2010 Capanne Ricci Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Tuscany Italy 750 ml

The Wine that Shocked Our Team in Tuscany

It’s not every day we find a perfectly cellared, decade-old Brunello di Montalcino from an outstanding vintage. Today is that day, and the 2010 Cappanne Ricci Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is that wine, a phenomenal library selection that rivals the best of Napa, Piedmont, and Burgundy. 

During our tasting appointment at the Capanne Ricci estate, nestled in the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany, we were reminded of just how incredible aged Brunello can be: It started while we were gazing out over the vineyards sweeping towards the horizon outside the winery, where we were being shown all of their new releases. When Master Sommelier Sur Lucero commented that the wines had tremendous aging potential, Ferruccio Ricci got a glimmer in his eyes.

“You know,” he said, “we have some back vintages in the library. Want to taste, and see how our Riserva looks after almost ten years?”

We thought Sur would cry: With his passion for Italy in general, and Brunello di Montalcino in particular, it wasn’t an offer he needed to hear twice.

“Of course we do!” he practically shouted.

This is a wine with roots as deep in the region’s history—it’s one of the oldest operations in the region—as in the soils of the 33-plus acres of vineyards in which it’s grown. Still, for all that connection to the past, the wines are crafted with an eye toward the future, leveraging modern techniques to coax the classic character of their venerated land from the wines.

It’s a must-buy for fans not just of Brunello, but also of perfectly mature wines in general.

The 100% Sangiovese, now flecked with garnet tones as it approached its tenth birthday, lifted from the glass with incomprehensibly compelling aromas of cherry, dried savory herbs, tomato leaf, tobacco, and fresh figs. The palate was just as beautiful, offering up an entire universe of herbs, spices, and red fruit, balanced by beautifully integrated tannins that only develop after years in the cellar.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate recently tasted this wine and had the same reaction we did, declaring it “a classy and elegant interpretation that offers beautiful fruit purity and the sheer power and integrity of this celebrated vintage.”

This wine is a time machine to both a decade ago, when it was harvested, and to generations past—an opportunity to see how a top-vintage Riserva from a revered producer ages when it’s stored in perfect conditions. And because it’s from the Sant’Angelo in Colle subzone, found further south in the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, the fruit has retained a generosity and ripeness that remains just as appealing today as it was upon release.

Thank goodness Ferruccio Ricci poured us all full glasses that day, because once this offer hits our customers’ inboxes, none of us expect there to be any left for us to purchase for ourselves. We’ll just have to remember that moment in Tuscany when we experienced it for the first time.