Canalicchio Di Sopra Versus Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Showdown at Wine Watch

"Reality is an illusion that occurs due to a lack of wine."  - Anonymous

We do not have any lacking of wine here at Wine Watch and this month is a marathon of wine events with five this week and two of them on Saturday night!  Tonight we are at the Fountainebleau at Michael Mina's Stripsteak with Jean Louis Carbonnier drinking 16 wines from Chateau Palmer.  

Tomorrow night we have our vintage Port tasting back to 1945 and to finish off the week we have two big charity events on Saturday night and I will be at both the I Care I Cure event at Exclusive Motoring Worldwide in Miami and then on to the Museum of Discovery and Science for the big MODS gala.

Then another big week next week with our good friend Jed Steele at Café Maxx on Tuesday, this is always one of our biggest events of the year.  Jed has made more fine wine than any winemaker in California and makes wine for the people as his most expensive wine Stymie Merlot is still under $50! 

Wednesday of next week we have our Canalicchio Di Sopra Versus Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino show down here at the store and this e-mail has all the details on this event.

Thursday we have two events on the same night, a cooking class at Café Maxx and for you Zinfandel fans there is a ZAP dinner at Mojo (I will not be there).

Friday is the ultimate tasting for lovers of vintage wine, the Vintage Madeira tasting going back to 1837.  These are some of the most unique wines on the face of the earth and it’s hard to believe that you can drink a wine that was produced when Andrew Jackson was president.

Saturday our biggest event of the year our Champagne and Sparkling wine tasting, we usually have over 50 different sparklers on hand this evening.  There will be close to 100 people in the courtyard for this event.

And that is it for the year – oh ya, we have a vertical of Harlan Estate on the 28th of November and that’s it for 2015!!

This Brunello di Montalcino tasting features two of the greatest producers of Tuscany's greatest wine and all of the vintages on the table tonight are five star.   Both of them are very traditional in their methods but for some reason Valdicava is considered to be a modernist by some.  One of the things that is undisputable, these two producers are tiny in terms of size and they are both very passionate about producing the best wines humanly possible.

Join us as we experience some of the best vintages from the last decade from these two all-stars along with a few small courses pre-pared by Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone.  This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and the fee is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Canalicchio Di Sopra Versus Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Showdown at Wine Watch
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
7:00 PM

2013 Canalicchio Rosso di Montalcino
Price: $29.75       Sale $26.18          Case $304

Wine Watch Tasting Notes:  Bright red berry fruit cherry, notes of wild sage and fine herbs, raw steak and light floral notes, very pretty bouquet.  Smooth and silky on the palate with fine tannins and a good amount of light red berry fruit with a clean fresh finish, light spice and earth tones.  Finish 35+ Excellent

2012 Valdicava Rosso di Montalcino
Price: $40.00       Sale $35.20          Case $408

This wine contains all the grapes from the estate this year, Filai Lunghi, Lago, Cipressi and Nova vineyards. Pretty red cherry fruit with silky smooth tannins bright and fresh with notes of porcini mushroom and fresh rose petal floral notes very pretty wine that has great structure but it light in body and very fresh. Finish 45 Excellent

2004 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $112.00    Sale $98.56    Case $1143

(92 Points) Dried violets, berries and hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with racy, silky tannins and a tanned leather, berry aftertaste. Chewy. Needs bottle age to mellow. Better than the 2001. Best after 2010. 2,800 cases made. “JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2009

2004 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $159.00    Sale $139.92    Case $1622

(93+ Points) The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.  Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  Wine Advocate #188, Apr 2010

 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $169.50    Sale $149.16    Case $1729

(95 Points) Displays complex aromas of blackberry and cherry, with a hint of licorice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a delicious finish of wonderful yet subtle fruit. Well-integrated and beautiful. Everything is in the right place. Best after 2011. 5,000 cases made. “JS Wine Spectator Issue: Apr 30, 2009

2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $356.00    Sale $313.28    Case $3632

Wow an incredible bouquet of black almost sundried fruit black cherry blackberry fruit with espresso dark chocolate and fresh floral notes very complex. Still a baby but lots of potential here a bit closed at the moment but has big tannins and some nice spice on the finish showing more mineral and earth that fruit right now. Needs Time. Finish 50+ Most Excellent +

2006 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $96.00    Sale $84.48   Case $979

Dried herbs and red berry fruit on the nose with notes of licorice spice. Notes of tar and black spices on the finish, a very classically fashioned brunello with layers of dried herbs and porcini notes. Most Excellent

2006 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $150.00   Sale $132.00   Case $1530

Smoked meats, exotic spices and dried pot purée of flowers and mushroom like aromas the most old world in style of the wines, sage and an underbrush like nuance.  Big and tannic on the tongue with lots of densely packed fruit and intense tannins very spicy with layers of earth, minerality and exotic spice and a long finish that just screams put me in the cellar.  Finish 50+  Very long finish with fine tannins and that dried earth.             KILLER

2006 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $158.00    Sale $139.04    Case $1612

Intense nose of crushed raspberry and wild strawberry jam like fruit with notes of raw meat and fine herbs. Big and chewy on the tongue with chalky dry tannins showing on the finish, this wine needs time. Big and chewy with layers of nuance on the finish, keep it open for at least 1 day before serving. Finish 50 Most Excellent

 2006 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $324.00    Sale $285.12       Case $3305

"I tasted this about a year ago at the winery and I was blown away. This time I tasted it in a blind tasting in Tuscany and it stood above the rest. Amazing aromas of blueberries and flowers, with black truffles and pie. Foie gras, mushrooms and white truffles too. Powerful, with great depth of gorgeous fruit and ultra-fine tannins. It fills your mouth with fruit and ripe tannins. Complex and long. A breathtaking wine. Truly glorious. Better in 2015. " - 100 Points, James Suckling

2007 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $86.00       Sale $75.68          Case $878

Very pretty nose with classic black spice, tar and fresh porcini mushroom, fine herbs, licorice spice and wild strawberry fruit very complex array of aromas. Chunky fruity wines on the palate with lots of spice and nuance to the wild berry fruit and fine tannins showing up on the finish, classic earth and mineral through the finish with licorice spice and a long well balanced finish, this wine needs some time still to come together but has a long finish that has layers of spice and earth. Finish 50 Most Excellent

2007 Canalicchio Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $150.00   Sale $132.00    Case $1530

Around 500 cases produced, very concentrated and rich on the nose with red cherry liqueur like fruit fresh earth and fine herbs with incense . A very elegant style with lots of structure very fresh and savory very classic style old world with fresh earth and dried mushroom and a potpourri of dried floral nuance through the finish.      Most Excellent +

2007 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $148.00    Sale $130.24    Case $1510

Very nuanced bouquet of fresh flowers, incense like spice and fresh earth, a graphite like component with licorice spice and lots of earth and wild herbs showing to the nose. Big and chewy on the tongue with lots of ripe tannins showing through the dark cherry and wild strawberry like fruit, very chalky and tannic on the finish but has lots of everything, just needs time big tannins showing all the way to the end, but there is plenty of everything else. Finish 50 Most Excellent

2007 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $310.00    Sale $272.80    Case $3162

(95 points) The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano looks to be a modern-day version of the 1990. Layers of seamless fruit grace the palate in this large-scaled, dramatic Brunello. The 2007 boasts remarkable intensity to match its undeniably sexy personality. Although the 2007 will require at least several years in bottle to blossom, the relatively soft tannins will make it more pleasurable than the 2006 at the outset. Both vintages will be fascinating to follow over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  reggiano parmesan, Beemster Gouda

Mushroom Ragout served on top a Parmesan Polenta cake garnished with fresh herbs

Steak tartar and sundried Tomato Ravioli with Tuscan Bean and Sage black truffle sauce

This is a pre-poured sit down tasting and the fee is $125 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Other vintages of these two GREAT producers wines in the store.

A bit about Valdicava

The wine with top billing in Tuscany is for the last half of century is Brunello Di Montalcino, a DOCG from a fortress town south of Siena with reds of legendary power and longevity that have commanded lofty prices.  The wines of this world renowned region of Tuscany were conceived by the Biondi Santi family a century ago, today Brunello di Montalcino is produced under scores of labels, representing small farms, established estates and even international corporations.  Brunello production averages less than 2 million bottles (166 thousand cases), but producers also make the DOC, of Rosso di Montalcino (usually the grapes produced from the younger vines and the fruit that is not of high enough quality to go into the Brunello) and many make a sweet wine from the Moscato grape. 

Brunello is Montalcino is one of the hottest topics in the world of Italian wine today.  With wine writers like The Wine Spectator’s James Suckling and The Wine Advocate’s Robert Parker Jr. and International Wine Cellar’s Stephen Tanzer calling the 1997 release of Brunello “The Greatest Vintage Ever” many collectors and wine enthusiasts alike have been scrambling to pick up the best wines from this stellar vintage.  The paradox here is that these wines are years away from showing their grandeur, when a customer wants a recommendation for a wine to take home tonight and drink, young Brunello is rarely comes to mind.  However if you would like a taste of the wines of this elite red wine producing region, Brunello’s baby brother Rossi Di Montalcino has been one of the hottest wines in its price category in the store this year.  In 1984 the Junior DOC of Rosso Di Montalcino was established.  This younger brother of Brunello was brought about because in lower than average quality years they could bottle the wine with less time in oak therefore allowing the wine to have a more international style and more mass appeal, while still maintaining its distinctive Brunello character.  Young and fresh, this wine unlike its older sibling in that it is ready to drink upon release. 

Valdicava is the name of the area that leads into the foothills of Montalcino.  To the left is the La Casa vineyard of Caparzo and to the right is Val Di Suga and the small hill in the middle of his property is the oldest vines planted on the property (1970) “Madonna del Piano”.   The Valdicava estate was one of the original members of the Brunello consortium, formed in 1967.  Like everyone else in the region the Abrusezzi family was trying to emulate the wines of Biondi Santi.  The early years were tough as the producers were feeling their way through production problems and many did not have the facility to produce outstanding wines.  The 1970’s saw a huge investment of newcomers in Montalcino.  The Cinzano vermouth firm, with Coco-Cola money behind it, headed a group that purchased Col d’Orcia, an estate that has produced wine for years.  Marchesi de Frescobaldi was involved with a group known as Enoviticola Senese, which had French, German, and Spanish investors as well.  Their estate, Castelgiocondo, brought out its first bottles in 1980, not all Brunello.  The most talked about outsider was the house of Banfi, the largest US importer of Italian wines, which had prepared some 1,000 acres of vines (only 125 of them in Montalcino) at a place called Poggio d’Oro, or “The golden Hill”.  With all this new activity the old timers like Valdicava were forced to continually improve their wines to keep up with the foreign talent.  Valdicava has been experimenting with rootstock and different clones of Brunello Grosso on their estate for the last thirty years and today they seem to have the winning combination.

Valdicava is one of the rising stars of the Brunello district.  The wines of this young estate are the handy work of Vincenzo Abrusezzi.  Vincenzo is a perfectionist.  He will settle for nothing short of excellence and it shows in his work.  He has seen the big companies come in and make a huge impact in terms of recognition of his regions wines, but loves the things about this region that make it unique.  One of the things that make him feel at home here are the goat and the horse outside the winery.  His father had a goat and a horse on the property that became comrades (supposedly not an uncommon thing in this part of the world) and when Vincenzo looks out over the vineyard and sees these two animals hanging out together it makes him remember his father.            
This estate has been dedicated to quality from the very start with an ongoing experimentation of rootstock and clone selection refining every vintage of this wine.  The oldest vines on the property were planted in 1970 and the youngest in 2001.  Vincenzo Abrusezzi is one of the leaders in terms of progressive thinking and cutting edge viticulture in Montalcino today.  He has a no chemical/back to nature approach to viticulture at Valdicava and believes that the health of the vineyard is most important and that chemicals harm the long term the health of the soils.  They are a short-term/easy fix to a specific problem and can cause even bigger problems in the long run.

The vineyard is planted 3,000 vines per acre and the soil is a mixture of clay, sand, Galestro and this combination of different soil types, four different rootstocks and four different clones of Sangiovese make Valdicava one of the most unique wines made in Brunello.  Valdicava did years of research to find out which rootstock/clone combination did the best in each particular soil type and the new releases from this winery soundly prove that this is one of the top producers in Brunello Di Montalcino today. The winery produces on average 2,000 cases of Rosso di Montalcino, 2,000 cases of Brunello di Montalcino and 500 cases of the Riserva Brunello di Montalcino labeled “Madonna del Piano”.  Due to the limited production of these wines they can be very hard to find

2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $150.00    Sale $132.00
Quantity in Stock: 20

(99 points)  Absolutely stunning aromas of nectarine, orange peel, sweet black cherry, plums and flowers. Licorice and mushroom It's full body, with layers of ultra-fine tannins and hints of tangy acidity. Such beautiful length and beauty to this wine. It's powerful and structured yet shows a gorgeous finesse and length. Truly wondrous. So long and refined. The texture is phenomenal. Better in 2016. James Suckling  (12/ 2014)

2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Magnum
Price: $332.00    Sale $292.16
Quantity in Stock: 1

(95 Points) Displays complex aromas of blackberry and cherry, with a hint of licorice. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a delicious finish of wonderful yet subtle fruit. Well-integrated and beautiful. Everything is in the right place. Best after 2011. 5,000 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Apr 30, 2009

2003 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $113.25    Sale $99.66
Quantity in Stock: 10

Thick black cherry wild strawberry fruit very ripe and seductive aromas flowers and porcini and fresh earth. Very fresh and bright red berry fruit on the tongue with layers of spice minerals and coco spice. Very forward and drinkable but also has the stuffing to be cellared for a decade. Finish 45 Most Excellent

2000 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany 375ml
Price: $55.00    Sale $48.40
Quantity in Stock: 5

(90 Points) Very pretty aromas of ripe fruit, coffee and chocolate. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a raspberry and licorice aftertaste. This producer always makes outstanding wines. Best after 2005. 1,200 cases made. –JS  Wine Watch, Issue: May 31, 2005

2009 Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano Riserva
Price: $262.50    Sale $231.00
Quantity in Stock: 22

(95 Points)  The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is an expressive and articulate wine that speaks highly of Sangiovese and the Montalcino territory. The wine offers a pristine narrative of both grape and place with crystalline aromas of cherry, blackberry, spice, leather, smoke and Mediterranean herb. The bouquet peels back one delicious layer at a time. The mouthfeel is similarly successful with deep concentration and complexity. It imparts soft layers of dried fruit and velvety tannins. Endnotes of espresso bean and toasted almond add length and momentum. There's even spot of chewy sweetness that is typical of the warm 2009 vintage.  Vincenzo Abbruzzese's Valdicava presents a fantastic tag team of wines representing the 2009 and 2010 vintages respectively. Both wines are delicious although I will note the earthy-gamy note in the base Brunello that prevented me from scoring it higher. My hesitation is that it might become more pronounced with aging.  eRobertParker.com #217, Feb 2015

Wine Watch Score:  This is a single vineyard wine made from the oldest vines on the property, there are only a few hundred cases of this wine produced and only in outstanding vintages.  The 2009's are a bit forward and for Valdicava that is a good thing because these wines are usually very backward and need a lot of time in the cellar so a forward vintage means that you can enjoy them much sooner.  A dazzeling array of cherry and blackberry fruit, liqueur like in richness with an array of exotic spices, leather, dried meats, smoke and a mix of Mediterranean herbs oin the nose.  A good amount of fruit showing here on the tongue and a lot of tannins here as well, ripe and round with a full hand of that spice and herbs from the nose through the finish along with tongue tingly minerality leading into a long layered finish.  This wine still needs tim but has all the right stuff in proper proportion.  Finish 50+  KILLER

2007 Valdicava Madonna Del Piano Riserva Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $255.00    Sale $224.40
Quantity in Stock: 5

(95 points) The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano looks to be a modern-day version of the 1990. Layers of seamless fruit grace the palate in this large-scaled, dramatic Brunello. The 2007 boasts remarkable intensity to match its undeniably sexy personality. Although the 2007 will require at least several years in bottle to blossom, the relatively soft tannins will make it more pleasurable than the 2006 at the outset. Both vintages will be fascinating to follow over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2027.

Vincenzo Abbruzzese has been one of Montalcino's most consistent producers over the last few years, an impression that was reinforced during my visit earlier this year. I tasted every wine in cask, and they were all terrific. I also had a chance to revisit the 1988 and 1990 Madonna del Pianos, both of which have aged beautifully in bottle. Readers who want to learn more about the estate and their wines will want to check out my video interview with Vincenzo Abbruzzese on www.erobertparker.com Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012

2006 Valdicava Madonna Del Piano Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino MAGNUM
Price: $600.00    Sale $528.00
Quantity in Stock: 6

(96 points) The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is a huge, towering wine. Waves of vibrant, intensely perfumed fruit hit the palate, backed up by the firm, broad tannins of the vintage. Violets, spices, new leather and licorice develop in the glass, yet the 2006 remains painfully young and stubborn. Clean mineral notes frame a blast of dark cherries, plums and camphor on the palate-staining finish. Readers will need to be especially patient, but the 2006 Madonna del Piano is stacking up to be one of the all-time greats from proprietor Vincenzo Abbruzzese. I followed the wine over the course of two days, during which it continued to improve while seeming to gain freshness and structure. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. Wine Advocate #200 Apr 2012

Wine Watch Review:  Very complex bouquet of dried porcini, black tar and licorice spice damp dark earth dark coco and wild strawberry jam like fruit very concentrated and rich bouquet with lots of minerality.  A bit musty on the tongue with firm tannins here also this wine seems a bit corked with some of that terroir but that musty nuance is a bit more prevalent on the palate.  The second bottle was perfect and a candidate for wine of the night.  Without the musty note all the other nuance in the wine was really singing.  The tannins are a bit overwhelming at the moment but this wine has layers of flavor and intense concentration and depth of flavors.  Finish 50 +  KILLER

2004 Valdicava Madonna Del Piano Brunello Di Montalcino Magnum
Price: $575.00    Sale $506.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

2004 Valdicava Madonna Del Piano Brunello Di Montalcino 3 Liter
Price: $1536.00    Sale $1351.68
Quantity in Stock: 1

Wow an incredible bouquet of black almost sundried fruit black cherry blackberry fruit with espresso dark chocolate and fresh floral notes very complex. Still a baby but lots of potential here a bit closed at the moment but has big tannins and some nice spice on the finish showing more mineral and earth that fruit right now. Needs Time. Finish 50+ Most Excellent +

2001 Valdicava Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano
Price: $350.00    Sale $308.00
Quantity in Stock: 3

(96 points)  The 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano is another remarkable wine. It is a ripe, ample Brunello with tons of fruit. Compared to the broad-shouldered 1999, the 2001 possesses a touch greater detail and more finesse in its tannins. This is a beautifully delineated, chiseled wine of the highest level. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2023.  In the Cellar, Jan 2009

1997 Valdicava Madonna Del Piano Riserva Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $312.00    Sale $274.56
Quantity in Stock: 1

(93 points)  The 1997 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano shows a rustic fringe (especially compared to the super-refined 1999 edition of the same wine) with some aromas of braised meat, pecorino cheese rind, black fruit, smoke and barbecue spice. It’s a wine with thicker bones, chunky parts and more abrupt movements. Having said that, its hearty, hometown-homeboy personality makes it just the kind of wine to pair with grilled meat and crunchy, oven-roasted potatoes with rosemary and olive oil. It’s definitely a wine that brings on your appetite. Drink: 2014-2022.  Wine Advocate #211, Feb 2014

1995 Valdicava Brunello Di Montalcino Madonna Del Piano Riserva
Price: $270.00    Sale $237.60
Quantity in Stock: 1

(93 Points) Valdicava's single vineyard Madonna del Piano may be the finest 1995 Brunello di Montalcino I have tasted. There are 550 cases of this gem, which is nearly equal in quality to the prodigious Soldera 1995 Brunello. It boasts a dark garnet color as well as an explosive bouquet of black fruits, minerals, Chinese black tea, herbs, and spice. Super-rich as well as extraordinarily well-balanced, it possesses layers of flavor, sweet tannin, and a finish that lasts for nearly 45 seconds. This is a remarkable achievement for the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.†Robert Parker Jr. “ The Wine Advocate

A bit about Canalicchio Di Sopra:

Primo Pacenti, the winemaker at Canalicchio di Sopra is a delightful gentleman whose wines are much like him - open and unpretentious.  These wines are ones that mature rapidly and offer straightforward satisfaction.  He has been making wine since the late 1960’s in the limestone and clay soils of his vineyard in a zone that is one of the most rapidly evolving and expanding in the fine wine world.

In 1962 Primo Pacenti, a lover of the land with a knowledge of its products, founded Azienda Agricola Canalicchio di Sopra. Situated in the northern side of the Municipality of Montalcino and in the middle of the tourist itinerary of Val d’Orcia, the farm extends for about 60 ha, 15 of which are cultivated with vines and 2 with olive groves.

Three generations live here side by side with the common aim of producing quality wines: the generation of the grandfather, Primo Pacenti, who founded the farm and managed it until the 1990’s, as well as participating actively in the social life of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino; that of the father, Pier Luigi Ripaccioli, who with the grandfather has undertaken to increase the quality by proposing careful and meticulous work; that of the grandchildren, Simonetta, Marco and Francesco who joined the management in 2001, bringing with them new ideas and new technologies always in respect of ancient methods and customs.

The vines grow in two of the zones with the highest vine growing and wine making vocations in Montalcino: Canalicchio di Sopra and Le Gode di Montosoli. The different exposure and the geological differences of the soils produce different Sangiovese grapes where balance and power compensate one another in the wine cellar through the patient work which always seeks the best blend of tradition and innovation.

2006 Canalicchio Di Sopra Rosso di Montalcino
Price: $29.75    Sale $26.18
Quantity in Stock: 6

This is a classic Rosso with red cherry and wild strawberry fruit on the nose with notes of dried herbs and mushroom. Red berry fruit on the tongue with nice concentration for a Rosso smooth tannins and nice freshness a bit dry on the finish, needs a bit of Parmigiano-Reggiano. Finish 35+ VERY GOOD +

2009 Canalicchio di Sopra Rosso Di Montalcino MAGNUM
Price: $56.00    Sale $49.28
Quantity in Stock: 4

(89 Points)The 2009 Rosso di Montalcino is a gorgeous wine bursting with dark red fruit. It shows plenty of harmony and fine overall balance. Sweet spices and flowers linger on the warm, radiant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017. This is another solid set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra – Ripaccioli, an estate that continues to ratchet up quality in a meaningful way.

2010 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Magnum
Price: $185.00    Sale $162.80
Quantity in Stock: 7

2010 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $101.75    Sale $89.54
Quantity in Stock: 40

(98 points)  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. (ML) 98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

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. (ML) (2/ 2015)  (2/ 2015)

2009 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $66.00    Sale $58.08
Quantity in Stock: 8

(92 points) 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.  Wine Advocate #211 Feb 2014

2007 Canalicchio di Sopra Riserva Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $123.25    Sale $108.46
Quantity in Stock: 7

Around 500 cases produced, very concentrated and rich on the nose with red cherry liqueur like fruit fresh earth and fine herbs with incense . A very elegant style with lots of structure very fresh and savory very classic style old world with fresh earth and dried mushroom and a potpourri of dried floral nuance through the finish.      Most Excellent +

2006 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $68.75    Sale $60.50
Quantity in Stock: 12

Dried herbs and red berry fruit on the nose with notes of licorice spice. Notes of tar and black spices on the finish, a very classically fashioned brunello with layers of dried herbs and porcini notes. Most Excellent

2004 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $112.00    Sale $98.56
Quantity in Stock: 2

(92 Points) Dried violets, berries and hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with racy, silky tannins and a tanned leather, berry aftertaste. Chewy. Needs bottle age to mellow. Better than the 2001. Best after 2010. 2,800 cases made. –JS Wine Spectator Issue: Web Only - 2009

2004 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $159.00    Sale $139.92
Quantity in Stock: 10

(93+ Points) The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is built on a core of elegance and refinement rather than the sheer power that typically characterizes the estate’s wines. This is a sensual, layered Brunello that only gradually reveals its seductive charm. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of ripe dark fruit all the way through to the sublime, delicate finish. Readers looking for a blockbuster 2004 Riserva should look elsewhere, but those in search of the elegant side of Brunello will find much to admire here. That said; the wine gained quite a bit of volume and depth with air, so it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024.  Canalicchio di Sopra - Ripaccioli seems to be making better and better wines with each passing vintage. The estate’s Rosso and Brunellos are sourced from vineyards in the Canalicchio and Montosoli districts, both on the northern side of Montalcino, and are aged predominantly in cask.  Wine Advocate #188, Apr 2010

2001 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Price: $159.00    Sale $139.92
Quantity in Stock: 4

1996 Canalicchio Di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino
Price: $102.00    Sale $89.76
Quantity in Stock: 12

(89 points) Canalicchio di Sopra's plum/ruby-colored 1996 Brunello di Montalcino exhibits some of the vintage's austerity along with a nicely layered mid-palate as well as aromas and flavors of coffee, soy, Asian spices, and roasted herbs and meats. Spicy, medium-bodied, angular, complex as well as cerebral, it will drink well for 12-15 years.  Wine Advocate #137 Oct 2001

1995 Canalicchio Di Sopra Riserva Brunello Di Montalcino
Price: $154.50    Sale $135.96
Quantity in Stock: 30

A classic example of Brunello with soft smooth tannins, this wine is now fully evolved with the classic black tar and truffle aromas along with a host of dried herbs, sage and rosemary.  The wine opened up nicely and revealed some pretty dried cherry fruit along with some meaty notes and dried flowers, everything in perfect balance today.  The wine finishes fresh and lively and with the right food this wine will really came alive, the fruit being on the undercard with the wine now at 19 years old.  You want to decanter this wine for 30 minutes and serve it with dinner or some reggiano parmesan cheese.  A classic vintage for Montacino and although it is fully mature, it has the balance to last another decade or more in your cellar.  Finish 45+  Most Excellent +