A rich, concentrated and beautifully mature late-harvest Moscato from Montalcino, Capanna’s Moscadello di Montalcino Vendemmia Tardiva 2020 is produced from 100% Moscato Bianco, using native, loose-bunched clones propagated through massal selection.
Unlike Capanna’s youthful Moscadello, the grapes for Vendemmia Tardiva are allowed to naturally dehydrate on the vine, concentrating their sugars, aromas and flavors. The wine is then matured for approximately 18 months in small oak casks, followed by extended bottle ageing. The result is a sumptuous dessert wine combining acacia honey, candied apricot, pear and dried fruit with vibrant acidity and remarkable persistence.
Producer: Capanna – Cencioni Family
Region: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Classification: Moscadello di Montalcino DOC
Grape: 100% Moscato Bianco
Vintage: 2020
Vineyards: Montosoli area, Montalcino
Altitude: Approximately 250–280 metres
Exposure: South / Southwest
Style: Late Harvest · Sweet · Rich · Aromatic
Residual Sugar: Approximately 159 g/L
Alcohol: Approximately 14–15%
Bottle: 500 ml
Nose:
Intense and beautifully mature, with classic Moscato perfume evolving toward acacia honey, candied apricot, ripe pear and preserved fruit. The 2020 now shows additional complexity from bottle age, with dried dates, yellow plum and subtle oxidative nuances adding depth. Capanna describes the bouquet as exceptionally persistent.
Palate:
Rich, sweet and enveloping, with concentrated apricot, yellow plum, honey and candied fruit. Despite its substantial sweetness, lively acidity provides essential freshness and prevents the wine from becoming heavy.
Falstaff’s 2025 tasting of the 2020 particularly noted its soft texture, very sweet yellow-plum character and lively supporting acidity.
Structure:
Full and concentrated for Moscato, with approximately 159 g/L residual sugar reported for the 2020. The combination of late-harvest concentration, alcohol, acidity and extended oak maturation gives this considerably greater weight and complexity than Capanna’s standard Moscadello.
Finish:
Long, sweet and persistent, with lingering acacia honey, candied apricot, dried fruit and Moscato spice, balanced by enough acidity to leave the palate refreshed.
The crucial difference between this wine and Capanna’s regular Moscadello is time on the vine and concentration.
The Moscato grapes are hand harvested after approximately 20–30 additional days of natural dehydration on the vine. This concentrates both sugar and flavor before the fruit reaches the winery.
After approximately two days of skin contact, fermentation takes place in stainless steel at a cool 14–16°C. Capanna then matures the wine for approximately 18 months in 5–10 hectolitre oak casks, followed by another 12–18 months in bottle. The wine is not released until roughly three years after harvest.
This is therefore a considerably more serious and cellar-worthy wine than the regular Moscadello.
The 2020 is now showing beautifully mature characteristics.
In a 2025 tasting, Falstaff awarded the wine 92 points, describing a light amber appearance and a complex aromatic profile featuring candied apricot, acacia honey and dried dates, followed by sweet yellow plum on the palate and lively acidity.
That combination of substantial sweetness and acidity is important. At this stage, the wine has moved beyond simple youthful Moscato perfume and into a more complex spectrum of honey, dried fruit, candied citrus and mature spice.
Capanna Moscadello di Montalcino Vendemmia Tardiva 2020 is a wonderful example of the lesser-known sweet-wine tradition of Montalcino.
Produced from late-harvest Moscato Bianco, it combines natural grape concentration with extended oak and bottle maturation to create something far richer and more complex than conventional Moscato.
Expect acacia honey, candied apricot, pear, yellow plum and dried fruit, wrapped in a luscious palate but balanced by refreshing acidity. The 92-point Falstaff rating for the 2020 reinforces that this is a serious dessert wine rather than simply a sweet after-dinner curiosity.
For customers familiar with Capanna through its Brunello, this is a fascinating counterpoint: the same historic Montalcino estate, but expressing the region through aromatic Moscato rather than Sangiovese.
Drink Now – 2029
The 2020 is already in a beautiful stage of maturity. The Consorzio di Brunello di Montalcino notes that, unlike youthful Moscadello, Vendemmia Tardiva can improve with age, developing greater richness and complexity.
Serve at approximately 12–14°C. I would avoid serving it too cold, as slightly warmer temperatures reveal the honeyed, dried-fruit and floral complexity.
This is where Vendemmia Tardiva becomes particularly interesting. Capanna recommends it not only with desserts but also with aged or blue cheeses and liver pâté.
I particularly like the contrast with Gorgonzola or Roquefort, where the wine’s sweetness balances the saltiness and intensity of the cheese. Foie gras would be another outstanding pairing, with the acidity cutting through its richness.
For dessert, choose preparations that are not excessively sweet: almond tart, apricot tart, cantucci or dried-fruit pastries would all work beautifully.
PAIR WITH:
Foie Gras · Gorgonzola · Roquefort · Aged Pecorino · Almond Tart · Apricot Tart · Cantucci · Dried-Fruit Pastries
