke violet, rose, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of damp soil. On the lithe palate, you'll find sour cherry, pomegranate and star anise set against polished tannins. Vibrant acidity lends balance and energy. Drink through 2024.
- Kerin 0'Keefe
Intense aromas of underbrush, wild berry, new leather and pipe tobacco lead the way on this fragrant Brunello. Full bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate features ripe morello cherry, licorice and truffle before a black-tea finish. Firm, refined tannins and fresh acidity keep balanced and give it an ageworthy structure. Drink 2024–2036. - CELLAR SELECTION
- Kerin O’Keefe
Ripe black-skinned fruit, violet, truffle and new leather are just some of the aromas you'll find on this gorgeous red. Delicious and full-bodied, the smooth, elegantly structured palate features juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco accompanied by a velvety backbone of taut, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2024–2036.
Cellar Selection
-Kerin O’Keefe
Inviting aromas of baked plum, violet, baking spice and sun-warmed hay come to the forefront along with a whiff of leather. The enveloping palate is delicious, delivering ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and nutmeg framed in tightly woven, polished tannins that lend finesse and a smooth texture. Drink 2024–2029.
-Kerin O’Keefe
Aromas of underbrush, blue flowers and ripe black-skinned fruit mingle with new leather. The concentrated, full-bodied palate doles out ripe plum, fleshy black cherry, star anise and tobacco set against velvety, enveloping tannins. A great performance for the scorching vintage, you won't have to wait long before enjoying this, but it will also offer years of fine drinking. Drink 2023–2029.
- Kerin O’Keefe
Aromas of camphor, ripe dark-skinned fruit and spice lead the nose along with a toasted note. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the firm palate exhibits ripe Morello cherry, licorice and espresso supported by taut, fine-grained tannins.
- Kerin O’Keefe
(REDS) -FINAL FOR THE 3 RED GLASSES / ROSSI - FINALE 3 BICCHIERI
Tra i 5 migliori Brunello di Montalcino 2018 Selezione
From the commitment and efforts made by the Pacenti family, here is an excellent product. Aged 42 months in oak. Density and tautness on the nose: cherry jam, a touch of aromatic herbs, rosemary, ending on the notes of licorice. Compact mouth, iodized tannins with an officinal taste returning on the finish.
- Luca Gardini
Another great interpretation for this firm. On the nose, alcohol-infused marasca cherries with touch of undergrowth from fresh marjoram. Balsamic in the mouth, a pleasant juiciness and tautness. Officinal fresh notes returning on the finish.
- Luca Gardini
Spicy nose for this very fine Brunello: fresh spices, alcohol-infused cherries, blackberries. A wonderful acidity emphasized in the mouthfeel that is ample, with perfectly integrated tannins for an impressive persistence.
- Luca Gardini
Great and decisive tannic sharpness for this product which is, also this one, of great aging potential. Its nose is very variegated, with leather, freshlycut grass aromas and a balsamic but not excessively marked end. It seems mostly fresh, breezy and irreverent while drinking. Its age will enrich it with wisdom and (perhaps) truth
- Luca Gardini
Violet, some touches half way between mint and rose, and a red ripe fruit are the sensations that characterize the nose. It does not have a great opening or communicative ability, at least in the initial part of the sip, which remains anchored to tones of violet and sour cherry. From mid sip on, it extends in a soft key, thanks to the appearance of a nice range of spices. Vivacious tannins of an acidic mix.
- Luca Gardini
Brunello from the Northern side. Fruity aromas that do not translate only the roughness of mixed berries but instead flank them with smoother impressions of peach, yellow-fleshed fruit, and plums. A measured taste, once again fruity, even if enriched by the spiciness of red peppercorn and nutmeg. Refined tannic texture.
- Luca Gardini
A great release of Brunello from the northeast slope of the denomination. Nose of freshness and finesse, notes of raspberry, touches of fresh marjoram and undergrowth. The mouthfeel is juicy-savoury, dense, with a nice spicy finish and persistence.
- Luca Gardini
Richness and complexity for a Riserva for years at the top of his category. From Vigna Vecchia Mercatale and Vigna Casaccia, on the skins for 28 days in steel, then at least 42 months in Slavonian oak. Raspberry jam on the nose, salty touches of Taggiasche olives, finish on the notes of rhubarb. Mouth with iodized tannins, persistence and fruity return.
- Luca Gardini
Another success in the path of the Ripaccioli family in search of the best possible quality. Nose of pomegranate, with notes of fresh thyme and touches of carnation. The mouthfeel is taut, with excellent density, salty tannins and a nice persistence.
- Luca Gardini
Di color rosso rubino offre profumi di more di rovo e peonia, con chiusura balsamica e iodata. Al gusto è teso e fresco con richiami di eucalipto e arancia sanguinella. Chiusura speziata e salata.Profondo
- Luca Gardini
From the highly vocated vineyard of the same name, a beautiful version of Brunello, typical of the north-eastern area of the denomination. Freshness to the nose, notes of black raspberry, touches of eucalyptus and undergrowth. The palate is juicy-sapid, dense, with return of fruit and undergrowth.
- Luca Gardini
Another refined Brunello from this winery succesfully led by Francesco Ripaccioli. North-western side of the ‘hill’. To the nose it opens with marasca cherries in alcohol, then nuances of rhubarb and linden. Equally balsamic to the palate, with juicy and dense-crisp tannins. Officinal return on the closure.
- Luca Gardini
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
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 -
A single vineyard of great thickness and inimitable balance, nose with notes of cranberry, then touches of eucalyptus and gardenia, with hints of juniper. Brackish palate, thick, with a return of cranberry and spicy notes.
- Luca Gardini -
A Brunello ‘vintage’ of balance and great tension of family Ripaccioli. All the varietal wealth of the northeast quadrant of the ‘hill’, black cherry, notes of clementine peel and laurel. Balsamic attack on the palate, with density and citrusy return. Closes on floral notes.
- Luca Gardini -
Tasted blind. Very heavy bottle! Lustrous deep ruby with orange rim. Sweet, brooding nose. Fragrant and elegant on the palate with plenty of polished tannins. Very fruit dominated on the finish, for the moment. Huge potential.
Walter Speller
Very heavy bottle! Dark, mature-looking ruby. Very slow to emerge from the glass and same reluctance on the palate. Key word is sweet concentration. A little leathery.
Walter Speller
Concentrated deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Fruit marked by nutty oak but with real depth and lots of concentration.
Walter Speller
Bright red. Ripe red fruits and strong mintiness. Pretty warm and round. Concentrated and still with sinewy tannins. Very dry - dried fruit - finish. Just a bit awkward.
Walter Speller
Concentrated maturing ruby with bricky rim. Amazingly fine, perfumed sweet nose with notes of tea leaves and pure cherry. Wonderful precision of fruit on the palate and richly tannic. The Barolo amongst the Brunello? No signs of age yet! Wonderful depth on the finish.
Walter Speller
Mid-to-dark mature-looking ruby with bright, brickstone rim. Sweet undergrowth, multi-layered dried fruit with some cherry creeping up. Hint of herb liqueur. Supple, full bodied and still a little closed. Sweetly aromatic on a tannic finish. Very slow to open up, and still could do with more time in the bottle. Lots of powdery tannins for the moment but with wonderful fine tangy acidity on the finish.
Walter Speller
Mid-deep ruby. Concentrated cherry with a whiff of fruit cake. Elegant palate with a medium weight to it and succulent. Generous aromatic finish and beautifully built, firm tannins. Walter Speller
Mid ruby with bright orange tinges. Fine oatmeal and cherry nose. Powerful, fruit-driven palate that is fantastically balanced. Very intense right now but possesses lots of depth and energy and beautifully polished tannins. Drink 2020-2034 Walter Speller
A spectacular wine in every sense: a firm, deep, minerally fruit nose, a composed but full palate with finely chiselled tannins and perfectly integrated juicy acidity. Long and layered and impossible to resist but deserves more bottle age.
- Walter Speller
Tasted blind. Lustrous mid ruby. Brooding yet quite closed on the nose. Ripe and sweet and at the same time tangy and elegant. It has everything: lots of tangy fruit, gripping tannins and elegant palate weight.
- Walter Speller
Mid ruby with some brick at the rim. More fruit sweetness but also more developed undergrowth compared with the Altesino Montosoli. Opens to a pretty floral fragrance. Firm, sweet and chewy, the fruit filling out the core. Young and lovely and so moreish.
- Julia Harding MW
Deep ruby. Reluctant and tight, yet classy nose with hints of oatmeal. Tightly wound and embryonic on the palate with a layer of sandy tannins. Great balance but needs at least another year in the bottle.
- Wlater Speller
Mid ruby with the beginning of orange. Fine concentrated nose with minerally hints. Concentrated, almost plush fruit on the palate with muscular tannins and completely integrated acidity that peeks up on the finish. Very impressive and ideally should get an additional year in bottle
- Walter Speller
Deep ruby with bricky tinges. Brooding nose hinting at sweet fruit. Monolithic and slow on the palate and with a fantastic balance between concentrated tangy fruit and ripe, gripping tannins. Patience needed.
- Walter Speller
Deep ruby with narrow orange rim. Quite herbal and savoury more than fruity at first, and really closed. Tightly packed fruit palate and richly tannic. A little austere at the moment, yet elegant and with real ageing potential.
- Walter Speller
Tasted blind. Maturing ruby with orange rim. A little bit stalky, but with brooding fruit underneath. The fruit makes quite a big impact on the palate, but is wonderfully matched by lots of grainy tannins and juicy acidity. A tiny bit singed, but overall irresistible.
- Walter Speller
Tasted blind. Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. Lifted, peppery and full nose, but not entirely open. Gorgeous cherry fruit tightly packed with tannins. Finely tuned like a sports car, if really tannic for the moment.
- Walter Speller
Maturing ruby with bright orange tinges. Still a little closed on the nose and with compact fruit that is slow to unfurl on the palate. Impressive balance and concentration. Spicy cherry fruit on the finish and powerful tannins. Put this away for a couple of years.
- Walter Speller
Pale to mid ruby. Very pure, direct, aromatic nose of definitely ripe fruit – impressive! Good build with light tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Arguably more Sangiovese than old-school Brunello but none the worse for that.
- Jansis Robinson
A blend of the Montosoli (60%) and Canalicchio (40%) crus.
Lustrous mid ruby. Closed, with minerally hints. Fantastic focus, concentration and balance and totally poised. Very pure, with long tannins. Enormous concentration yet not heavy. Very young but already irresistible.
-Walter Speller
Lustrous mid ruby. Leafy cherry hints but otherwise quite closed on the nose, yet with a clear sense of purity. Dense, yet elegant and with tangy acidity shooting through the mouth-filling fruit. Firm noble tannins add depth and contour. Real cru pedigree.
- Walter Speller
Just mid ruby. Some development on the nose with hints of forest floor but with quite pure cherry fruit underneath. Concentrated, focused cherry palate with a minty edge and bags of chewy tannins. Very long and gripping finish.
- Walter Speller
Just mid ruby with orange tinges. A subdued nose with malt-bread notes. Needs to take a very deep breath, while revealing oak hints. The palate displays fragrant marasca-cherry fruit balanced by supple acidity. Very long, concentrated and with beautiful, coating tannins.
- Walter Speller
Lustrous mid ruby with narrow orange rim. Deep, balsamic nose with a minerally tingle. Suave, succulent cherry fruit palate with firm, ripe grainy tannins. Very long and with plenty of structure. Fantastic balance. Concentrated and elegant at the same time, while the tannins demand more bottle age.
- Walter Speller
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
A tiny bit more developed (than the classic 2018 Brunello) lustrous ruby with orange, bricky narrow rim. There is a sense of richness combined with mineral intensity on the nose. Pure cherry and raspberry with a hint of orange and cinnamon bark. Juicy, minerally and savoury on the palate and with finely chiselled tannins. 15% but very elegant and poised.
-Walter Speller
Three years of cask ageing.
Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Finely spiced raspberry, but more savoury than fruity. Hints of cinnamon bark and cherry. Supple yet lively displaying great purity of fruit and super-fine sandy tannins clinging to the fruit. Tannic chew and freshness.
- Walter Speller
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 -
Deep ruby with orange tinges. Brooding raspberry with the merest suggestion of cardamon pod. Minty raspberry that grows in stature and concentration on the palate. Long, dramatic, aromatic finish with fine-grained tannins. Fantastic balance and precision. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
Very dark ruby with bricky rim. Spicy, minerally notes over generous cherry fruit. Lots of supple cherry fruit with a dose of well-judged tannins that cling to the fruit on the finish. A little riper and fuller than Montosoli, but has the bones to age gracefully. Drink 2026 – 2038.
- Walter Speller -
Da uve sangiovese, matura almeno 6 mesi in botte. Rubino cupo. Al naso marasca e frutti scuri di bella intensità. Tannino fine, succoso e con una progressione avvincente ed equilibrata e un finale in buona corrispondenza olfattiva.
- Riccardo Silla Viscardi, Stefania Vinciguerra
Da uve brunello, matura in botti da 30 hl per almeno 24 mesi. Classico rubino. Olfatto nitido e intenso su ciliegie nere mature e more. Una leggera affumicatura che introduce erbe officinali che danno freschezza. Trama e progressione fitte, nervose con tannino giovanile ma perfettamente integrato. Ottimo il finale per lunghezza e sobrietà. La zona nordica esprime le sue caratteristiche anche in annate torride ma qui c’e il trucco: piovve a metà settembre.
- Riccardo Viscardi
- Riccardo Viscardi -
Sensuale ed accattivante questo giovane rosso offre note di tiglio, magnolia, ibisco ed acacia ben fuse a sentori di lamponi, ribes e ciliegie disidratate. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini rotondi estremamente polimerizzati ed un finale solido e compatto. Che bello. Uno dei migliori Rosso di Montalcino nella splendida annata 2019. Bevi ora.
- Raffaele Vecchione
Nobile ed elegantissimo mostra note miste floreali e fruttate che ricordano i gerani, l’ibisco, le prugne rosse, la buccia di arancia arsa, la china e la terra bagnata. Corpo pieno, tannini perfettamente maturi ed integrati nella matrice ed un finale iconico punto di riferimento per la denominazione nel difficile millesimo. Meglio dal 2023.
- Raffaele Vecchione
Deciso e ricco di carattere mostra note miste floreali e fruttate che ricordano i fiori di ibisco, i gerani, la passiflora, le mandorle tritate ed il caramello dolce. Corpo medio-pieno, tannini morbidi di piacevole grana fine ed un finale succoso e balsamico di notevole bellezza. Meglio dal 2022.
- Raffaele Vecchione
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
Il frutto maturo esplode da ogni “angolo” del calice. Le note di prugne rosse, fragole, caramello dolce, incenso e cumino mostrano energia e carattere e raccontano nel migliore dei modi il Versante Nord di Montalcino nella località Canalicchio. Corpo medio, tannini perfettamente lineari di incredibile bellezza ed un finale che mostra succo e qualità del frutto impressionante. Meglio dal 2024.
- Raffaele Vecchione
Boom! Vigna la Casaccia nel millesimo 2018 è denso e compatto nel calice senza perdere in leggiadria e complessità sensoriale. Si alternano lentamente note di prugne nere, more, cannella in polvere, incenso, mirto selvatico, cumino e pepe nero. L’arancia sanguinella descrive il profilo secondario che si anima con buoni muscoli. Corpo pieno, tannini perfettamente morbidi di grana finissima ed un finale di lodevole bellezza. Meglio dal 2025.
- Raffaele Vecchione
Preciso e di buona natura fruttata alterna note di fragole, prugne rosse, basilico e mirto selvatico. Corpo medio, tannini soffici di grana fine ed un finale davvero succoso e lineare. Bevi ora.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
Coinvolgente e di notevole spessore enologico mostra complessità nella stratificazione di prugne rosse, fragoline di bosco, buccia di lime, glicine, timo selvatico, bosso e verbena. In sottofondo nuance nobili di carattere verde ricordano le foglie di tè verde e la menta piperita. Corpo medio, tannini morbidi di grana fine ed un finale equilibrato e piacevolissimo che fa della delicata potenza la sua arma migliore. Meglio dal 2025.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
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 -
Assolutamente intrigante e nobile nella matrice principale mostra note miste floreali e fruttate che ricordano il giacinto, le prugne rosse, le fragoline di bosco, il melograno, la buccia di limone, i mirtilli pressati e le foglie di tè nero. In sottofondo cola e bergamotto descrivono la scena secondaria di grande cifra stilistica. Corpo medio, tannini morbidi di ottima grana fine ed un finale sottile e delicato leggermente amaricante in chiusura. Meglio dal 2025.
- Raffaele Vecchione -
Brunello di Montalcino LA CASACCIA 2016 obtained the CORONA, the highest recognition assigned by GUIDA VINI BUONI D'ITALIA
Brunello di Montalcino LA CASACCIA 2017 obtained the CORONA, the highest recognition assigned by GUIDA VINI BUONI D'ITALIA
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
Elegantes, zurückhaltendes Bouquet mit reifen roten und blauen Beeren, dahinter geht es erdig und würzig zu: Liebstöckel, Graphit und trüffelige Sous-Bois-Noten, dazu kommen florale und mit Luft auch ätherische Anklänge, sehr komplex und changierend. Am Gaumen elegant und dicht gewoben, mit feinen ätherischen Noten und einer guten, griffigen Frische. Wie so oft: Ein starker, klassischer Basis-Brunello!
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.
Ebenso sehr komplexes und dichtes, nobles Bouquet mit à point reifen, überwiegend dunkelroten Beeren, dunklen Kirschen, Veilchen, Pfeffer und wieder erdigkräutrigen Noten. Sehr klar umrissenes Duftbild, das sich am dichten und druckvollen Gaumen fortsetzt. Das feinsandige Tanninkleid umhüllt gekonnt und nobel die konzentrierte Frucht und die würzig-mineralischen Noten, spannt sich ganz weit und ist ewig lang. Schöne Liaison aus Kraft und Eleganz mit der typischen Sangiovese-Frucht und Würze mit herrlichen ätherischen Noten im persistenten, mineralisch geprägten Finale. Einer der besten der Verkostung. Top 3. Bravo!
Rauchig-würziges Bouquet mit einer schönen Liaison aus reifer rot- und schwarz beeriger Frucht und floral- und kräuterwürzigen Noten, dahinter getrocknete Veilchen und Zedernwürze. Am Gaumen mit saftig-jugendlicher Frucht, fast kühl und griffig wirkend, feinsandiges Tannin, kraftvoll und dicht gewoben, langes, würziges Finale. 2025 – 2036
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Ausladendes Bouquet mit einer schönen Liaison aus reifer Frucht und floralwürzigen Noten. Hier treffen die saftigen Pflaumen auf getrocknete Veilchen und Zedernwürze. So geht es auch am saftigen Gaumen: wunderschöne SangioveseFrucht (dunkle Kirsche, Zwetschge) umrahmt von floralwürzigen und zart ledrigen Noten. 2025 – 2036
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Elegantes Bouquet mit reifen roten und schwarzen Beeren, dahinter geht es erdig und würzig zu: Lakritz, Graphit und trüffelige Sous-Bois-Noten, dazu kommen florale und mit Luft auch ätherische Anklänge, sehr kom plex. Am Gaumen elegant und distinguiert mit einer guten, griffigen Frische. Ein finessenreicher Basis-Brunello, der die Vorzüge des Jahrgangs zeigt! [2026 – 2038]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
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 -
Ungemein komplexes und tiefgestaffeltes, ätherisch-kräutriges Bouquet mit à point reifen, überwiegend dunklen Beeren, Tabak und wieder erdig-kräutrigen Noten. Sehr klar umrissene Struktur am Gaumen, messerscharf konturiert, ungemein druckvoll, gekonnt umhüllt vom feinen, eleganten Tanninkleid, nobel mit konzentrierter Frucht und würzig-mineralischen Noten, spannt sich ganz weit mit wunderbarer Fruchtsüße und Frische. Schöne Liaison aus Kraft und Eleganz, sehr persistent und lang im Finale mit der typischen Sangiovese Würze und ätherischen Noten. Einer der besten der Verkostung. [2026 – 2042]
- Giuseppe Lauria -
Guida Vitae 2023
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
Considering the location of Canalicchio di Sopra’s vineyards to the east and north of Montalcino there should be every reason to think that 2017 would not pose the problem to making a top Annata. Francesco Ripaccioli would likely smile that wry smile when he knows that the year was in fact a magnanimous challenge but he would also follow up with that confident smile of this. Ripaccioli has the fortune and the instincts, to mix and match, to layer and compliment, to figure with mathematical precision and this wine expresses all that an more. There is cut and linearity, a finest architectural line and a freshness that belies what heat might want to take control. A fine classico for Montalcino that speaks to the best of all worlds within. Drink 2023-2030. Tasted November 2021.
- Michael Godel
This is where all the recent hard work put by Francesco Ripaccioli and team really comes to light and fruition. La Casaccia is northerly-ish but certainly not Montosoli and yet the aromatic profile of this Vigna-designate Brunello is laced with cool nuance and found to be full of fine finesse. As per the Canalicchio di Sopra idiom there is plenty of wood casking through the bones of the wine and yet one can feel the highest quality of those large vessels gifting a select strength leading to the chic style, surely to be followed by one and the half decades of aging. All what needs, what is and must be for La Casaccia. Drink 2023-2030. Tasted November 2021.
- Michael Godel
Enstablished in 1992 by Primo Pacenti and one of the 12 founding members of the Brunello Consorzio, Canalicchio di Sopra owns a magnificent 60ha property on the north side of Montalcino, of which 19ha are planted to vines. With its pure, elegant perfume, Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2018 is a marvelously composed wine, with silky-firm texture, fine but firm tannins, succulent, fresh acids, and terrific length. I love the harmony and balance, the lingering, perfumed finish. A very fine wine that will please early on, even now, though surely age gracefully into the ‘30s. Grace and sophistication personified.
-John Szabo
Great anticipation to taste La Casaccia and Montosoli side by each from a vintage carrying no option but to act out the passion play through the glaring clarity of a sense of place. There are facts involved and there is no hiding the truth formed by these plots of sangiovese in this vintage. By now it is understood how 2018 exists on its own accord at one with nature though Francesco Ripaccioli will tell you there are similarities with 2013, if only because that vintage was greatly ignored and is drinking well at this time. La Casaccia in the località of Canalicchio is the wildcard of Montalcino and tasting several wines from the frazione reveals a collective affinity supplied by the year’s gifts. Nothing was portioned or taken away from the ’18 Annata and yet this Vigna sings with even more range and depth than that wine. The acids are simply out of this proverbial world, the linear aspects drawn with precise architectural or even, in Old English speak, a Cutter’s line. Remarkable reserve in concentration and forward slicing finesse. Forever long. Forever young. Drink 2025-2038.
- Michael Godel
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
The most recent plantings at Canalicchio were executed in 2009 next to the 1990 La Casaccia vineyard. These vines are maturing and will likely seek entrance into the Vigna label but for now they are picked for this classic Brunello. They may not be grapes of enigma or mystery but they are the epitome of purity and the Brunello represents a high-casted estate style to explain so much about the house of Ripaccioli and Canalicchio di Sopra. The 2019 Brunello is a wine of silkiness but not opulence. A sangiovese that is an extension of a producer’s hands and there is no separating the wine from its maker. As for place well yes because all the vineyards are close enough to one another to combine for unmistakable identity. Drink 2023-2026.
- Michael Godel -
La Casaccia is a brown clay with a prominence of calcium carbonate that gives this single vineyard sangiovese its colour. A place of high (8.2-8.3) pH characterized by the clay. "For me it's sleekness," tells Francesco Ripaccioli, "not opulence and less heaviness than from (a vineyard) of dense clay." La Casaccia from that calcareous clay is no simple Rosso or classic Brunello for that matter and it is immediately apparent that concentration and depth of all parts manage the wine's breadth at levels those drink earlier propositions do not. Similar grip to Riserva but not the same power although without tasting Riserva at the same time it would be hard to imagine how this could be improved or extrapolated upon. Simple but crazy complex and a most evocative elucidation to see this Brunello wooing with as much substance and intensity as it does - but these are the 2019s. A matter of deliberately annotating sangiovese and Casaccia through this interaction with a Brunello that enhances a taster's understanding, recall and reaction to the vintage. Drink 2027-2038.
- Michael Godel -
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 -
Absolutely smooth and precise as is common with all the wines of Canalicchio di Sopra, I love the purity in this wine, all up front gorgeous fruit aromas and flavours, but there are still elements of complexity that linger long in your memory and taste buds. The vintage was a great one in Montalcino and owner Francesco Ripaccioli made one sensational wine after another.
- Ian D'Agata
Bright medium red. Linear red cherry, plum, tar, licorice and violet aromas. Currently youthful and still chunky, with deep flavours similar to the aromas, this will develop nicely in a good cellar and reveal a complex, multilayered personality. Finishes long and with very smooth tannins.
- Ian D'Agata -
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 -
Bright medium red. Very pretty violet and red cherry aromas and flavours with hints of spicy cinnamon and nutmeg. Fleshy but precise, this finishes long clean and mineral. Owner Francesco Ripaccioli has arguably made the best pair of Brunellos of any estate from the 2018 vintage. Drinking window: 2027-2038.
- Ian D'Agata -
Bright medium red with garnet highlights. Aromas and flavours of ripe red cherry, plum, and orange peel are complemented by strong notes of tobacco and earth. Perfumed and luscious on entry, then somewhat broad and diffuse in the middle, with ripe red cherry, plum nectar and redcurrant jelly flavours complicated by a dusting of wild herbs. Very fine tannins leave a suave mouthfeel behind on the long, savoury finish that features repeating strong nuances of sweet pipe tobacco. Drinking window: 2023-2033.
- Ian D’Agata -
Luminous red. Open-knit red plum, blood orange and red cherry aromas and flavours are complemented by hints of tobacco and herbs. Closes smooth and ripe, with very good palate presence. Drinking window: 2024-2039.
- Ian D'Agata -
Medium-deep. Vibrant aromas of strawberry, peppery herbs and truffle. Then smooth and sultry, with multilayered flavours of red cherry, preserved plum, star anise, cinnamon and oaky spices. Long, balanced and suave on the rising finish. This will be a knockout in due course. Drinking window: 2030-2044.
- Ian D'Agata -
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.
Within the Canalicchio area, the Casaccia vineyard boasts a high clay content, which helped curb water stress in 2017. As with all Canalicchio di Sopra’s wines, the grapes were double-sorted to remove any green or sun-dried berries. Pristine in aromas and flavours, this offers clove, cardamom, mint and sweet dark earth on a backdrop of black cherries. The ample, mouth-filling palate is hemmed in by compact, sandy tannins. Underlying succulence makes this quite moreish. Drinking Window 2024 - 2032
- Michaela Morris
Canalicchio di Sopra began harvesting Brunello on 25 September - just one day earlier than in 2016. Francesco Ripaccioli credits the significant diurnal temperature differences during the preceding month for measured ripening as well as preservation of acidity. The estate Brunello, which is a blend of vineyards in the Montosoli and Canalicchio zones, starts with smoky, flinty notes then gives way to intense herb blossoms. The palate is where it really struts its stuff at the moment, particularly the texture. It grips confidently in all the right places. Packed with flavours of small forest berries and dusty gravel, it finishes with a refreshing salty kick. Drinking Window 2023 - 2031
- Michaela Morris
Canalicchio di Sopra’s Riserva is typically crafted from the estate’s oldest plantings. In 2016, it combines two sites: Vigna Vecchia Mercatale in Canalicchio and the Filari Lunghi vineyard on the Montosoli hill. It is intensely balsamic in fragrance, flaunting mint and rosemary on a backdrop of dark, rain-soaked soil. Flint and tobacco notes hover in the background. The palate is pure and upright. Tight, linear tannins penetrate the compact core of black brooding berries. Then, the palate is suddenly refreshed by a tangy, stony minerality. This still needs time to meld, but all the elements are there for a long life. Drinking Window 2025 - 2042
- Michaela Morris
Profondo, un po' tabacco, catrame e un po' nocciola, aroma di bacche nere e rosse mature con sfumature floreali secche che ricordano i petali di rosa e un po' di note eteree. Crostata, matura, frutta piuttosto scura, aromi di noce e legno leggermente speziato di cacao, note pepate e di ginepro, mineralità salata, con tutta la sua potenza anche note rinfrescanti, buona profondità, struttura ferma, abbastanza complesso, ma trasparente e lucido, ancora giovane, molto buono, fermo, crostata e finale speziato.
Einladende Noten von Waldbeeren und Sandelholz; der Ansatz geschliffen, besitzt präzise Säure und engmaschiges Tannin, intensiv-würziges Fruchtfinale. Muss sich noch etwas abrunden.
- Christian Eder
Warmduftige Nase nach Kirschen und Veilchen; saftiger Auftakt, die Tannine und die Säure in perfekter Symbiose, viel Saft und Schmelz bis ins Finale. Ein Allrounder.
- Christian Eder
Kirsch- und Blütenaromen prägen das Bouquet, auch würzige Pfeffernoten; stets verlässliche Machart, gefällt mit seiner Struktur und dem verführerisch-eleganten Finish. Hervorragender Essensbegleiter.
- Christian Eder
Ruby red in colour with pale mauve undertones. Jet propelled rush to the senses. Rich black fruits introduce dusky floral notes dipped in exotic spices. Liquorice, clove and mint nuances loiter around solid core of juicy fruit that saturates the mid palate. Completely seduces the imbiber. A trophy winner of a wine.
- Tony Wood
Ruby red in colour. Sour berries vie with candid citrus fruits. Aromatics of sweet perfumed florals and spice have you rolling from side to side. Silky soft textures perform aerobatics on the mid palate. Contains the ‘Big Bang” of energy at its core. Brunello 2017 vintage…I can’t believe it!!!
- Tony Wood
Absorbing display of black cherry, blackberries, violet florals and menthol. Quickly followed by fresh juicy textured nuances of red berries and balsamic notes, leave you almost gasping for breath. Sweet notes then savoury ones bombard the senses on this hedonistic experience. Phenomenal length and balance.
- Tony Wood
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 -
Ruby red in colour. Wild meadow florals and violet awaken the senses. Wild black berries, boysenberry, dark plum and blackberry assisted by refreshing acidity and rounded tannins lift the palate to experience the layered intensity and textural resonance. The sheer appeal of this wine is mind blowing. Balance and energy are a given…
- Tony Wood -
Medium ruby red in colour. White cherry, wild strawberry, goji berries, dry floral underbrush, a dusting of exotic spice, salty liquorice and a hint of cedar balm. Focused. Balanced. Precise. Finely etched minerality. Very persistent intense finish.
- Tony Wood -
Bright ruby red in colour. Aromas of red fruits and berries and white florals. Compact, forest floor, dried mushroom and blonde tobacco. Savoury. Juicy. Slate minerality. Tannins provide structure that texture, acidity and balance interplay. Still showing youthful tendencies. Linear close.
- Tony Wood -
Deep ruby red in colour with light amber rim. Super concentration of red cherry, berries, blood orange, prune and spice. Earthy notes. Fully placed on its plateau, full bodied but not heavy, white smoke and roast meat notes on the medium length finish.
- Tony Wood -
Intense ruby red in colour. Distant violet floral aromatics and rose petal. Mixture of red and black berries, light notes of spice maybe pepper. A young Brunello so compact with a balanced fruity structure that plays to the finish.
- Tony Wood -
Deep intense ruby red in colour. My first thought was: ‘this is still a baby’. Black cherry, plum, redcurrant, toasted tobacco, dried lavender, fully integrated fine tannins counter balanced with fresh acidity. Spice and pepper notes. Would have loved to re-taste this over 24 hours. This is a massive wine that takes time to fully appreciate. The reserve of energy this wine contains is mind blowing.
- Tony Wood -
Medium ruby red in colour. Intense aromas of blue florals including violet, hyacinth and bluebell, assisted with cedar shavings, liquorice and distant mocha notes. Wild cherry, strawberry, loganberry, blood orange, balsamic notes, complex layered minerality. The entry, can be described as “an iron hand in a velvet glove.” Secondary notes of warm plum and mellow spice. Beautifully extracted. Good weight yet refined and elegant. Light in texture. Impressive.
- Tony Wood -
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 -
Bright ruby red in colour. Aromatics of blue florals, dried herbs and mellow spice. Small dark fruits abound, liquorice, blonde tobacco and distant cinnamon. Close knit fine tannins. Not an easy wine to fully appreciate at first, it has tremendous resonance, great structural integrity and soft textural curves. This wine is unique in as much it plays “hide and seek” with its interviewer. Personally I know it’s a stunning wine that needs time to relax and show all its fine character.
- Tony Wood -
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
The Vigna Casaccia 2018 opens with aromas of underbrush, leather, dark spice and whiffs of violet. More closed than the Brunello Annata, it’s also more structured, showing ripe dark-skinned berry, licorice, tobacco and balsamic notes recalling eucalyptus. Tight, fine-grained tannins provide support while great acidity keeps it fresh and balanced. Drink 2026–2040.
- Kerin O'Keefe
The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino from Canalicchio di Sopra boasts great aromatics of wild rose, new leather forest floor and perfumed berry that align with whiffs of spice. It’s savory and loaded with finesse, featuring juicy red cherry, botanical herb, white pepper and iron mineral notes framed in taut, lithe tannins. Blending grapes from their Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards created an ideal, natural balance. Drink through 2038.
- Kerin O'Keefe
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 -
The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Vigna La Casaccia is fantastic. Generous and powerfully built, it also has a weightless grace, featuring aromas of black-skinned fruit, iris and camphor while the enveloping palate delivers ripe plum, mature black-skinned berry, licorice and cake spice. Velvety, enveloping tannins give it a smooth texture while fresh acidity keeps it balanced.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
New leather, camphor, forest floor and exotic brown spice aromas lead the nose on the robust, savory 2019 Brunello from Canalicchio. This is a big, bold red, delivering liquor-soaked prune, succulent black cherry, licorice and tobacco alongside a backbone of firm, tightly woven tannins. You’ll also feel the warmth of alcohol on the close.
- Kerin O’Keefe -
Canalicchio is northeast of Montalcino, criss-crossed by man-made canals, and is known for its clay soils and cooler aspects. Canalicchio di Sopra blends the grapes from around its winery with those from estate vineyards in Montosoli, the other hill northeast of Montalcino, which is drier with warmer western aspects and stonier soils. The blend produces a vibrant nose with notes of fresh bing cherry, and earthy smatterings of underbrush and rust. The cherry fruit is lifted by 2018’s effusive acidity and after it balloons on to the front palate is followed by a meaty savouriness. Tactile ridges of tannin run from mid-palate back, overlaid with a bitterness that balances out the ebullience of the entry.
- Sarah Heller MW -
Casaccia is a single vineyard in the Canalicchio area northeast of Montalcino. Here the cooler, windy mesoclimate and clay soils typically produce plump fruit, but with tannins of great finesse. This single cru bottling fulfils a long-term goal of owner Francesco Ripaccioli to capture the uniqueness of its various Sangiovese sites. The nose is initially earthy and dark with roasted chestnut, cigar and polished leather over amarena cherry. In keeping with the cooler 2018 vintage, a refreshing hit of acidity, menthol and eucalyptus strike the front palate just a beat before the fruit catches up. The tannins are like a finely woven wool suit that's cut close to the figure, but without being tight; the fruit returns on the finish, surprisingly fresher than before.
- Sarah Heller MW -
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 -
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