The Brunello di Montalcino is a deep ruby red that’s, with aromas of dried red fruits and dried wild herbs. The palate, elegant and ethereal, is completely together, an infusion of the tastes and textures. Made with 100% Sangiovese (selected from their oldest vines), the juice is allowed to macerate on skins for 20-30 days and fermented at a controlled temperature followed by spontaneous MLF (malolactic fermentation), both stages in cone-shaped Slavonian oak casks. The wine is then racked off into 10 to 32 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks for a period of around 34-38 months prior to being bottle-aged for at least six months.
'An estate that has been on a roll of late with super-elegant wines.'
Antonio Galloni
The south-easterly exposure of the Montosoli vineyards—to the north of Montalcino—and the clay-rich soil together with meticulous work in the vineyards ensures that the vines have a healthy growing period and produce wines of elegance, structure and acidity.
Capanna Montalcino from Alicolor on Vimeo.
Plums and dried flowers with violets and lavender and hints of sandalwood. Full-bodied, dense and fruity with a big and juicy palate, yet the round and firm tannins hold it all together and give it form.
96 points, JamesSuckling.com (September 2019)
Bright deep red. Musky, bracing aromas and flavors of red cherry and orange peel, tarragon and violet. Full and tactile, with racy acidity giving the wine’s deep flavors real cut and grip. Finishes with lingering saline nuances on the clean, refined back end. A rather uncompromising style of Brunello, but very true to type; this will also age extremely well. Capanna has always made excellent solid, traditional Brunellos, but it strikes me as being an estate on a real roll of late.
95 points, Vinous (April 2020)
Though backed by stiff tannins, the cherry and strawberry flavors at the core are pure and defined. Earth, iron and woodsy elements accent the fruit. Rights itself in the end, showing fine equilibrium.
93 points, Wine Spectator (June 2020)
Capanna is one of the pillars of the Montalcino denomination. Giuseppe Cencioni purchased the estate in 1957 and it has been family-run ever since. Today, Cencioni's grandsons Patrizio and Amedeo tend the vineyard and the cellar, remaining true to Capanna's style which is restrained and firm rather than flashy or fleshy. Captivating savoury aromas reverberate as blood and rust notes on the palate. Dense fruit - typical of this vintage - is hemmed in by commanding tannins while tangy acidity cuts through the core.
93 points, Michaela Morris (February 2020)
The Capanna 2015 Brunello di Montalcino opens to an evolved and immediate open-knit fabric. The heat and sunshine of the growing season has contributed to the wine's accessible and slightly oxidative personality. Redcurrant, dried cherry, tilled earth and dried garden herb emerge from the bouquet. There is some sour cherry on the close, but nevertheless I would suggest a near-term drinking window. Try it alongside a gnocchi with spinach and Tuscan Pecorino cheese.
92 points, Wine Advocate (October 2020)
Ripe black-skinned berry, violet, underbrush and new leather aromas fill the glass. Full bodied and rounded, the palate offers licorice, spirit-soaked black cherry and tobacco accompanied by close-grained, solid tannins that leave a drying finish.
90 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2020)
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. Production, initially only a few thousand bottles, then increased when new vineyards were planted.
The estate is now run by Benito’s son, Patrizio, who is in turn joined by his considered and contemplative son, Amadeo. If ever there was a wine that spoke to the character of its maker, Capanna must be it! It’s obvious to see the deep knowledge and care that they both hold for this place and the work that their father and grandfathers have done before them. They both reside on the estate and you truly do feel the connection between man and land when you visit.
