CANALICCHIO DI SOPRA
TUSCANY, ITALY 2019
Why Buy: Having tasted through the portfolio of one of the greatest estates in all of Italy, the legendary Canalicchio di Sopra, we are proud to bring you this stellar quartet, capped by an epic and majestic 100-point Vigna La Casaccia – one of only 3 perfect-score Brunellos in the vintage so far. As improbable as it sounds, this estate may have reached a new peak in its soulful expression of the incomparable terroir of northern Montalcino.
What They're Saying: "A perfect wine ... [it] may be immortal," Vinous wrote of the La Casaccia, calling it a "deeply textural and seductive" Brunello that creates "a kaleidoscope of sensation on the palate." Monica Larner, of The Wine Advocate, was nearly as high in her praise of the 98-point Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli, a "gorgeous wine" that "boasts an impeccable nose," "very fine-grained tannins" and a "long, rich finish." Vinous also weighed in on the 96-point 2019 Brunello di Montalcino, a wine "bursting with energy, as depths of ripe red fruits, chalky minerals and exotic spices saturate all they touch," and that "finishes with fantastic length and concentration ... Wow."
The Story: At 36, the third-generation winemaker Francesco Ripaccioli has already notched a remarkable 16 vintages and attained a level of rock-star acclaim that most vintners never manage to approach. More impressive to us, and more inspiring, is that he has not been content to rest on the vast reputation of his estate, but has continued to refine its approach and his methods, as witnessed by the extraordinary run Canalicchio di Sopra has been on these past several years, with a number of wines that are destined to be regarded as classics. There is perhaps no better illustration of his ongoing quest to attain oenological greatness than the story of Vigna La Casaccia. The 2019 release is just the fourth vintage for this wine, making the fact of its perfect score that much more astounding.
Our Tasting Notes: We couldn't agree more with Vinous; La Casaccia is absolute perfection – aromatically, texturally, and every other -ly you can come up with. Quite simply, an unimprovable experience, and an enthralling one besides. Amazingly, the Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli was not far behind, delivering on every count and only intensifying our admiration and gratitude for Ripaccioli and his gifted team. Set against these two insta-legends, the Brunello di Montalcino, you might think, would struggle to compete; but what we encountered was a wine of exceptional depth and intensity and length, one of the best we've had the privilege of opening in recent memory. As for the Rosso di Montalcino, it was not meant to play with the big boys; it's a table wine, and priced accordingly (less than $27 a bottle), but it's got character and charm, and you'll absolutely taste that legendary Montalcino terroir.
Fun Fact: Before returning home to head winemaking operations in the wake of his grandfather's stroke, in 2007, Ripaccioli had no formal training, and was enmeshed in his studies in business school.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in 8-12 Weeks. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in DE, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NY, NM, TN, WI, or STORES 209, 538, 533, 532, 938, 929, 937, 1403 & 1408. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024.
*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.
