2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia

Canalicchio di Sopra was founded by Primo Pacenti in 1962, and is now run by his grandchildren Francesco, Simonetta and Marco. Their 19 hectares of vineyards are planted in Canalicchio and Montosoli on northern side of Montalcino, and each of these locations lend an elegance and grace to these exquisite Sangiovese wines. All wines are aged in medium sized Slavonian oak botti.

Other Reviews....
This is a newish single-vineyard wine (it's the second vintage) created by Francesco Ripaccioli and the team at Canalicchio di Sopra at the conclusion of an ambitious estate-wide mapping project. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia draws its fruit from a two-hectare site planted in 1990 with clay soils and rich in mineral components. A precious 4,133 bottles were made. What I like most is the tightness of the fruit, which you chip away at slowly as the wine softens and yields in the glass. Each layer brings you forest fruit, sour cherry, almond, lilac and candied orange peel. On a second swirl, you might get black olive, bay leaf and scorched earth. There are subtle mineral notes, but what La Casaccia ultimately offers is that uniquely compact and extremely polished quality of fruit. Drink 2024 - 2045.
96 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 2020)

Lifting up with gorgeous floral perfumes and hints of white smoke, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino La Casaccia from Canalicchio di Sopra keeps you at the edge of your glass. It opens up with a dark and dramatic display of balsamic-tinged black cherry, sage and Indian spice, contrasted by savory notes of tobacco, rich earth tones and flowery undergrowth. There’s an amazing density of fruit here, offset by salty minerals, zesty acids and a hint of sour citrus. The textures are velvety-smooth, yet the expression remains feminine and lifted. In fact, you can hardly notice its underlying tannic heft until it’s too late, as the 2016 La Casaccia seems to youthfully fold in on itself, halting the expression but promising over a decade of further development. Drink 2026 - 2040.
98 points
Eric Guido - Vinous

A red with cherry, walnut, bark and hints of dried flowers. It’s full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a tight finish. Really reserved now. Needs three or four years to open. Best after 2024.
96 points
James Suckling

Initially closed, this eventually reveals aromas of grilled porcini, rose, camphor and citrus zest. Linear and elegantly structured, the palate is still youthfully austere, recalling morello cherry, blood orange, licorice and a hint of salt while firm, close-grained tannins provide the backbone. It closes on a coffee-bean note. Drink 2026–2041.
95 points
Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast