2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli
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Tasting notes
The 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is from more schist-based soils and displays a deep ruby/magenta color with a touch more pigment. Opening to sunny aromas of kirsch, lavender, crushed pine needles, licorice, and sappy earth, it’s full-bodied and offers dark mineral undertones that carry through the palate with rich tannins while retaining good freshness, and it has a robust and warming finish. For my taste, I somewhat prefer the Casacchia for its more buoyant nature, but the Montosoli is quite compelling and is not to be overlooked, since it may just need time to reveal its full potential. Drink 2026-2046. I met with Francesco Ripaccioli for this report both at his family estate on the north side of Montalcino, as well as here in New York to taste older vintages of Canalicchio di Sopra in January 2024. He, along with his brother and sister, represent the third generation of the estate. Canalicchio is divided between two areas of Montalcino, the first parcel purchased by his grandfather, Primo Pacenti, after World War II, and the second in Montosoli, where they have six hectares of vine that his father purchased in 1958. Today the combined land spans 60 hectares, 19 of which are dedicated to the vineyards, and for their wines, they both combine the terroirs of the two regions as well as make unique expressions for each of the two locations. The rest of the land is committed to biodiversity and to an Agriturismo also on the north side of the Montalcino hill. Their wines show a lot of complexity, with age-worthy potential across all categories, as readers will find in my notes on the library vintages. The (unofficial) sub-zone of Canalicchio is characterized by a particular type of calcareous clay, with a high pH of 8.2, which contributes to a very elegant texture that you can find in the wines coming from the Cassacchia Vineyard. In Montosoli, there is more dry soil with galestro and schist, although it has the same pH. The Montosoli side tends to contribute more structure and salinity to the resulting wines. In the cellar, they ferment the wines separately and produce these three expressions of Brunello as well as Rosso di Montalcino.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
This is a gorgeous wine that really takes off in this vintage. It starts off with gentle floral aromas of lilac or dried violet and a hint of fragrant rose. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli boasts an impeccable nose with elegant berry fruit and light minerality. All this beauty is transferred to the palate, where the wine shows very fine-grained tannins. The fruit flows steadily over a long, rich finish. The challenge is to get a fruit finish this long, considering Brunello's strong tannins, but this wine definitely succeeds. Production is 7,200 bottles plus larger formats.
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit.
Dark ruby with orange tinges. Complex, deep nose of cherry with a touch of exotic spice. The nose oozes class. Compact and finely balanced on the palate with finely chiselled tannins that follow the fruit rather than taking the upper hand. Very long and complex, and not ready by far. (WS)