CANALICCHIO DI SOPRA, BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

TUSCANY, ITALY

As one of my all-time favorite Brunello producers, it is a thrill to have an allocation from the legendary Canalicchio di Sopra to offer to you today. For over half a century, this small producer has consistently crafted some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world and their wines today stay true to form. Garnering two 97-point scores for their 2013 Brunello Riserva and 94-points for their 2014 Brunello, these wines are truly some of the greatest successes coming out of their respective vintages. 
 

Founded in 1962, Canalicchio di Sopra continues to producing outstanding wines that exude focus and extreme precision that can only be found in wines of the highest caliber and distinction. For those in the know, these wines are some of the most coveted in Tuscany and offer decades of satisfaction. For those who haven’t tasted Canalicchio di Sopra, do yourself a favor and check them out. For anyone looking for deeply expressive, immensely delicious Sangiovese - their Brunellos are powerful, classic and refined wines, displaying the best that Montalcino has to offer. 
 

Their straight Brunello bottling is a wine produced from a blend of the Canalicchio and Montosoli properties while their Riserva is only produced in top years from a parcel of their oldest vines and aged for 42 months in large Slavonian Oak casks followed by 6 months in French oak casks. With very positive feedback from winemaker Francesco Rippaccioli on the 2013 vintage, he notes its similarities to the 2001 vintage (which only received 4 stars by the Brunello Consorzio but proved to be one of the most notable and outstanding vintages in Italy). If history proves to repeat itself, Canalicchio di Sopra’s 2013 Brunello Riserva is on a path to make history as another age-defying, wine of the vintage. And as for their regular Brunello – with difficult weather conditions, their crop was diminished to the point where they decided against making a Brunello Riserva and only made a very small quantity of Brunello. Therefore, much of what would normally go into the production of their Brunello Riserva went into their Brunello, making this one of the best values you can find coming out of Montalcino. As noted by Decanter “The Brunello harvest, beginning on 5 Oct, consisted of only the smallest, most concentrated bunches…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.” 

Thanks to Canalicchio di Sopra’s northern location, possession of the highly acclaimed Montosoli and Canalicchio vineyards, and Francesco Rippaccioli’s commitment to the land and winemaking - the wines produced here display impressive depth and complexity pairing extraordinary elegance with power. As these sumptuous wines are some of the most sought after in the region, we suggest acting quickly if you’re interested in securing an allocation. For one week, we’re offering these wines for the best price in the country!