Italy · Tuscany

Canalicchio di Sopra

Canalicchio di Sopra is a family estate in the northeastern sector of Montalcino, run by Francesco and Simonetta Ripaccioli and their children. The domaine farms around 10 hectares on the cooler, higher-altitude northeastern slopes, a position that produces Brunello of distinctive elegance and aromatic finesse compared to the warmer southern zone. The standard Brunello di Montalcino leads the 312-lot auction record at $98 per bottle across 85 lots, while the Riserva at $158 over 39 lots represents the estate's prestige tier. The Rosso di Montalcino at $34 serves as the entry point. The 2016 vintage — considered among the finest in Montalcino's modern era, combining concentration with extraordinary freshness — is the most-traded vintage for the Brunello, reflecting collector recognition of that exceptional year. At $102 average, Canalicchio di Sopra sits at the accessible tier of serious Brunello producers, offering genuine quality at prices that compare favourably to better-known Montalcino estates. The Riserva, released only in the best years, shows the estate's capacity for extended aging and complexity at a price point still accessible to a broad range of collectors.