Capanna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016
(Tuscany, Italy) - [F 98] [VM 96] [JS 95] [WA 94+]

About the Winery:
The Capanna farm, owned by the Cencioni family since 1957, is situated in the Montosoli area, to the north of Montalcino. It was founded by Giuseppe Cencioni and, helped by his sons Benito and Franco, it was one of the first farms of the modern period of Brunello. They started bottling their own wines in the 1960s and after Brunello di Montalcino was granted DOC status in 1966, Giuseppe was one of the 25 founders of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino.

Tasting Notes:
In the glass, a deep ruby red with garnet hues.  The nose is very intense and complex, fruity and spicy, with red fruit, jam and liquorice.  There is great structure here and this wines has the ability to age for years to come. 

Food Pairing:
Roast red meats, game and very aged cheeses.

Technical Information

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.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - Falstaff:
"Powerful, bright garnet red. Rich, very appealing nose with notes of ripe raspberries and fresh plums, some liquorice and subtle savoury notes in the background. Grippy, finely meshed tannins on the palate, multi-layered, salty, good tension, very long finish." (Dec 2022)

96 Points - Vinous Media:
“The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva wafts up with a classic Capanna profile, rich yet elegant, with masses of crushed black cherries, sweet herbs, cloves and hints of cigar box. This is velvety yet not weighty, with a salty core of minerals and brisk acids that enliven its citrus-tinged red berries and exotic inner spice. While persistent and structured, the 2016 keeps you coming back to the glass, savory and saline in character with grippy tannins, but also a tug of residual tension that keeps the expression unexpectedly fresh. This is a tremendous Brunello Riserva in the making, and all it needs is time. (Drink between 2026-2036).” - Eric Guido (Dec 2021)

95 Points - James Suckling:
"This has a gorgeous nose of orange zest, hazelnuts, cherry blossom, cherry stones, peaches, cedar and some spearmint. Firm, dense and structured, with a wealth of fruit and fragrance. Lengthy. Still tight and chewy. Better from 2025."

94+ Points - Wine Advocate:
“The Capanna 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals a medium-dark ruby color and shiny intensity. This Riserva is balanced and quite beautiful, showing that sharp clarity and freshness that only Sangiovese can deliver in cool and balanced vintages such as this. To the palate, the wine is rather restrained, showing a mid-weight approach and lots of crisp acidity on the close. This Riserva needs more time to open and a few more years of cellar aging. Fruit selection for this wine prioritizes the best clusters with smaller berries and looser bunches that are more resistant to damp and disease. The finished wine ages in large oak casks for four years. 2024-2040.” - Monica Larner (Feb 2022)