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Castello ColleMassari | Rigoleto | Montecucco Rosso DOC | Tuscany, Italy | 2023 | Organic

Castello ColleMassari is the most important and largest estate of the Montecucco appellation — a 1,200-hectare property in the hills of southern Tuscany that includes 120 hectares of vineyards and nearly 90 hectares of olive groves, three of which are over 900 years old. The estate was acquired in 1999 by Claudio Tipa and his sister Maria Iris Bertarelli, who restored the ColleMassari castle — a 13th-century fortress that was originally the homestead of area nobility — and transformed it into one of Tuscany's most celebrated organic wine estates. The vineyards on the Montecucco hill are home to some of the oldest Sangiovese vines in the DOCG.

Rigoleto is ColleMassari's entry-level expression — a blend of organically grown Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, and Montepulciano that captures the fresh, fruit-driven character of Montecucco with an easy, approachable style. Shimmering ruby red in the glass. The nose is fresh, vinous, and balsamic — tart blackberries, cherry, fresh thyme, menthol, and earthy topsoil. On the palate, fresh, soft, and inviting with tart, snappy black cherries, juicy fruit, harmonious structure, and a hot, peppery finish with chalky tannins that keep the wine lively and food-friendly.

Pair with pasta with tomato sauce, pizza, grilled meats, charcuterie, and aged pecorino.

• Producer: Castello ColleMassari
• Cuvée: Rigoleto
• Appellation: Montecucco Rosso DOC, Tuscany, Italy
• Blend: Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Montepulciano
• Vintage: 2023
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2023

• Wine Enthusiast — 91 pts: Fresh, earthy nose of tart blackberries, topsoil and herbs. Tart, snappy black cherries on the palate with a hot, peppery finish. Tannins are structured but chalky enough to tone down the heat.
• Falstaff — 90 pts: Shimmering ruby red. Blackberry, cherry and fresh thyme on the nose. Juicy and fresh on the palate, fruit-orientated, harmonious structure, medium length.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

JamesSuckling.com by Claire Nesbitt writes 92 Points | Mocha, chocolate truffles, cassis, oranges and lavender on the nose of this fragrant red. It’s full-bodied, warming and aromatic, filled with ripe blue and orange fruit and accompanied by ripe tannins.

Winemaker Description

Hand harvested grapes undergo temperature-controlled fermentation.

Each variety is vinified separately, and the wine is transferred to French oak barriques (2-3 years old) with a medium toast. The wine ages for 12 months then rests for about 45 days in cement tanks before being bottled without filtration. Released after 3 months in bottle. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Concentrated and elegant, Valle Reale's Trebbiano d'Abruzzo combines bright fruit with delicate aromas of white flowers and flint (an aroma encouraged by the old-fashioned pied-de-cuve technique).    

Winemaker Description

This is a very concentrated Brunello that combines intense notes of blood orange with a hint of chinotto mixed with complex Mediterranean spices (Helichrysum Thyme and Broom Flowers). It is a wine with a strong nerve, a vibrant acid structure that sustains a concentrated mouthfeel, rich in silky tannins. The finish is extremely long and soft. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points James Suckling | Dusty notes with crushed gravel and dried tea leaves are a prelude to aromas of fresh button mushrooms and hints of fennel. Savory mushrooms and olives, followed by firm, fine-grained tannins. Structured and full-bodied.

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino has aromatics of menthol and medicinal herbs, brushed leather, and black cherry. The palate is dark fruited without weight, marked with dried blackberry, black tea, dried herbs, and classically balanced structure. It is sourced from three different vineyard sites of various exposition on the hill of Montalcino. This will be ready to drink a touch earlier and be great to check in on over the next 15 years. Drink 2022-2036.

93 Points Wine Spectator | Aromas of iron, blood and cherry lead off in this smooth and vibrant red, with a well of dark fruit—black cherry and blackberry—settling in on the palate. Offers a dusting of dark chocolaty tannins on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2043. 1,500 cases imported.

91 Points Decanter | Bringing together grapes from diverse vineyards throughout Montalcino, this midweight, almost-approachable Brunello is focused and vibrant. It takes a bit of coaxing on the nose then divulges sage, orange rind and fennel. Brisk acidity and chalky tannins meet crisp red currant and cranberry, cleansing the palate nicely. A delightful jumping off point to Val di Suga’s single-vineyard offerings, which COO and winemaker Andrea Lonardi has been refining since 2012.

Brunello di Montalcino That Overdelivers with Pure Sangiovese Elegance

Caprili is a small, family-run estate in Montalcino producing traditional Brunello from 100% Sangiovese Grosso, celebrated for wines of exceptional purity, freshness, and balance. The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino comes from a warm, generous vintage and delivers the classic Caprili profile: bright, aromatic, and silky, with the refreshing energy and well-defined tannins that reward both early drinking and extended cellaring through 2040.

Expert Reviews

• Jeb Dunnuck — 94 pts: "Bright jeweled ruby in color, flush with pure aromas of candied flowers, cherry lozenge, pine needles, and blood orange. Medium-framed, ripe and pure on the palate, with refreshing energy, a very balanced feel, wonderfully refreshing salinity, and well-defined tannins."
• Vinous — 94 pts: "Reveals the dark side of Sangiovese, with more black fruit than red. A mass of crushed stone minerality blows off to reveal spiced orange peels and incense. Silken and round, with a polished core of ripe blackberries offset by a tinge of sour citrus. Edge tannins resonate and hints of licorice fade slowly."
• Wine Advocate — 93 pts: "Delivers a rather robust fruit profile with blackcurrant and blackberry preserves, black licorice, sweet spice and fragrant incense. An open-knit Brunello with velvety, medium-grained tannins. You don't need to wait too long to enjoy this wine."
• Wine Spectator — 93 pts: "Cherry, blood orange, earth and sanguine notes matched to a lively structure. Dusty tannins seep in on the finish, leaving an echo of ripe red fruit. Balanced and long. Drink now through 2040."
• James Suckling — 91 pts: "Sweet berries and cherries with violets and flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with delicate fruit, fine tannins and crisp acidity."

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello)
• Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
• Producer: Caprili
• Vintage: 2020
• Production: 4,000 cases made, 2,700 cases imported
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Classic Tuscan pairings — exceptional with roasted lamb, pork ragù, bistecca alla Fiorentina, aged Pecorino, and truffle-based dishes.

Brunello di Montalcino from One of Tuscany's Most Celebrated Estates

Castello Banfi has been one of Montalcino's most important estates since 1978, playing a pivotal role in elevating Brunello di Montalcino to its status as one of Italy's greatest wines. Their 2020 Brunello di Montalcino — 100% Sangiovese Grosso from the estate's vineyards in the southern reaches of the appellation — comes from a warm, generous vintage that produced wines of exceptional richness and approachability, with the structure and depth to age beautifully through 2045.

Expert Reviews

• Wine Advocate — 93 pts: "Opens to a velvety character that includes the softness and generosity of a warm and dry vintage. The bouquet is redolent of cherry, blackcurrant, grilled herb and sweet rose. Open-knit and accessible with sweet tannins on the close."
• James Suckling — 93 pts: "Abundant violets and roses on the nose, together with cherries and pomegranates. Fruity on the medium- to full-bodied palate with firm, velvety tannins, a lot of freshness and good length. Best after 2026."
• Jeb Dunnuck — 92 pts: "Pretty on the nose with aromas of baked strawberries, sweet spices, dusty earth, and hints of lavender. Medium-bodied with fine, dusty tannins and an elegantly fruity feel. Charming and approachable with good freshness and finesse."
• Wine Spectator — 92 pts: "Aromas and flavors of graphite, cherry, blackberry, pomegranate and wet earth. Vibrant and focused with a long aftertaste embedded in muscular tannins. Best from 2029 through 2045."

Winemaker Notes

Brilliant ruby red with garnet reflections. Sweet and fruity on the nose with fresh red fruit, licorice, and pipe tobacco. Powerful on the palate with a consistent tannic texture, well balanced by pleasant acidity. Extremely persistent with excellent aging potential.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello)
• Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
• Producer: Castello Banfi
• Vintage: 2020
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Classic Tuscan pairings — exceptional with bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, braised lamb, aged Pecorino, and truffle-based dishes. Also outstanding as a meditation wine.