By Caparzo
Brunello di Montalcino Riserva

Wine Details
Caparzo's Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is only produced in the finest vintages, from grapes selected personally by winemaker Massimo Bracalente. The Riserva begins to show its best several years after bottling. Produced in limited quantities, the Riserva is destined for especially passionate, attentive wine lovers. A classic, complete Riserva able to awaken unique sensations in the most expert palates. The first Caparzo Riserva Brunello di Montalcino DOCG was produced in 1980. The wine has the capacity to age for up to 40 years.

Vineyard Notes
The grapes are in part from vineyards located in the northern part of the Montalcino appellation, at an elevation of 220 meters above sea level, and in part from vineyards south of Montalcino, at an elevation of 270 meters. In both cases, the vineyards are on sandy-stony, south-southeast-facing Pliocene terrain.

Winemaking Notes
Grapes are selected by hand. The primary fermentation lasts 7 days at a controlled temperature of between 28 and 30 degrees C, and is followed by delestages and pump-overs. Because of the superb quality of the skins, the wine is kept in contact with them for a further 10 to 15 days. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation at a controlled temperature of 20 to 24 degrees C, immediately after racking. Aged in wood for at least two years, and bottle aged an additional 6 months.

Tasting Notes
Color: Ruby, tending towards garnet with age
Bouquet: Penetrating, ample, and very complex, with echoes of wild berry fruit
Palate: Dry, warm, solid, harmonious, combining delicacy and austerity, and persistent

Service
Food Pairings: Excellent with roasts and spit-roasted meats, grilled meats, game, braised meats, and aged cheeses.
Cellaring Potential: More than 35 years
Serving Temperature: 18 degrees C. Better if opened two to three hours before pouring.
[Information provided by Caparzo]
[Information is not vintage specific]

Wine: Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019
Score/Rating: 96
Review Date: 12/11/2024
Reviewed By: James Suckling, Senior Editor
Tasting Notes: Restrained, vibrant and fruity riserva with red cherries and raspberries, potpourri and even incense. Medium- to full-bodied with leafy flavor, velvety and ripe tannins yet chewy acidity and a chalky finish. Good blood-orange aftertaste. Better in two or three years but already so delicious.

Wine: 2019 Caparzo Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva
Score/Rating: 95
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2046
Review Date: 01/22/2025
Reviewed By: Audrey Frick
Tasting Notes: A deeper ruby/red color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva is ripe with aromas of Amarena cherries, crushed rosemary, sanguine richness, lavender, and pine. Medium to full-bodied, it's fruity upfront before quickly revealing its firmer structure and noble feel. It's savory and long, with a note of salty and sanguine earth on the finish. It demands time to unfurl. Drink 2026-2046.

Wine: Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: Best from 2027 through 2043
Review Date: 06/30/2025
Reviewed By: Bruce Sanderson
Tasting Notes: This is lively, displaying fresh cherry, blackberry, plum, black pepper, earth and menthol flavors. Ripe, dense and lifted by formidable tannins. All of the components seem to be in the right place as this finds its equilibrium on the lingering finish. Best from 2027 through 2043.

Wine: 2019 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025-2035
Review Date: 12/12/2024
Reviewed By: Vanessa Conlin
Tasting Notes: Dark berry compote on the nose, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva offers notes of wild fresh herbs, clove, and a touch of balsamic. The palate shows herbal freshness and a taut acidity, slightly rustic crunchy tannins, and a medium-long savory finish. No need to wait as this wine is drinking with pleasurable forwardness.

Wine: 2019 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2025 - 2038
Review Date: 11/21/2024
Reviewed By: Monica Larner
Tasting Notes: In the bottle with the black label, the Caparzo 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva makes a terrific first impression thanks to the intensity of its dark fruit aromas and its well-integrated spice. This is a full-bodied wine with deep layers of richness and velvety tannins. There is a hint of concentrated fruit sourness (and sweetness too, from the grape skins) that will subside as this [...] release takes on more age in the cellar.

Wine: Caparzo, Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, 2019
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2027 - 2037
Review Date: 11/12/2024
Reviewed By: Michaela Morris
Tasting Notes: Made since 1980, Caparzo's Riserva is selected at harvest by consulting oenologist team, Paolo and Jacopo Vagaggini. It ages primarily in large Slavonian oak casks with a short passage in French oak tonneaux of 750 litres. Still youthfully restrained, the nose flirts with cedar, leather and heather, then the palate changes gear with its overtly powerful drive of substantial yet sophisticated chalky tannins and brisk acidity. By comparison, subtle flavours of wet stone and polished red cherry seem polite and tame for the time being. This will need time to develop into its full expression.

Wine: Caparzo 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Score/Rating: 94
Suggested Drinking Window: 2028 - 2040
Review Date: 11/2023
Reviewed By: Eric Guido
Tasting Notes: The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva opens with a mentholated freshness, blending crushed rocks and mint with hints of tobacco, flowery underbrush and dried black cherries. Silken and serene, this displays notable weight and concentration while maintaining freshness. Waves of texturally ripe wild berry fruits. and fine-grained tannins cake the senses. The 2019 finishes with dramatic length and structure, leaving a tinge of licorice to linger on.

Wine: Caparzo 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2027-2034
Review Date: 12/2024
Reviewed By: Kerin O'Keefe
Tasting Notes: The 2019 Caparzo Brunello Riserva is still primary and quite closed at the moment. The nose eventually reveals espresso, menthol and forest floor while the full-bodied palate suggests dried cherry, exotic spice, licorice and coffee bean. Firm, close-grained tannins give the tannins grip. Give the tannins time to unfurl then drink sooner rather than later to capture the fruit richness. Drink 2027-2034. Abv: 14.5%

Wine: Caparzo, Riserva 2019 Brunello di Montalcino
Score/Rating: 17+/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2026 - 2034
Review Date: 12/13/2024
Reviewed By: Walter Speller
Tasting Notes: Lustrous mid ruby. Aromatic, deep cherry nose with saline hints. A core of tangy cherry fruit on a layer of compact, grainy tannins. Amazing light palate weight. Elegant and still a little embryonic.