A rich, powerful and polished Tuscan red from Montalcino, Capanna Sant’Antimo Rosso 2022 blends 60% Merlot with 40% Sangiovese, combining Merlot’s generous fruit and supple texture with the freshness, savory character and structure of Tuscany’s signature grape.
The 2022 is an especially impressive release, earning 92 points from Falstaff. Deeply colored and full-bodied, it offers ripe plum, dark cherry and red berries layered with licorice, pipe tobacco and savory spice, framed by velvety tannins and a long, powerful finish.
Producer: Capanna – Cencioni Family
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Classification: Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC
Vintage: 2022
Blend: 60% Merlot · 40% Sangiovese
Alcohol: 15%
Maturation: 12–15 Months in Large Oak Casks
Style: Rich · Full-Bodied · Velvety · Structured
Capanna’s vineyards are concentrated around the estate in the highly regarded Montosoli area north of Montalcino. Sant’Antimo gives the estate the freedom to combine international varieties such as Merlot with traditional Sangiovese, producing a distinctly different expression from its Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.
Nose:
Rich and immediately expressive, with ripe plum, dark cherry and raspberry followed by licorice, pipe tobacco and warm spice. Falstaff found particularly intense notes of very ripe plum, tobacco and licorice in the 2022.
Palate:
Generous and concentrated, with ripe red and dark fruit at its core. Merlot provides richness and a silky entry, while Sangiovese introduces freshness and savory tension. Cherry, plum, and raspberry gradually give way to tobacco, licorice, and subtle earthy complexity.
Structure:
Full-bodied and powerful, but surprisingly polished. The 15% alcohol is supported by substantial fruit and structure, while the tannins are notably velvety. Falstaff described the 2022 as youthful and powerful, with a silky entry, savory fruit, and velvety tannins.
Finish:
Long and persistent, with lingering ripe plum, cherry, licorice, tobacco and savory spice, carried by polished tannins.
Merlot and Sangiovese are vinified separately, allowing Capanna to manage the different ripening and structural characteristics of each grape.
Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, with approximately 20–25 days of skin maceration, followed by spontaneous malolactic fermentation.
The wine then matures for at least 12–15 months in large oak casks ranging from 10 to 25 hectolitres, followed by several additional months in bottle before release.
The use of larger-format oak is important: rather than creating an overtly oaky international-style red, it allows the wine to develop roundness and complexity while preserving its Tuscan identity.
The 2022 Sant’Antimo Rosso is a particularly successful vintage for Capanna.
Falstaff awarded it 92 points in its October 2025 tasting, a notable improvement over the 89 points awarded to the 2021 vintage. The critics highlighted the wine’s concentration, ripe plum, tobacco and licorice aromas, together with its silky palate and velvety tannins.
James Suckling also reviewed the 2022 positively, highlighting its bright cherry, raspberry and pomegranate character.
The result is a 2022 with plenty of richness and power but enough freshness and tannic structure to keep the wine balanced.
Capanna Sant’Antimo Rosso 2022 represents a very different side of Montalcino from Brunello.
Instead of relying exclusively on Sangiovese, Capanna combines 60% Merlot with 40% Sangiovese, allowing the plush, ripe-fruited character of Merlot to meet the acidity and savory personality of Tuscany’s great native grape.
The result sits stylistically somewhere between traditional Montalcino and a modern Super Tuscan: generous and full-bodied, with ripe plum, cherry, licorice and tobacco, yet still unmistakably Tuscan in its freshness and savory structure.
The 92-point 2022 vintage is particularly attractive and offers an interesting alternative for customers who enjoy Brunello but want something richer, softer and more immediately approachable.
2026–2035
The 2022 is already approachable thanks to its ripe fruit and velvety tannins, but there is enough concentration and structure for further development.
For drinking now, I would recommend 45–60 minutes in a decanter and serving at approximately 17–18°C.
Over the next several years, expect the youthful plum and cherry fruit to evolve toward dried fruit, tobacco, leather, licorice and earthy spice.
Capanna recommends Sant’Antimo Rosso with roasted red and white meats, charcuterie and moderately aged cheeses.
Given the richness of the 2022, I would particularly recommend grilled ribeye, braised beef short rib, roast lamb, wild boar ragù or slow-roasted pork. Its combination of ripe fruit and savory character also makes it excellent with aged Pecorino.
For a classic Tuscan pairing, serve with Bistecca alla Fiorentina.
PAIR WITH:
Bistecca alla Fiorentina · Braised Beef Short Rib · Roast Lamb · Wild Boar Ragù · Grilled Pork · Tuscan Salumi · Aged Pecorino
