Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: un terreno con una spiccata componente argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per il nostro Brunello di Montalcino Annata sono state usate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 50% e Montosli 50%).
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
15%
2256 Bottiglie da 375 ml
42354 Bottiglie da 750 ml
1447 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
103 Bottiglie da 3000 ml
50 Bottiglie da 5000 ml
5 Bottiglie da 12000 ml
5 Bottiglie da 18000 ml
Dal punto di vista climatico la 2019 può essere definita un’annata moderatamente calda ma mai torrida, senza eccessivi e prolungati picchi di calore, che ha beneficiato per tutta la stagione di forti escursioni termiche che hanno agevolato un’importante attività fotosintetica della pianta a favore di una perfetta maturazione.
L’inverno è stato caratterizzato da temperature molto basse, con un mese di gennaio in cui le minime sono scese costantemente sotto lo zero termico, favorendo un raffreddamento dei suoli che è stato fondamentale per una ripresa vegetativa regolare e non anticipata. Le precipitazioni cumulate nei mesi di gennaio, febbraio e marzo sono state di 100 mm, non altissime ma comunque più che sufficienti a garantire un’ottima riserva idrica per la partenza del nuovo ciclo vegetativo, già sufficientemente garantita dall’autunno piovoso. Aprile e maggio sono stati due mesi piovosi (rispettivamente con 88mm e 148 mm di pioggia), caratterizzati da temperature in linea con le medie stagionali e da fenomeni mai violenti che hanno permesso una gestione ottimale dei vigneti garantendo un’ottima riserva per l’estate. Il 29 maggio ha visto la fine delle piogge e l’inizio di un periodo con assenza di fenomeni piovosi che è perdurato fino al 26 di luglio, salvo piccolissime precipitazioni. È stato questo, a nostro avviso, uno dei periodi chiave dell’annata: una fioritura regolare, senza piogge, con temperature miti e mai eccessive che si sono poi protratte fino a fine giugno e che hanno garantito uno sviluppo costante e rispettoso delle fasi fenologiche della vite, equilibrato ed uniforme, e garantito l’assenza di malattie fungine. Dal 25 giugno al 9 luglio abbiamo registrato il momento più caldo della stagione con temperature massime intorno ai 35 gradi ma anche minime costantemente intorno ai 15-17 gradi: in queste condizioni, anche con temperature più calde, la pianta ha avuto giornalmente la possibilità di “respirare” grazie alle notti fresche e questo ha garantito un corretto e regolare andamento. Il 27 luglio, provvidenziale, è arrivata una pioggia che ha allontanato le piante dal rischio di stress idrico: i 60 mm caduti il 27/28 luglio uniti ai 30 mm del 22-24 agosto ed ai 12mm del 01 settembre hanno fatto sì che la pianta avesse sempre a disposizione quella quantità di acqua, né poca né troppa, necessaria a continuare un ciclo vegetativo regolare. In questo ultimo periodo si sono registrate inoltre temperature molto regolari, senza ondate di calore che potessero compromettere la qualità degli acini in invaiatura e successivamente in maturazione, con temperature massime sui 30-32 C° sempre compensate da escursioni termiche di 15-20 C° per giorno che hanno completamente evitato bruciature. Prima dell’inizio della vendemmia abbiamo avuto un’ultima pioggia di circa 90 mm, il 22 di settembre, che non ha minimamente intaccato la qualità delle uve e ha anzi aiutato a riequilibrare e lavare le uve prima dell’entrata in cantina.
L’analisi di tutti gli indici climatici conferma e giustifica l’eccezionalità della vendemmia 2019: con un indice di Fregoni di circa 400, un indice di Huglin di 2500 e un cumulato di piogge di 520 mm.
2019: RAFFINATA POTENZA
Parlare della 2019 come di una delle annate più belle degli ultimi decenni, annoverare questa annata fra le grandi annate del territorio montalcinese, crediamo che non sia una forzatura, tantomeno un errore.
La 2019, a nostro avviso, rispetta quei canoni di “Raffinata Potenza” che solo annate di grande bilanciamento riescono a dare, spostando in alto l’asticella dell’equilibrio e portando con sé tanto di tutto: dalla perfetta maturazione fenolica, che ne esalta la “Potenza”, alla straordinaria maturazione tecnologica, che grazie al mantenimento di un ottimo quadro acido ne sottolinea la “Raffinatezza”. Sempre in bilico fra mostrare i muscoli e la grazia, sensazioni così diverse ma anche magicamente complementari in un grande vino da lungo affinamento: la 2019 sorprende per l’armonia e l’equilibrio che solo le grandi annate sanno raggiungere.
Come ogni annata, il risultato è il frutto di un percorso agronomico che nel 2019 è stato regolare dal punto di vista di apporto idrico, tendenzialmente caldo ma mai torrido e con grandi escursioni termiche che ne hanno favorito la maturazione e la concentrazione, salvaguardando la freschezza e la fragranza. Questo andamento ha favorito una grande espressività olfattiva dove la purezza del frutto viene esaltata dalle classiche note balsamiche della zona nord di Montalcino, senza mai sopraffare l’elegante florealità che rimane un tratto distintivo dei vini “Canalicchio di Sopra”. L’ottimo andamento climatico ha definito una vendemmia a due dimensioni riuscendo a coniugare l’opulenza con la verticalità dei vini, la setosità con la mineralità, la dolcezza con la sapidità.
Segno distintivo di questa annata è la capacità di raccontare il territorio, le sfumature dei singoli vigneti e delle sottozone dove coltiviamo il nostro Sangiovese in maniera marcata e profonda, tanto da esaltarne le differenze e le peculiarità.
La vendemmia è iniziata il 26 settembre dai vigneti più giovani destinati alla produzione di Rosso di Montalcino Doc per poi proseguire ininterrottamente fino al 6 di ottobre, in giornate soleggiate e con grandi escursioni termiche che ci hanno consentito di portare in cantina uve fresche e fragranti, facilitando fermentazioni regolari e con lunghe estrazioni. La qualità delle bucce, perfettamente mature e ricche in polifenoli, ci ha consentito vinificazioni che sono iniziate con le consuete e delicate operazioni meccaniche di rimontaggio e délestage, seguite da un lungo periodo di macerazione sulle bucce che in molti casi ha raggiunto i 35 giorni.
Il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2019 “Canalicchio di Sopra” è, come da tradizione, un assemblaggio al 50% fra i due terroir su cui si trovano i nostri vigneti, Canalicchio e Montosoli. Il nostro vino bandiera, prodotto dal 1966, è in ogni annata alla ricerca dell’equilibrio perfetto cercando di rendere complementari questi due territori.
La 2019 si esprime con dirompenza, avvolgenza e freschezza dentro una cornice di grande struttura ed eleganza. L’annata esalta la balsamicità, l’opulenza e la mineralità del nostro Sangiovese che si muove in un contesto vibrante e setoso.
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per il nostro Brunello di Montalcino Annata sono state usate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 50% e Montosli 50%).
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
1620 Bottiglie da 375 ml
33247 Bottiglie da 750 ml
870 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
80 Bottiglie da 3000 ml
3 Bottiglie da 12000 ml
3 Bottiglie da 18000 ml
La 2018 dal punto di vista climatico può essere definita un’annata fresca con una tendenza piovosa sopra la media degli ultimi anni, ma che ha beneficiato dell’azione del vento nel mese di settembre che è stato un prezioso alleato per garantire un corretto equilibrio del peso dell’acino acino e quindi bilanciare maturazioni tecnologiche e fenoliche. L’interpretazione del vignaiolo è stata fondamentale per lasciare sulla pianta una quantità di uva in linea con la necessità di avere maturazioni importanti, nell’ottica di equilibrio fra struttura e acidità.
L’inverno è stato caratterizzato da abbondanti precipitazioni (che hanno ri-equilibrato le riserve di acqua nel terreno inficiate dalla siccitosa annata 2017) e temperature fredde che hanno assicurato una successiva ripartenza vegetativa con piante ottimali dal punto di vista sanitario.
La primavera ha avuto temperature fresche e precipitazioni che hanno spostato in avanti di qualche giorno germogliamento e fioritura.
L’estate è stata caratterizzata da temperatura massime mai torride dove solo in rari giorni si sono superati i 30 C°. 30 C° che sono stati tuttavia raggiunti praticamente tutti i giorni da metà giugno a fine agosto e che hanno assicurato alle piante una maturazione continua e regolare. Ad accezioni di alcuni picchi di 2-3 giorni a fine luglio dove si sono raggiunti i 35-36 C° , l’estate è stata quindi costantemente mite, con forti escursioni giornaliere che hanno garantito una maturazione tecnologica costante e omogenea.
Nelle prime due settimane di settembre ci sono stati due eventi di pioggia importanti dove sono caduti 20 mm il 01 settembre e 35 mm il 17 settembre. Questi eventi avrebbero potuto compromettere la qualità dell’annata con un accrescimento del peso dei grappoli e la naturale diluizione della concentrazione e struttura delle uve. Fortunatamente i venti di Tramontana e di Grecale hanno che hanno accompagnato gli eventi piovosi hanno avuto l’effetto di asciugare i grappoli disidratando gli stessi della parte in eccesso di acqua e riportando in equilibrio il peso degli acini, assicurando agli stessi un’ottima concentrazione salvaguardando al contempo le acidità.
Nei 30 giorni antecedenti la vendemmia si sono avute forte escursioni fra giorno e notte che hanno garantito di raggiungere un elevato valore dell’indice di Fregoni (superiore a 500) che pone l’annata fra le annate con grande capacità di affinamento per i vini
La vendemmia si è svolta dal 28 settembre al 5 ottobre in un periodo soleggiato con fortissime escursioni termiche e temperature notturne spesso inferiori ai 10 C° che ci hanno permesso di portare in cantina uve sane con un profilo aromatico floreale, fragrante e ottima purezza del frutto.
2018: UN’ANNATA TRASPARENTE
Ci piace definire l’annata 2018 come un’annata TRASPARENTE, volendo cogliere con questo termine il suo significato legato alla grande capacità di questa annata di far trasparire nelle bottiglie l’unicità e le caratteristiche dei terreni dove i vini sono nati. Nel concetto di valorizzazione del terroir che è il perno fondamentale della nostra filosofia produttiva entrano in gioco diversi fattori: ESPERIENZA UMANA, CLIMA E TERRENO. L’annata 2018 per noi esalta in modo chiaro e leggibile la terza componente, ovvero quella del TERRENO, essendo stata, in totale controtendenza con le ultime annate, un’annata fresca e leggermente più piovosa della media, dove il clima non ha avuto un’impronta omologante ma al contrario ha lasciato “trasparire” nei vini le peculiarità dei diversi suoli da cui le uve provengono. Azzardando un paragone la 2018 si presenta come un mix incentrato sull’eleganza e la tensione fra la fresca annata 2008 e la classica annata 2013, creando fra le due un equilibrio perfetto che si traduce in freschezza, mineralità e lunghezza tannica, senza trascurare pienezza e profondità: mix perfetto per classificare la 2018 come annata da lungo affinamento ma anche di grande piacevolezza ed estremamente gastronomica.
In ogni annata ci sono dei punti di svolta, dei momenti cruciali che ne caratterizzano il risultato finale, la sua identità e le sue caratteristiche principali, momenti senza i quali il risultato sarebbe stato molto diverso. Il punto di svolta nella 2018 è arrivato prima della vendemmia, quando venti di Grecale e Tramontana da Nord- Nord/Est, hanno iniziato a soffiare in modo continuo e con forza concentrando i grappoli che fino a quel momento erano leggermente con un peso sopra la media a causa delle piogge di settembre. Queste condizioni hanno favorito l’asciugatura e la perdita di una percentuale di acqua tale da riportare in equilibrio la maturazione tecnologica e quella fenolica assicurando agli acini un bilanciamento ed una maturazione ottimale, salvaguardando al tempo stesso le acidità. Giornate soleggiate con forti escursioni termiche nei giorni di vendemmia hanno assicurato alle uve un profilo aromatico floreale ed elegante, fresco e balsamico che si unisce ad una bocca vibrante ed incalzante, lunga e sapida che gioca sulla piacevolezza e l’equilibrio Le operazioni di alleggerimento dei grappoli togliendo quelli con grado di maturazione più arretrato insieme ad una meticolosa cernita sui tavoli di scelta in cantina hanno garantito alle uve portate in cantina concentrazione e ottima maturazione fenolica.
La vendemmia proprio per le sue caratteristiche di freschezza è iniziata leggermente in ritardo rispetto alla tendenza degli ultimi anni, in un periodo con temperature fresche dal 28 settembre al 05 ottobre
La vendemmia 2018 è stata la prima realizzata all’interno della nuova cantina di Canalicchio di Sopra inaugurata proprio in occasione della vendemmia.
Il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2018 “Canalicchio di Sopra” è come da tradizione un assemblaggio al 50% fra i due terroir su cui si trovano i nostri vigneti. Dallo stile di un’annata fresca e “trasparente” ne deriva un vino che fa emergere in modo netto ma anche complementare le caratteristiche dei due terreni e delle due microzone: se da Montosoli proviene la tensione e la sapidità e quel tocco di florealità che contraddistingue la collina, da Canalicchio proviene la setosità del tannino, la sua avvolgenza e quella nota balsamica figlia anche delle forti escursioni termiche che si sono succedute prima della vendemmia e delle notti fredde durante la raccolta che hanno assicurato ai vini fragranza e acidità. In questa annata questo vino è stato impreziosito dalla scelta di non produrre la nostra Riserva con la conseguenza che le uve del vigneto Vigna Vecchia Mercatale sono state usate nell’assemblaggio del nostro Brunello Classico, donando al vino anche la profondità propria di questi vigneto
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per il nostro Brunello di Montalcino Annata sono state usate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 50% e Montosli 50%).
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
1620 Bottiglie da 375 ml
36149 Bottiglie da 750 ml
1187 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
80 Bottiglie da 3000 ml
30 Bottiglie da 5000 ml
4 Bottiglie da 12000 ml
3 Bottiglie da 18000 ml
La 2017 dal punto di vista climatico può essere definita un’annata estrema simile in molti aspetti climatici alla 2012, dove questi estremi sono diventati sicuramente il suo punto di forza in termini di piacevolezza, opulenza e prontezza di beva.
La primavera ha avuto temperature miti e poche precipitazioni che hanno caratterizzato un anticipo del germogliamento e ella fioritura. I primi mesi estivi sono stati molto caldi con temperature sopra le medie e assenza di piogge, situazione da un lato ottimale dal punto di vista sanitario con assenza di malattie, dall’altro di forte stress per le piante che però soprattutto nei terreni più argillosi del Cru Canalicchio hanno retto molto bene grazie alla riserva idrica abbondante accumulata dopo la vendemmia 2016.
Fra la fine di luglio e la fine di agosto ci sono state piogge fondamentali per apportare quella spinta necessaria ad una buona invaiatura, piogge che sono state in media con un’annata normale per un totale di 30 mm. Gli acini formati erano di dimensioni molto piccole con grande concentrazione e le piogge insieme ad un abbassamento delle temperature addirittura sotto le medie stagionali hanno permesso un’invaiatura omogenea ed equilibrata che ha creato le basi per una vendemmia si anticipata, ma non tanto quanto pensavamo a luglio quando il caldo e la siccità stavano compromettendo la tenuta delle piante.
I 30 millimetri di piogge del 01 settembre ed i 30 millimetri del 16 settembre, il raffrescamento delle temperature e le forti escursioni termiche sono stati la svolta qualitativa dell’annata, quello che ha permesso di non anticipare troppo la vendemmia, di non incidere troppo sulle acidità che sono rimaste equilibrate e relativamente alte a supporto di struttura, concentrazione ed alcolicità, garantendo ai vini equilibrio ed eleganza.
La vendemmia si è svolta in un periodo normale proprio grazie a questi fattori climatici di settembre, partendo il 25 settembre e terminando il 6 di ottobre.
Abbiamo operato con una doppia selezione sia in vigna che in cantina attraverso tavoli di cernita e selezioni sui singoli acini per eliminare imperfezioni di acini asciugati dal sole di giugno e di luglio che avrebbero conferito astringenza al tannino e amarezza al frutto. Questa operazione ha sicuramente influito dal punto di vista quantitativo per la nostra azienda ma ci ha permesso di mantenere un alto standard qualitativo.
2017: La sorprendente freschezza di un’annata calda
L’annata 2017 viene climaticamente classificata fra le annate calde e asciutte, dove la pianta ha cercato e trovato un naturale e sorprendente adattamento a condizioni abbastanza estreme per la zona di Montalcino. In un'annata calda e siccitosa, la sfida più importante è quella di mantenere godibilità, freschezza e purezza del frutto. Il percorso stagionale ed agronomico è stato una continua sfida, di interpretazioni, paure ma anche culminato con un grande sospiro di sollievo quando a fine agosto sono arrivate le piogge che hanno riequilibrato pianta e frutto, donandogli la possibilità di beneficiare di grandi condizioni climatiche nei 20 giorni prima della vendemmia, quelli più importanti e cruciali. Le tre settimane che hanno preceduto la vendemmia sono state infatti da GRANDE VENDEMMIA, con temperature miti durante il giorno e fresche durante la notte, escursioni climatiche elevate e giornate sane e asciutte intervallate da un paio di piogge subito asciugate dal vento. Questa annata ci ha dato l’ulteriore conferma che la grande vendemmia arriva quando si creano condizioni perfette prima della raccolta, e questo nel 2017 è successo. Ne consegue un vino dalla grande personalità, generoso al naso, avvolgente e sensuale, che stupisce per la freschezza in bocca e per il sorprendente bilanciamento che lo rende di grandissima godibilità. Fuoco e ghiaccio, dolcezza e sapidità, balsamicità e frutto, un mix di ingredienti che rendono questa annata di estrema piacevolezza ma gli donano anche la serietà di un grande Brunello di Montalcino. Il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2017 “Canalicchio di Sopra” è una continua contrapposizione fra la parte calda e fresca dell’annata: alla freschezza della bocca, si contrappone l’opulenza e la pienezza più dolce del naso. Tannini eleganti e setosi che donano profondità e vibrazione al vino. L’acidità, perfettamente integrata in un’alcolicità assolutamente media da all’annata la prospettiva di un bell’affinamento in bottiglia.
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per questo vino sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 40% e Montosli 60%): la scelta di aumentare Montosoli rispetto al nostro tradizionale 50% e 50% deriva dalla maggiore concentrazione che le uve in questa zona hanno raggiunto. Tutti i vigneti hanno più di 10 anni di età.
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
1618 Bottiglie da 375 ml
40697 Bottiglie da 750 ml
1022 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
79 Bottiglie da 3000 ml
30 Bottiglie da 5000 ml
5 Bottiglie da 12000 ml
3 Bottiglie da 18000 ml
Dal punto di vista climatico possiamo riassumere l’annata 2016 come un’annata equilibrata, tendenzialmente calda nei mesi estivi durante il giorno ma senza mai raggiungere temperature torride, con forti escursioni fra giorno e notte, condizioni che hanno favorito una perfetta maturazione polifenolica mantenendo acidità sostenute e donando ai vini quell’equilibrio proprio delle grandi annate, fra dolcezza e sapidità, acidità e opulenza.
Dal primo gennaio a metà marzo abbiamo avuto piogge per 220 millimetri distribuite temporalmente in modo ordinato su tutto il periodo che hanno favorito una buona riserva di acqua per i mesi successivi. Le piogge cadute regolarmente e senza effetti violenti hanno visto una penetrazione totale nel terreno, creando appunto un’ottima riserva per la stagione più calda.
Nel mese di gennaio abbiamo avuto ben 12 giorni con temperature minime sotto lo zero, che ha creato un aiuto importante per l’eliminazione di spore e funghi accumulati nell’anno precedente, condizione ottimale per la ripartenza della pianta in una situazione di estrema sicurezza fitosanitaria.
L’avvio di marzo è stato tendenzialmente fresco con temperature minime di notte e questo ha favorito un naturale rallentamento del germogliamento che è partito verso la metà di marzo, assicurando poi una regolare epoca di vendemmia.
Fino al 20 di aprile le temperature sono state miti durante il giorno e fresche la notte con escursioni importanti, ed assenza di piogge. Le temperature miti insieme alle buone riserve di acqua accumulate nel terreno nei mesi invernali hanno favorito uno sviluppo della pianta regolare e omogeneo, ed abbiamo operato alla selezione dei germogli ad inizio maggio. Il 23, 24 e 25 aprile abbiamo avuto tre giorni di piogge importanti dal punto di vista quantitativo per un totale di circa 45 mm, che però non hanno creato problemi sanitari perché sono state subito accompagnate da una riduzione delle temperature e soprattutto da venti nord/nord est che hanno reso il clima subito asciutto e non favorevole quindi per le malattie funginee della vite.
Il mese di maggio è stato un mese tendenzialmente piovoso, con un accumulo di circa 100 mm di pioggia, accompagnato da temperature fresche per le medie stagionali, che hanno rallentato la pianta senza però comprometterne lo stato sanitario, piogge che si sono poi rilevate fondamentali per i mesi più secchi di luglio e agosto.
Il mese di giugno ha visto solamente due fenomeni di pioggia con precipitazioni in media con la stagione.
Luglio e agosto sono stati due mesi perfetti per la maturazione del sangiovese, con temperature calde di giorno ma non eccessive (mai superiori a 35 gradi celsius) e fresche di notte, forti escursioni che hanno favorito una maturazione lenta, costante e soprattutto il mantenimento di una buccia spessa e con grandi quantità di polifenoli.
Dal germogliamento alla raccolta ci sono stati 450 millimetri di pioggia, quantità ottimale, considerando che circa 40 sono avvenuti nel mese di settembre, 15 giorni prima della vendemmia, quantità non trascurabile ma che non ha minimamente inficiato la qualità delle uve, avendo queste bucce molto resistenti, ed essendo seguita la pioggia subito da venti da nord- nord/est. Questa pioggia avvenuta il 18/09 ha contribuito a lavare le uve che sono potute così entrare in cantina in condizioni perfette.
Le precipitazioni totali dall’inizio dell’anno fino alla vendemmia sono state leggermente inferiori ai 700 mm, condizioni ottimali per una grande vendemmia.
Interessante è l’analisi delle temperature che si contraddistingue per due fattori principali:
• Nell’annata 2016 la somma termica nel periodo vegetativo della pianta fino alla raccolta ha raggiunto un dato ottimale per il sangiovese a Montalcino, con un indice di 2300/2500 Gradi Huglin, questo ha garantito una maturazione perfetta dal punto di vista polifenolico donandoci vini di grande struttura e profondità
• L’indice di Fregoni, ovvero la somma della differenza fra le temperatura massima diurna e la temparatura minima notturna dei 30 giorni antecedenti alla vendemmia, ha raggiunto valori altissimi. Questo indice ci dimostra le escursioni termiche avvenute tra il giorno e la notte nel mesi prima della vendemmia, condizione fondamentale che ha donato ai vini dell’annata 2016 una forte espressività aromatica, il mantenimento di livelli di acidità importanti atti a garantire una elevata longevità al vino.
Riassumendo nella 2016 si sono verificate contemporaneamente e nei tempi giusti della natura 3 condizioni climatiche fondamentali per una grande annata
• Perfetta insolazione (Grado Huglin 2300/2500)
• Quantità di precipitazioni totali ottimali, nei momenti più opportuni per la pianta ed in modo regolare durante il suo ciclo vegetativo (650/700 mm – solo 450 mm durante il periodo vegetativo)
• Escursioni giorno/notte marcate per tutto il periodo vegetativo, accentuate nei 30 giorni prima della raccolta (Indice di Fregoni 490-500)
Tutti i vigneti sono stati raccolti dal 27/09 al 05/10, in un periodo molto breve, altro dato che dimostra una perfetta regolarità di maturazione
EQUILIBRIO, ELEGANZA, IDENTITA’ TERRITORIALE: LE PAROLE CHIAVE DI UN'ANNATA STORICA
Ricordiamo la vendemmia 2016 come la più bella ed interessante della terza generazione di vignaioli a Canalicchio di Sopra. Abbiamo sempre in mente una parola per definire una grande annata dal punto di vista climatico e questa parola è EQUILIBRIO. La ricerca dell’eleganza e dell’equilibrio sono gli aspetti che vogliamo ritrovare nei nostri vini e quando siamo aiutati da un’annata equilibrata dal punto di vista climatico tutto è più semplice. La natura non è programmabile ma può essere interpretata, sta nella capacità dell’uomo l’adattamento alle condizioni mutevoli che ogni annata ci offre, cercando di capire quei segnali che definiscono lo stile di un’annata. Ma se potessimo programmare il clima di un’annata in modo artificiale credo che lo programmeremmo proprio come l’annata 2016. Crediamo che la grandezza di questa annata sia tutta qui, semplicemente perfetta dal punto di vista climatico, senza eccessi e senza eventi improvvisi, regolare e costante nel suo incalzare verso la maturazione di frutti di Sangiovese belli da vedere e buoni da assaporare. Alla moda di classificare le annate fra grandi e piccole preferiamo un approccio che valorizzi più le differenze di stile di un’annata ed in questo contesto la 2016 può essere definita un’annata TERRITORIALE: il clima equilibrato ha infatti favorito una lettura precisa e dettagliata delle caratteristiche dei singoli cru e dei singoli vigneti donandoci un’identità territoriale unica e affascinante. La potenza del Sangiovese in questa annata viene letta come profondità e lunghezza, la mineralità come sapidità, la dolcezza come setosità del tannino, ed il tutto è sorretto da un’acidità vibrante che dona freschezza e bevibilità. Canalicchio e Montosoli, le nostre due zone di produzione si sono espresse in una chiave precisa ed identitaria facendo emergere le caratteristiche uniche dei diversi terreni.
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per questo vino sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 40% e Montosli 60%): la scelta di aumentare Montosoli rispetto al nostro tradizionale 50% e 50% deriva dalla maggiore concentrazione che le uve in questa zona hanno raggiunto. Tutti i vigneti hanno più di 10 anni di età.
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per questo vino sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 40% e Montosli 60%): la scelta di aumentare Montosoli rispetto al nostro tradizionale 50% e 50% deriva dalla maggiore concentrazione che le uve in questa zona hanno raggiunto. Tutti i vigneti hanno più di 10 anni di età.
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Per questo vino sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 40% e Montosli 60%): la scelta di aumentare Montosoli rispetto al nostro tradizionale 50% e 50% deriva dalla maggiore concentrazione che le uve in questa zona hanno raggiunto. Tutti i vigneti hanno più di 10 anni di età.
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
2267 Bottiglie da 375 ml
30150 Bottiglie da 750 ml
1014 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
100 Bottiglie da 3 Litri
50 Bottiglie da 5 Litri
15 Bottiglie da 12 litri
14,50%
La 2013 è una delle recenti annate dove l’andamento climatico è stato costante, ricordando per alcuni aspetti annate tipiche degli anni ’90. Piogge giuste e regolari e temperature invernali in linea con la stagione hanno permesso lo sviluppo vegetativo della pianta in tempi perfetti ed in linea con la stagione, creando le condizioni di partenza per una vendemmia tradizionale a fine settembre. I mesi estivi sono stati caratterizzati da temperature fresche, senza picchi di temperatura alta, e soprattutto da accentuate escursioni termiche che hanno favorito maturazioni polifenoliche importanti salvaguardando le acidità, requisito importante per un vino da lungo invecchiamento.
Settembre si è aperto con alcune piogge che non hanno però minimamente compromesso la qualità delle uve, ma solo leggermente posticipato l’epoca della vendemmia. Una vendemmia tardiva rispetto ai tempi in cui siamo abituati negli ultimi anni ha sicuramente il vantaggio di portare in cantina uve fresche e capaci di mantenere la fragranza dei tannini e armonizzare la componente aromatica verso la parte florale del nostro vitigno. Pazienza e la giuste dose di rischio che un produttore di vini di qualità ha il dovere di prendersi ogni anno ha portato alla vendemmia iniziata il 27 settembre dai vigneti più giovani, per concludersi il 8 ottobre, proprio prima che iniziasse la stagione della pioggia che poi è stata abbondante. A Canalicchio di Sopra si ricorda con grande piacere due mattine di vendemmia in cui a Montosoli la temperatura era di 6 C°, per noi segno indelebile della caratteristica di questa annata. Per tutti questi aspetti climatici la 2013 è un’annata che può essere inserita fra le annate fresche capaci di esaltare le peculiarità del Terreno e la manualità dell’Uomo.
Introduzione:
Parlare di annata 2013 a Montalcino è per noi un grande ritorno alla classicità, intesa come capacità di un vino di esprimere l’essenza del territorio da cui proviene. Ci sono annate di cui il produttore in cantina si innamora perché ne coglie la straordinaria eleganza e se le immagina già proiettate nel futuro, come bottiglie capaci di rimanere scolpite nella storia della sua azienda.
Il concetto di annata classica:
Classicità significa per noi eleganza, profondità e sensualità, concetti cari alla nostra filosofia produttiva e che in modo esigente chiediamo al Cru Canalicchio e Montosoli dove sono situati i nostri vigneti a Montalcino. Annata classica significa per noi vini dotati di grande freschezza, dove la profondità conta più dell’opulenza e dove la sapidità racconta di un clima equilibrato. Terroir significa suolo, clima e uomo, e nella classicità queste tre componenti si unificano in un grande equilibrio senza che una prevalga sull’altra.
Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2013 “Canalicchio di Sopra” – IL RITORNO DELLA CLASSICITA’
Il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2013 “Canalicchio di Sopra” è il risultato della caratteristiche climatiche dell’annata, caratteristiche che per la loro costanza climatica e le medie stagionali basse riescono ad esaltare in maniera completa il terreno e i versanti dove le uve crescono. Un vino che a nostro avviso unisce eleganza, profondità, mineralità e sapidità. Per questo vino sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 40% e Montosli 60%): la scelta di aumentare Montosoli rispetto al nostro tradizionale 50% e 50% deriva dalla maggiore concentrazione che le uve in questa zona hanno raggiunto.L’equilibrio che abbiamo cercato nel vino, concetto sempre caro a Canalicchio di Sopra, si basa su una coerenza fra naso e bocca improntata sulla freschezza e la florealità. L’acidità importante, presente e caratterizzante, risulta integrata in quella che è una trama tannica setosa e lunga.
A dimostrazione della reputazione che nutriamo per l’annata 2013 abbiamo selezionato, come solo facciamo nelle grandi annate, le uve dal nostro Cru Montosoli per produrre il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2013 Riserva “Canalicchio di Sopra” : sarà la tredicesima Riserva prodotta dalla nostra azienda in più di 50 vendemmie e uscirà nel mercato a febbraio 2019 in un’edizione molto limitata di solo 3.666 bottiglie
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
2592 Bottiglie da 375 ml
33775 Bottiglie da 750 ml
1522 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
181 Bottiglie da 3 Litri
68 Bottiglie da 5 Litri
28 Bottiglie da 12 litri
14,50%
La 2012 dal punto di vista climatico può essere definita un’annata estrema che paradossalmete ha fatto delle sue caratteristiche estreme il suo grande punto di forza, tanto queste si sono perfettamente integrate e compensate. L’inizio inverno è stato inusualmente per Montalcino caldo rispetto alle medie del periodo; il freddo è arrivato in ritardo ad inizio febbario portando il 2 febbraio un’abbondante nevicata (che vedremo più avanti è stata vitale per l’andamento stagionale); alla fine di marzo si è rischiata una gelata tardiva sui germogli che fortunatamente non c’è stata. Ad una primavere regolare si è contrapposta poi un’estate abbastanza calda dove il limite è stato caratterizzato da una prolungata assenza di piogge che si è protratta fino alla fine di agosto. In questa fase la neve di febbraio ha costituito una delle riserve idriche più importanti per le piante che hanno resistito alla mancanza di acqua concentrandosi più su se stesse che sul frutto; in questo modo le uve hanno rallentato la loro maturazione e quello che poteva sembrare un problema si è trasformato in un grande vantaggio: le uve indietro di maturazione non hanno subito bruciature dovute al grande caldo di agosto. Quando il limite di sopportazione del caldo e della siccità stava per essere raggiunto a fine agosto 4 giorni di piogge abbondanti hanno rivitalizzato le piante e refrigerato le temperature: la pianta è tornare a lavorare a pieno per il frutto ed a dare tutto al nostro Sangiovese. Settembre, il mese della vendemmia dove si fa la differenza fra la grande annata e l’annata semplicemente buona, è stato un mese perfetto caratterizzato da grandi escursioni fra giorno e notte, freschi venti, che hanno permesso ad un’annata calda di esser vendemmiata nel tradizionale periodo di un’annata più fresca. Questo meccanismo di protezione che la pianta ha adottato nei confronti del frutto è per me la chiave di lettura di questa annata: un’annata calda nell’anima e fresca nella bocca, sapida e avvolgente allo stesso tempo.
La vendemmia è iniziata il 25 settembre ed è terminata il 4 ottobre.
Introduzione:
Presentando l’annata 2012 a Montalcino mi tornano in mente le paure ed i timori che l’annata 2012 ci ha riservato. Vederla oggi alla prova dei mercati, della stampa e dei nostri più fedeli consumatori mi fa tirare un sospiro di sollievo per il sorprendente risultato raggiunto.
Lavoriamo sempre attenti a mantenere forte il concetto che abbiamo di terroir ed è per questo che annate climaticamente diverse si esprimono in modo completamente diverso, talvolta sorprendente.
Il concetto di grande annata:
La grande annata per noi significa proporre nei nostri vini un elegante equilibrio dove potenza, concentrazione, mineralità e acidità si possano in un’ avvolgente ed opulente trama.
Non tutte le grandi annate per essere grandi seguono la stessa strada: ci sono annate in cui la strada è perfetta e lineare come la 2010 e poi ci sono grandi annate come la 2012 dove il percorso stagionale ed agronomico è più tortuoso, talvolta anche estremo e dove il viticoltore è chiamato a interpretare, capire ed osare.
Il sorprendente equilibrio di un’annata estrema
Il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2012 “Canalicchio di Sopra” è la sintesi delle caratteristiche climatiche dell’annata e delle scelte dei vigneti utilizzati per questo vino; sono state utilizzate uve dai due cru aziendali (Canalicchio 50% e Montosli 50%); l’equilibrio raggiunto si basa su una piacevole contrapposizione fra la parte calda e fresca dell’annata: alla mineralità che si percepisce in bocca tipica di un’annata più fresca, si contrappone l’opulenza e la pienezza più dolce che si percepisce al naso tipica invece di un’annata più calda. Tannini eleganti e setosi che donano profondità al vino. L’acidità, integrata ed equilibrata, ma presente e vibrante da all’annata la prospettiva di un bell’affinamento in bottiglia.
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età; non avendo prodotto la Riserva in questa annata la Vigna Vecchia Mercatale è entrata a far parte del Brunello annata
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
3240 Bottiglie da 375 ml
24546 Bottiglie da 750 ml
889 Bottiglie da 1500 ml
60 Bottiglie da 3 Litri
20 Bottiglie da 5 Litri
2 Bottiglie da 12 litri
14,50%
Se guardiamo l’annata 2011 dal punto di vista climatico la stessa può sicuramente essere definita estrema. Ciò che ha caratterizzato l’annata 2011 è stata una seconda metà di agosto con temperature al di sopra delle medie stagionali ed escursioni termiche limitate. Condizioni che hanno sicuramente influito sulla maturazione delle uve favorendo un innalzamento della parte zuccherina abbastanza repentino e il raggiungimento della maturazione tecnologica già da metà settembre.
La vendemmia leggermente anticipata rispetto al solito è iniziata il 19 settembre dai vigneti più giovani che presentavano acidità totali più basse e maturazioni fenoliche importanti, per terminare il 27 settembre con le uve dei vigneti più vecchi che hanno saputo reggere e supportare il caldo di agosto mantenendo alte acidità.
Nel concetto di terroir che ormai con forza portiamo avanti da sempre a Canalicchio di Sopra, oltre al clima e al suolo, riveste per noi un ruolo importante anche la componente umana, con la sua capacità di interpretare e adattarsi alle sfide che la viticoltura ogni anno ci pone.
Abbiamo deciso da subito di operare per una scelta drastica dal punto di vista quantitativo, produrre il nostro Brunello di Montalcino solamente dai Vigneti più vecchi, quelli che nelle condizioni limite di metà agosto avevano avuto la capacità di mantenere alte acidità e avevano beneficiato del caldo in termini di volume , grassezza e eleganza dei tannini, senza subire squilibri che poi avrebbero portato limiti nell’affinamento in legno.
Abbiamo utilizzato tutta la Vigna Vecchia Mercatale (decidendo di non produrre la Riserva in questa annata), insieme alla Vigna Casaccia e alla Vigna Vecchia Montosoli per produrre il Brunello di Montalcino Docg 2011 “Canalicchio di Sopra”, un vino basato sull’opulenza di un’annata tendenzialmente calda dove le nostre scelte e il sapersi accontentare senza forzare la quantità hanno donato quella freschezza e quell’acidità che ci si aspetta da un Brunello classico ed elegante anche in un’annata calda.
Questa operazione, che ha visto diminuire di un 30% la produzione del nostro Brunello di Montalcino, ha avuto anche un grande effetto positivo sulla produzione del nostro Rosso di Montalcino, con l’annata 2011 una delle migliori di sempre, confermando il concetto in cui crediamo che ogni vino debba essere valorizzato in base alle proprie caratteristiche e punti di forza
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
2.592 btg da 375 ml
33.441 btg da 750 ml
1270 btg da 1500 ml
200 btg da 3 Litri
55 btg da 5 Litri
13 btg da 12 litri
14,50%
Un andamento climatico perfetto, relativamente caldo nella fase di maturazione, senza problemi sanitari significanti, con un settembre caratterizzato da forti escursioni termiche superiori ai 10C° fra giorno e notte, ha consentito una vendemmia ragionata, con il tempo a nostra disposizione per poter aspettare e raggiungere le più grandi maturazioni tecnoclogiche e fenoliche mai avute a Canalicchio di Sopra. La vendemmia è stata iniziata il 25 settembre dal Cru Montosoli per terminare il 05 ottobre nel Cru Canalicchio ed ha visto una buona produzione media di 51 q.li per ettaro (un chilo per pianta).
Siamo abituati a dividere le annate in base alla loro qualità che dipende in maniera inequivocabile dall’andamento stagionale: dalla quantità di piogge, dalle temperature medie, dalle escursioni termiche in fase pre-vedemmiale; a tutti questi fattori si integra quella componente antropologica legata alla conoscenza del produttore, alla capacità e la velocità di reazione e comprensione dei fenomeni agronomici che influenzano la qualità finale delle uve.
Per la capacità stessa di questa annata di mettere in grande equilibrio tutte queste componenti, di esprimersi con grande carattere ed eleganza allo stesso tempo, il 2010 è una di quelle annata che possono definirsi storiche; ci sono annate buone che possono diventare ottime grazie al sapiente lavoro del produttore attraverso un lavoro di selezione, annate ottime che conquistano per la loro perfezione stilistica, e poi ci sono le annate storiche che rappresentano un punto di partenza per l’ambizione a traguardi ancora più importanti: questo è il Brunello di Montalcino 2010 per Canalicchio di Sopra. Stiamo parlando di un’annata ai livelli del 1997, ma con 13 anni di esperienza in più da parte dei produttori, durante i quali anche a Canalicchio di Sopra abbiamo puntato su una maniacale ricerca della perfezione, della pulizia stilistica e della valorizzazione del terroir dove gelosamente custodiamo le nostre viti di Sangiovese.
Le classiche lunghe fermentazioni di 25 giorni sulle bucce hanno estratto tutta l’intensità, la purezza del frutto e la ricchezza del nostro migliore Sangiovese.
I 3 anni di affinamento in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 ettolitri hanno regalato un vino ricco, intenso, concentrato dove vengono esaltate tutte le note balsamiche e mentolate caratteristiche della zona Nord di Montalcino dove si trovano i nostri vigneti; la grande acidità risulta già ben integrata con la grassezza dell’annata, bilanciata con la mineralità che rende questa grande annata quasi sapida. L’eleganza dei tannini, la lunga persistenza in bocca e il finale succoso rendono perfettamente onore al concetto, talvolta trascurato, che se un vino è grande allora lo è sia da giovane che dopo anni di bottiglia: questo è in sintesi il Brunello di Montalcino 2010: un vino da godere adesso così come fra 20 anni.
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" annata è il risultato di un blend di due terreni diversi: Terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese caratteristico del Cru Canalicchio e un terreno galestroso posto in giacitura elevata con un’altissima componente minerale, tessitura franco argillosa con elevata presenza di limo, caratteristico del Cru Montosoli.
Il blend favorisce vini di grande mineralità e sapidità, sorretti da ottime acidità ideali al lungo affinamento.
Cordone speronato.
Vigneti nel Cru Canalicchio e nel Cru Montosoli con più di 10 anni di età
In vasche d’acciaio con controllo della temperatura di fermentazione, rimontaggi soffici giornalieri. Macerazione sulle bucce per 25 giorni.
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia da 25 e 50 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
Prodotto da vigneti con più di 10 anni di età, rappresenta l’essenza del nostro concetto di terroir; un’espressione di eleganza, profondità e freschezza del nostro Sangiovese, capace di coniugare la balsamicità del versante Nord di Montalcino con l’opulenza dei nostri terreni.
DOCG
100% Sangiovese
Altitudine media di 300 mt s.l.m.
Dal 1966 al 1986 il Brunello di Montalcino "Canalicchio di Sopra" è stato prodotto interamente dal Cru Canalicchio, un terreno con una spiccata componente Argillosa, molto ricco di elementi intermedi quali Magnesio, Ferro e Manganese e intercalato da trati scheletrici
Cordone speronato e guyot
36 mesi in botti di rovere di Slavonia di varie dimensioni superiori a 30 hl
1966
14,50%
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
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
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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
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 -
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
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
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.
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
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
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Reviewed by Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
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
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
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
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
Perfumed nose of neroli, bergamot, sandalwood, cherry stones and plums. Full-bodied and richly fruity with gently grainy tannins. Drink after 2023.
- James Suckling
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
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
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 -
Brunello di Montalcino Trophy 2023
- Wolfgang M. Rosam, Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler -
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!
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 -
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 -
Guida 2024 - sezione "Vini da vitigni autoctoni"
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 -
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 -
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 -
Vitae, La Guida Vini 2024 - X edizione
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 -
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
