SOLD OUT! The 2015 Caprili Brunello di Montalcino recently snagged the #16 spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the year. And amazingly, we actually have some to sell.
Trust me folks, this is going to go down as one of the great Brunello values of all time. These wines can easily fetch $75 to $100 without blinking an eye. But I’m bringing this one to you all at a much lower price. Trust me, IT WILL GO FAST.
2015 Caprili Brunello di Montalcino
95 points Wine Spectator and #16 on their Top 100 list, 95 points Vinous Media
The 2015 vintage is sold out. Stop by the store or click here to order the new vintage.
It’s about time Caprili gets the respect they deserve. One of the earliest estates in Montalcino, the winery was founded in 1965 when there were less than 20 estates in the region. Today, there are 200! This traditional producer is located in the warmer, southwestern section of Montalcino and their wines represent the essence of Sangiovese Grosso and the essence of old-school Brunello di Montalcino.
And while I have proudly stocked their wines for almost 10 years now, they have largely remained under the radar. I suspect I will be stocking their wines 10 years from now because the estate is now managed by Giacomo Bartolommei and he’s just in his 20’s. Yep, this estate is going to be making brilliant wines for years to come and I will continue to be one of their biggest fans. But I guarantee you their wines won’t remain under the radar much longer.
100% Sangiovese Grosso, the unique clone of Sangiovese that reaches its pinnacle of quality in the Montalcino, this is one of the finest young Brunellos I’ve ever met. From organically tended vines at 1,000 to 1,200 feet in elevation, this is approachable without being too harsh or rustic. Aged for three years in large format oak casks and another year in bottle before release, here is a wine that reminds me why I do what I do. The nose is incredible — I pick up notes of dusty cherry, dried raspberry, leather, spice box and mineral. And the palate is amazing as well — it’s full bodied without being heavy, and though it has structure and cut, it’s not at all harsh or rustic.
Will it age? Certainly and I’m putting 6 bottles in my wine locker for enjoyment down the road, but I’m also keeping 6 nearby to enjoy over the next couple of years. I don’t like aging my wines too long, but I suspect this will improve and deliver its most righteous virtues in 5 to 10 years. If you don’t like to wait, don’t. But if you have the luxury of patience and the budget to buy more than a few bottle, exercise that option.
Most of you all trust me, but I understand if you need more validation. Here you go. Sucking called it a “very decadent Brunello” with “interlocked layers of dark fruit.” That’s a good start. Wine Spectator summed it up nicely too, saying it offered up “cherry, plum, iron, earth and floral aromas and flavors.” And not to be outdone, the Wine Advocate called it “a classic rendition of Sangiovese that shows the opulence and richness of this sunny vintage, as well as the elegant restraint that you normally associate with the mighty Montalcino growing area.” They’re all quite accurate in their assessments.
Lynn and I thoroughly enjoyed this with rib eyes, roasted rosemary potatoes and a simple salad. You should do the same, but you should buy at least 3 bottles so you can enjoy one now and the others down the road. Trust me, this is one of those deals that won’t come around again for a long time.
The 2015 vintage is sold out. Stop by the store or click here to order the new vintage.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville