GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Bottle
Brunello di Montalcino has long been regarded as one of Italy’s great reds, though for many, these powerhouse bottles don’t always make for daily drinking. A more approachable, easy-drinking solution can be found in the area’s more youthful expression, Rosso di Montalcino. Think of it like Brunello’s little brother, a bit more fun and playful in spirit.
The great thing about Rosso di Montalcino is that nearly every great Brunello estate makes one, including Caprili, one of the region’s OG estates. I popped the cork on this bottle last week while enjoying a pasta night at home with friends, and like the rigatoni pomodoro on our plates, the wine overdelivered. Sangiovese, the grape used to produce Rosso di Montalcino, is a staple for pairing with red sauce, as the bright acidity and savory undertones found in the wine perfectly complement the sauce’s zestiness and earthy flavors.
Punchy and juicy, the wine’s medium-bodied palate offered ample notes of cherry and earth, with a hint of pleasant leathery undertones. The Caprili estate is situated in the village of Tavernelle, one of the warmer areas in the Montalcino appellation, and comprises 21 hectares of organically farmed vines. In the winery, the estate maintains a more traditional approach to vinification: long macerations and aging times, with emphasis on structure, well-integrated tannins, and refreshing acidity. I planned on having only one glass, but ended up somewhere closer to three. Hey, that’s what dinners with friends are all about, right? –Vicki Denig
Grape: Sangiovese • Region: Tuscany • Vinification: Spontaneous fermentation and 3 weeks maceration in steel followed by aging for 9 months in large Slavonian oak barrels • Tasting notes: Juicy and bright with notes of ripe cherry, damp earth, and a kiss of used leather.
→ Shop: Caprilli Rosso di Montalcino • Wine.com ($31.99) • Wine Transit ($25.99).
Additional bottle recommendations:
→ Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Rosso di Montalcino 2023 • Morton Williams Wine & Spirits ($27.99) • Wine.com ($29.99).
→ Il Paradiso di Manfredi Rosso di Montalcino • Crush Wine & Spirits ($54.95) • Somm Cellars ($54.95).