2011 Brunello di Montalcino

This is a stellar set of wines from Canalicchio di Sopra and Francesco Ripaccioli. Over the last few years, Ripaccioli has emerged as one of Montalcino's most talented young producers. Although wines are superb today - that much is obvious - it is Ripaccioli's more forward-thinking mentality and overall attitude that separates him and a few colleagues from the previous generation. Ripaccioli's 2011 Brunello is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Like most producers, Ripaccioli lost a good amount of the total production (around 30%) to dehydration. Readers who haven't tasted these wines in a few years owe it to themselves to do so, as Canalicchio di Sopra has leapt ahead of quite a few estates in grabbing an increasingly firm spot among Montalcino's elite.