B-21 Brunello mainstay Caparzo has experienced a stellar ascent under the ownership of Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini since 1998, and they're arguably producing their best wines ever. At least, that's our take from this trio of fantastic new releases from winemaker Massimo Bracalente.
The 2020 vintage's best wines strike a remarkable balance that defies the warm growing conditions, and Caparzo nails that sweet spot perfectly with this 95-point normale bottling. "This is really pretty ... Creamy and so polished. It goes on for minutes. A graceful and complex 2020 Brunello," notes James Suckling, hinting at one of the vintage's finest virtues, its approachability in the near term. While some 2020s are indeed blockbusters of huge structure and ripeness, they lack the graceful balance that defines the best Brunellos, but fans of the world's best Sangioveses can rest assured that all the varietal's most striking and important features can be found in spades in this stunning expression of "ample energy and dimension."
The most prized parcel on the estate is the old-vine plot next to the historic Tuscan farmhouse, appropriatey called Vigna La Casa, from which comes the La Casa bottling, a sterling terroir expression that always takes the estate's signature style to the next level. "A real charmer with ripe tannins, even, seamless acidity, and a great finish," notes Jeb Dunnuck's Italy critic Audrey Frick in her 96-point review. The 2020 La Casa boasts "otherworldly" balance per Vinous' Eric Guido, and James Suckling even floats the proposition that it could outpace the prodigious 2019 vintage.
Finally, the 2019 Brunello Riserva releases are finally hitting the market, and they're delivering on all the promise and hype the vintage has received since the reviews started coming out. As good as the 2019 normale and La Casa wines were from Caparzo, we knew the Riserva would be a knock-out, and it's here and ready to prove us correct. "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," writes Monica Larner for Wine Advocate. This is a classically styled Brunello that will cruise in the cellar thanks to its "dramatic length and structure," as Vinous' Eric Guido describes it, shining right alongside previous best-selling, benchmark vintages like 2015 and 2016.
A bright red with firm, integrated tannins that provide length and focus. It’s medium-bodied with citrus and berry character and excellent length. I like it now, but give it two or three years to show its full potential. Same quality as 2019? Best after 2027.
95 points, James Suckling (Sep 2024)
Top Quality Store
