Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 'Vigna Montosoli' 2018

This prestigious single-vineyard Cru dry red wine originates from Italy, crafted in the renowned Montalcino DOCG region of southern Tuscany. Managed today by the third generation—Francesco, Marco, and Simonetta Ripaccioli—Canalicchio di Sopra is one of the historic founding families of the Montalcino consortium. Vigna Montosoli represents the estate's crown-jewel single-vineyard bottling, sourced from a prized 5-hectare plot on the famed Montosoli hill north of Montalcino town. Characterized by stony galestro and albarese soils, slates, and quartz gravels paired with exceptional northern sun exposure, this site produces a Brunello globally revered for its soaring aromatic complexity, chiseled mineral tension, and supreme structural elegance.

Wine Description

In the glass, the 2018 Vigna Montosoli displays a luminous ruby-garnet color with bright orange-tinged reflections. The captivating nose opens with an array of aromatic aromas, featuring red cherry, wild strawberry, and blood orange peel, interwoven with crushed flint, dried rose petals, thyme, white pepper, and subtle leather. On the palate, the wine is medium-to-full-bodied, laser-focused, and incredibly vibrant. A core of pristine red fruit is underpinned by fine, chalky, vertical tannins and a brilliant streak of saline minerality that drives the palate forward. Crafted from 100% Sangiovese (Sangiovese Grosso), the hand-harvested grapes undergo spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with skin maceration for roughly 25 to 30 days. The wine is aged for 36 months in traditional large Slavonian oak casks (botti grandi), followed by extensive bottle refinement before release. The alcohol by volume sits at 14.5%.

Food Pairing

The vibrant acidity, fine-grained tannic backbone, and complex mineral aromatics of this Montosoli Cru make it an exceptional pairing for refined, flavor-packed dishes. It pairs magnificently with prime cuts of red meat, such as dry-aged Florentine steak (bistecca alla Fiorentina), roasted rack of lamb with herbs, slow-braised beef short ribs, and venison tenderloin. It also harmonizes beautifully with fresh pasta dishes featuring wild boar ragù or shaved black truffles, as well as aged hard cheeses like mature Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or aged Gouda.

Vintage Quality

The 2018 vintage in Montalcino was a classic, cooler season marked by steady spring rains and moderate summer temperatures, yielding wines defined by fresh elegance, high aromatic lift, and refined structure. The stony, well-draining soils of the Montosoli hill proved ideal for these conditions, permitting perfect, gradual phenolic ripening while maintaining sparkling natural acidity. The 2018 Canalicchio di Sopra Vigna Montosoli stands out as a triumph of precision and terroir expression, offering immense charm and clarity early after decanting while possessing the concentration and structural balance to cellar gracefully for 15 to 25+ years.

Accolades

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Review Date: 02/2024

The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is fresh with aromas of clove, orange peel, peppercorns, and candied cranberries. Medium-bodied, savory, and mineral-toned, with fine, present tannins, a more angular structure, and a crispy freshness throughout, it’s going to need another few years. Drink 2026-2040.

96 Points - Vinous
Review Date: 12/2022

The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is quite Burgundian in style, slowly awakening in the glass with a delicate mix of sweet herbs, crushed violet candies, hints of spiced orange and wild strawberries. It boasts a stunning purity of fruit and inner sweetness, seeming to hover across the palate, as red berries and saline-minerals slowly saturate under a purple-tinged air of inner florals. The 2018 leaves a grippy coating of fine tannins, yet balances them with a residual bump of zesty acidity, finishing long, lightly structured and with immaculate balance. This is the first official vintage of Vigna Montosoli, a wine that I've been following now for over two years, and each time it seems to only grow in both volume and depth. 96+

95 Points - Wine Advocate
Review Date: 03/2023

Here's an exciting new addition to the growing Canalicchio di Sopra portfolio. With fruit from one of the most celebrated subzones in the appellation, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli shows a unique profile. The wine opens to a solid core of red and purple fruits, all framed by light spice, crushed stone or chalky limestone. The fiber of this wine is lean, tight and elegantly streamlined. It hits the palate with intensity and softness, and it delivers especially fine tannins. Francesco Ripaccioli made 3,733 bottles and 200 magnums. (ML)

95 Points - Wine Spectator
Review Date: 06/2023

Medium-bodied and open-knit, offering tomato leaf, plum, cherry, licorice, earth and spice flavors. Stays focused, courtesy of good cut, with a silky texture and tannins that leave a slight sinewy feel on the finish. Overall, this is harmonious, complex and long. Best from 2025 through 2042. 344 cases made, 75 cases imported.