Country: | Italy |
Regions: | Tuscany Brunello di Montalcino |
Winery: | Caparzo |
Grape Type: | Sangiovese |
Organic: | Yes |
Vintage: | 2018 |
Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Brunello di Montalcino comes from a careful selection of Sangiovese grapes. Every stage of production, from the vineyard to the cellar, follows the regulations of the Consortium of Producers.
Type: D.O.C.G.
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese (Brunello)
Barrel Aging: 24 months in Oak barrels of 20/40hl.
Bottle aging: 6 months
Production: 28.000 bottles
Colour:Ruby red
Nose: fruits and spices
Palate: robust and persistent flavour
Pair with: red meats, games, roasts, salumi and aged cheeses
Wine service:It’s a meditation wine, that to be tasted in the best conditions must be opened with two hours in advance in order to favor a good oxygenation.
Review:
A firm, velvety-textured wine and not overbearing, offering red cherries and hints of cedar and mushrooms. Chewy and structured. Excellent structure and a savory finish. Cool, structured red. From organically grown grapes. Best in three to four years and beyond. Try in 2026.
-James Suckling 95 Points
This is a 6 pack with 2 bottles each from vintages from 2013, 2015, and 2016.
***Tenimenti Angelini Val di Suga Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino 2016:
The 2016 Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino is the most brooding of the lineup from Val di Suga and is sourced from the southwest of the region on sandy soils. There are aromatics of black raspberry, licorice, menthol, sage, cinnamon, and iron-rich earth. Its Mediterranean influence is felt on the palate with ripe black cherry, dried herbs, and sun-baked earth. This is the fullest bodied and most savory of the Val di Suga lineup, with more roundness and grip. Its structure will benefit from cellaring for several years and will be great drinking over the next 20 years or more. 2026-2040.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
***Tenimenti Angelini Val di Suga Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino 2015:
The 2015 Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino is more introverted on first opening, with notes of black plum, licorice, dried Mediterranean herb, and sun-baked earth. On the palate, it offers a tart dried fruit character, with a building tannin structure that finishes with tomato leaf, and bitter herbs. The most rustic and burly of the wines in the lineup of the 2015 Val di Suga vintage, it will benefit from allowing some time in cellar to see how this matures and its tarriness develops. Drink 2026-2036
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
***Tenimenti Angelini Val di Suga Vigna Spuntali Brunello di Montalcino 2013:
Plenty of spices and fresh herbs on the nose, such as dried rosemary and nutmeg, to match the underlying dried redcurrants and cranberries. Full-bodied with plenty of concentration, but still shows a very sturdy, tannin backbone and punchy acidity, to drive this through to a long finish. Drink in 2021.
-James Suckling 94 Points
San Giorgio Ugolforte presents a dark core of red and black berry fruit layered with earth, leather, smoke, and herbs. Complex and elegant, the wine is full on the palate and firm in tannin structure. Refreshing acidity frames a graceful finish. Classic Brunello di Montalcino.
This red is marked by cherry, plum, thyme, sage and loam aromas and flavors. Lively and firmly structured, featuring a saline undercurrent. An open-knit version, with nice equilibrium, fine energy and a long, resonant finish.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
-Wine Spectator 94 Points
Capanna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is made from 100 percent Sangiovese.
TYPE: DOCG
BLEND: 100% Sangiovese carefully selected in the oldest vineyards and only of the best harvests.
VINIFICATION:
Alcoholic fermentation with maceration of the skins (30-35 days) at a controlled temperature and spontaneous malolactic fermentation, both in truncated cone-shaped Slavonian oak vats.
AGEING:
In Slavonian oak casks of 10 to 25 hl for over 40 months; followed by ageing in bottles for at least 15 months.
NOTES:
Colour: deep ruby red, strong, lively.
Bouquet: very intense and complex, fruity and spicy, with red fruit, jam and liquorice shades; great prospects of future development.
Taste: great structure in the acid-tannin components, well supported by the soft ones; extremely persistent.
Food pairings: roast red meats, game and very aged cheeses.
Review:
Bright ruby in the glass. First impact is low key, with red cherry, leather, tobacco, fresh violet and balsamic notes. The attack is velvety, with a full body, lifted acidity and dense, ripe tannins. Character emerges from the glass, meaty and bloody. Thick, dry finish that’s fierce. Drink or hold
-James Suckling 95 Points
Collemattoni Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100 percent Sangiovese.
Color: brilliant red with burgundy reflects; Bouquet: penetrating with memories of wild black fruits, black cherry and noble wood; Taste: warm, dry and persistent
Coming from a parcel with 10-15 year old vines planted in sandy clay and marl soils.
Harvest is 100% destemmed with a soft pressing, fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature of 28-30°C, pumping over for the first week of maceration followed by skin-contact maceration for 20-25 days with rack and return technique (delestage).
Malolactic fermentation completed.
Wine is slightly filtered before bottling.
Review:
"Black cherry and plum with a touch of smoke , vanilla. And toast on the nose. Powdery tannins coat the mouth and has a long persistence. Powerful and fresh while a little warming on the finish."
- Decanter Wolrd Wine Awards (June 2023), 97 pts
Collemattoni Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is made from 100 percent Sangiovese.
Intense ruby red with brilliant burgundy reflects in color. Reminiscent of wild black fruits, vanilla and spices on the nose and dry, warm, slightly austere but velvety in the palate.
This wine comes from the oldest vineyard of Collemattoni: Fontelontano. Less than half hectare. It's one of the few Single Vineyard Brunello di Montalcino riserva.
Coming from a parcel with 15-18 year old vines planted in sandy clay and marl soils.
Harvest is 100% destemmed with a soft pressing, fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature of 28-30°C, pumping over for the first week of maceration following by skin-contact maceration for 20-25 days with rack and return technique (delestage).
Malolactic fermentation completed. The delestage and the pumping over are then spaced out along the process.
Wine is slightly filtered before bottling.
Review:
This is intense with aromas of dried cherries, sweet licorice, cloves, crushed walnuts and hints of chocolate and undergrowth. Full-bodied, deep and structured with taut, tightly packed tannins. Long and persistent. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
The Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Vigna la Casa can be considered a real oenological jewel and not only of Montalcino. The origin of the name LA CASA derives from the fact that in the past this was one of the farms where some peasants lived employed by the owners of Palazzo Montosoli, located a few hundred meters away. The first vintage produced of Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa was 1977. At the time, little was known about terroir and little attention was paid to the concept of zoning, introduced in Montalcino only in recent years. Also in this case Caparzo was an avant-garde company in producing one of the first "Single Vineyard" Brunello di Montalcino in one of the most privileged vineyards of the Municipality.
With the Brunello di Montalcino La Casa, Caparzo has also achieved another milestone: that of being one of the first companies to introduce the barrique in Montalcino, managing to create a wine with a gentle and elegant soul. The Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa is the fruit of a unique territory and expresses all of Caparzo's great passion and long experience in producing excellent wines. With the Brunello di Montalcino La Casa, Caparzo has also achieved another milestone: that of being one of the first companies to introduce the barrique in Montalcino, managing to create a wine with a gentle and elegant soul.
The Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa is the fruit of a unique territory and expresses all of Caparzo's great passion and long experience in producing excellent wines. With the Brunello di Montalcino La Casa, Caparzo has also achieved another milestone: that of being one of the first companies to introduce the barrique in Montalcino, managing to create a wine with a gentle and elegant soul. The Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casa is the fruit of a unique territory and expresses all of Caparzo's great passion and long experience in producing excellent wines.
Review:
Lots of blue and sweet berry fruit with heady rose and floral notes on the nose, alongside hot chocolate, sandalwood, toffee and nutmeg. It’s full-bodied with ripe, muscular tannins that are superbly integrated. Powerful, yet with transparency and clarity that gives it beauty. Long, graceful finish.
-James Suckling 96 Points
Still today, innovative breeding systems are being tested and, in particular, various clonal selections in the owned lands, which extend over an area of about 200 hectares, 90 of which are planted with vineyards, 4 with olive groves, 87 with woods and 19 currently with arable land and courtyards. Caparzo carries out an activity that aims to obtain top quality products, achieved with meticulous and artisanal production techniques, but nevertheless reveals a modern mentality in management, efficient and capable in commercial relations. More than forty years have passed since the first rows of vines and the first cellar experiences. Caparzo, in this time, grown in respect of the Brunello tradition and the different terroirs of the area, has been able to enhance its wines with a creative spirit and desire for innovation, expressing the maximum qualitative rigour. Precisely for this reason, Caparzo wines have been adopted by the most famous restaurants in the world, served at international meetings and official state dinners.
aparzo vineyards occupy about 90 hectares in the municipality of Montalcino. In Caparzo, in the hilly area, at an altitude of 220 metres, facing south to south-east, about 9 hectares of Brunello are cultivated, 3 hectares of Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Traminer, 2.5 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 hectares of Rosso di Montalcino, 1 hectare of Sangiovese Sant'Antimo and 1.5 hectares of Moscadello. The soil is of Pliocene, sedimentary, sandy-clayey formation. In the locality of La Casa, at an altitude of 275 metres, facing south to south-east, there are 5 hectares of Brunello. The soil is of shale-clayey formation, known as marl. In the western area, called La Caduta, at a height of 300 meters, 7.5 hectares of Brunello are located on a soil of sandstone matrix, loose and rich in skeleton. From south to southeast of Montalcino, the Il Cassero vineyard is located, at a height of 270 meters, where there are about 6 hectares of Brunello, 4 of Sangiovese, 1 of Syrah, 1 of Colorino and 3 hectares of Rosso di Montalcino, on a soil of Pliocene formation with a sandy-stony or schistic-clayey matrix. Finally, south-east of Montalcino, in the San Piero-Caselle vineyard, at a height of 250 meters, 2.5 hectares of Brunello are cultivated, 15 of Sangiovese, 2.5 of Merlot, 2 of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5 in Syrah, 1.5 in Petit Verdot and 2 hectares in Colorino. As a rule, the harvest period begins in the first days of September for white grapes, while the red grapes are harvested in the third week of September. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese Grosso grapes destined for the production of Ca' del Pazzo are harvested separately. Only after the malolactic fermentation does the mixing of the two wines take place. The grapes destined for the production of Le Grance are softly pressed and the fermentation of the must takes place in small 350-litre oak barrels. After fermentation, the wine remains in the same barrels for twelve months. The red grapes are destemmed: the must and pomace begin fermentation at a controlled temperature for about eight days, with pumping over and punching down on the cap.
Roland Champion Champagne Brut Rose Grand Cru NV is the blend of 33% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Meunier and 33% Pinot Noir.
The Champagne rose shows an orange salmon color coming from the red wine base. The pinot meunier brings red fruit aromas of strawberry and raspberry with hints of spices. The palate is juicy and harmonious with good depth and minerality. A delicate balance between Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir.
It is a blend of 93% White juice (made from 33% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Meunier and 33% Pinot Noir) and 7% Pinot Noir red wine. The grapes used to produce the Coteaux Champenois red wine are coming from their vineyards near the Village of Verneuil.
Poggio Nardone Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso.
The rich nose displays scents of spices combined with aromas of small red ripe fruits, blackberry and blueberry.
Well structured, determined and elegant, with round and silky tannins. Very nice finish.
Alcoholic fermentation was done in tank, maloactic fermentation in oak barrels. Wine was then aged for 3 years in French oak barrels.
Review:
Noble and decidedly balsamic in the primary profile alternating notes of peppermint, eucalyptus, green tea leaves and guaranà. A lot of very delicate dried cherries are housed in the background giving brilliance and crunchiness. Medium bodied, well extracted mature tannins and a finale which squeezes from the centre palate onwards. Better from 2025.
- WinesCritic.com 93 Points
San Giorgio Ugolforte presents a dark core of red and black berry fruit layered with earth, leather, smoke, and herbs. Complex and elegant, the wine is full on the palate and firm in tannin structure. Refreshing acidity frames a graceful finish. Classic Brunello di Montalcino.
This red is marked by cherry, plum, thyme, sage and loam aromas and flavors. Lively and firmly structured, featuring a saline undercurrent. An open-knit version, with nice equilibrium, fine energy and a long, resonant finish.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
-Wine Spectator 94 Points
Fefinanes Albarino de Albarino is 100 percent Albarino
Fresh fruit aromas of apricot and peach slices with notes of lemon and green apple. Pretty notes of honey and wet nutmeg, and the mouth is round, clean, and pleasant with baked apple, honey, and lemon.
This is a classic Albariño which is good young, but actually improves over two to three years and remains quite drinkable for up to five years. Owner Juan Gil comments that the wine really starts to come into its own in June/July, and he actually prefers it 18 or more months after it's made. A Fefiñanes "vertical" of three or four vintages can provide some most interesting surprises.
Clos Saint-Jean is a 41-hectare estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape run by brothers Vincent and Pascal Maurel. Considered by many critics and wine-writers as the preeminent estate espousing the modern style of winemaking in Châteauneuf, this cellar is one of the oldest in the region, having been founded in 1900 by the greatgreat-grandfather of Vincent and Pascal, Edmund Tacussel. A short time after its founding and well before the AOP of Chateauneuf-du-Pape was created in 1923, Edmund began bottling estate wines in 1910.
The farming at Clos Saint-Jean is fully sustainable due to the warm and dry climate, which prevents the need for chemical inputs. Instead, Vincent and Pascal employ organic methods for pest control, mainly pheromones, to prevent pests from taking up residence in their vines, a process called amusingly enough in French, confusion sexuelle. The vines tended manually, and harvest is conducted in several passes entirely by hand.
Combe des Fous literally means, the hill of the fool. The hill, in this case, is located in the far southern reach of Le Crau which was left barren for many centuries because the layer of galets was so exceedingly deep that everyone assumed vines could never survive there. The fool in this situation is Edmund Tacussel, the great-great-grandfather of Vincent and Pascal Maruel who planted a Grenache vineyard on this site in 1905. That old-vine Grenache form the heart of this cuvée with a small amount of Syrah, Cinsault and Vaccarèse. La Combe des Fous is only made in the best vintages.
Review:
This has good concentration and energy to the dense core of dark fruit and bitter cherry, with great poise and elegance despite its ripeness (an impressive feat for the vintage). Guided by finely crushed mineral accents and tannins, this reveals pretty high-toned floral notes and leafy tobacco. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Vaccarese and Muscardin. Drink now through 2032. 900 cases made.
-Wine Spectator 95 Points