Francesco Ripaccioli normally releases this wine earlier than his Brunellos. But this year, it's nice to be able to taste the estate's entire line together. The Canalicchio di Sopra 2022 Rosso di Montalcino boasts a beautiful bouquet with lots of energy and punchy freshness. The quality of the fruit is bright and vigorous with wild cherry, cassis and violet. Those sweet fruit notes are balanced by just a hint of toasted spice. I would put this bottle on a short list of my favorite new Rosso releases. Production is 33,000 bottles.

Remarkably pretty and spicy to the core, the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino blossoms in the glass with a bouquet of rose petals and wild strawberries offset by white pepper. This is lifted and graceful in style with a salty, saline core that grumbles beneath its ripe wild berry fruits. It finishes tense and structured, with a trace of sour cranberry and citrus that tugs at the cheeks. The purity of Sangiovese is on full display here. Have patience with the 2022 because the best is yet to come.

Lustrous mid ruby. Perfumed, deep cherry nose with a hint of complex oak and just the beginning of tobacco leaf. Lush, succulent fruit and polished tannins on the palate. Long and deep and clearly from a hot year, but well balanced. Overachiever. (WS)