A classic and beautifully expressive 100% Sangiovese from the celebrated Montosoli area north of Montalcino, Capanna Rosso di Montalcino 2023 offers much of the character associated with Brunello in a fresher, more immediately approachable style.
The wine combines ripe red cherry and wild berries with violet, subtle spice, vanilla and mineral notes, supported by lively Tuscan acidity and polished tannins. It is generous enough for the table yet retains the freshness and elegance that make Rosso di Montalcino so versatile.
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Appellation: Rosso di Montalcino DOC
Grape: 100% Sangiovese
Style: Dry, medium-to-full-bodied Tuscan red
Alcohol: 14.5%
Capanna is a historic family estate located in Montosoli, one of Montalcino's most highly regarded growing areas. The Cencioni family established the estate in 1957, and Giuseppe Cencioni was among the founding members of the Brunello di Montalcino consortium.
Nose:
Fresh and inviting, with aromas of ripe red cherry, Morello cherry and wild red berries, followed by violet, sweet spice and subtle vanilla. With air, more savory nuances of dried herbs, graphite and stony minerality emerge.
Palate:
Juicy Sangiovese fruit leads the palate, with cherry and red berries framed by bright acidity and a gently savory character. The wine has good concentration without becoming heavy, while subtle oak spice and mineral notes provide additional complexity.
Structure:
Medium to full-bodied with fresh acidity, well-defined tannins and excellent balance. The tannic structure gives the wine enough seriousness for richer dishes while remaining considerably more accessible in its youth than Brunello.
Finish:
Persistent and refreshing, with lingering red cherry, sweet spice, subtle vanilla and a pleasantly mineral, savory finish. Capanna itself describes the wine as well structured, slightly tannic and persistent.
The 2023 is produced entirely from Sangiovese. Fermentation takes place with 18–20 days of skin maceration at controlled temperatures, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation in truncated-cone Slavonian oak vats.
The wine is then matured for 6–10 months in large 20–32 hectolitre Slavonian oak casks, followed by at least 3–4 months in bottle before release. This traditional use of large-format Slavonian oak allows the character of Sangiovese to remain at the forefront rather than being dominated by new oak.
Capanna Rosso di Montalcino 2023 is an excellent introduction to both the Capanna estate and the character of Montalcino Sangiovese.
It offers the cherry fruit, savory complexity, freshness and structure associated with Brunello, but in a more youthful and immediately accessible expression. The 2023 has also received 92 points from James Suckling, reinforcing the quality of this release.
For those who enjoy traditional Tuscan wines, this is a particularly attractive combination of authenticity, pedigree and drinkability.
The 2023 growing season in Montalcino brought a long and rainy spring, creating considerable vineyard pressure across the region. Careful vineyard management and strict fruit selection were therefore particularly important. Producers that succeeded produced Sangiovese with good phenolic maturity, freshness and aromatic definition.
Capanna's 2023 shows that balance nicely, combining ripe fruit with the acidity and tannic backbone necessary to keep the wine vibrant.
2025–2032
Already very enjoyable, particularly with 30–60 minutes of air, but capable of developing gracefully over the next several years. With bottle age, expect the bright cherry fruit to evolve toward dried cherry, leather, tobacco, herbs and earthy Tuscan spice.
Beautiful with pappardelle al ragù, wild boar pasta, porcini mushroom risotto, roast chicken, grilled pork, braised beef, lamb, bistecca alla Fiorentina and aged Pecorino Toscano.
Capanna itself recommends meat ragù, roasted white and red meats, mushrooms, cured meats and cheeses—classic pairings that take advantage of Sangiovese's combination of acidity and savory structure.
