Description
s you drive downhill from the hamlet of Montalcino on its north side, you pass the Canalicchio di Sopra winery, which is located in a shallow, sun-lit basin of vines. This estate is meticulous and studied in its winemaking philosophy, and the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is an expression of that concentration. This warm-climate Brunello reveals awesome purity and intensity with wild cherry, almond and lilac spread over a tonic, mid-weight finish. This wine awards plenty of elegance in a vintage that was not easy and not prone to such nuance. 94/100 RP
Producer Information: Canalicchio di Sopra
Founded in 1962 by Primo Pacenti and now owned by his son Pier Luigi Ripaccioli and run by grandson Francesco Ripaccioli, Canalicchio di Sopra mirrors the history of Montalcino itself as
its Brunello production moved the region from poverty to prosperity. Situated in the northern Brunello zone, Canalicchio's 37 acres lie at some of the highest altitude in Montalcino, receiving
limited exposure to the influence of the Mediterranean Sea, and this location allows the estate to craft outstanding wines in challenging years because, sheltered by Monte Amiata and kissed
by the sea, Canalicchio's special microclimates can spare its vineyards from excessive heat or rain, protect them from hail, and generally help the estate's grapes to ripen evenly when other
producers are left high and dry.