Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino ” La Casaccia” 2015

Vinous 98 Points

The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia opens with an intense mix of zesty red fruits, spice and alluring sweet florals, backed by dark earth, crushed stone, hints of licorice, and a twang of savory herbs. On the palate, silky textures are contrasted by saline-minerals and brisk acids, as red berry fruits flood the senses along with savory herbs and spices, leaving a coating of fine-grained tannin. The finish is long, displaying lingering spiced red berries enlivened by resonating acids, saline-mineral tones and a hint of fine tannin. Talk about a great way to release a new single-vineyard bottling, The 2015 is classic to the core.

EG

Wine Advocate 98 Points

The Canalicchio di Sopra 2015 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia represents a new chapter in this estate’s long history. This is a single-vineyard expression from the Canalicchio area, one of the most interesting subzones on the northeast side of Montalcino. Giving identity to individual parcels gives an estate like this huge potential for further expression and experimentation. The site is a little over two hectares, and it has dense, mineral-rich clay soils that add more power and a heavier center of gravity. The vines were planted in 1990. I notice slightly firmer tannin here, with a very distinct level of acidity purity. You also get lasting berry fruit favors with blueberry and dried raspberry followed by spice, licorice and lavender buds from the south of France and the rim of the Mediterranean. The wine is distinguished by endnotes of balsam or medicinal herb that grow in strength with time. It offers plenty of volume and weight. Not counting the various large format bottles made, only 3,610 750-milliliter bottles were produced. They were filled in May 2019, and the wine hit the market in January 2020.

Canalicchio di Sopra has a couple of good reasons to celebrate this year. First, they are releasing a special 50th anniversary bottle of their classic Brunello di Montalcino. Second, they have a new wine on the market now. It is a single-vineyard expression with fruit coming exclusively from the Canalicchio subzone of the appellation. The vines were planted in 1990, and I have had the pleasure of following the evolution of this beautiful wine while it was still in barrel.

ML