A little rant. Why does it have to be so every vintage? Can we PLEASE get some more SanCarlo Brunello is an annual struggle! And allocations seem to be going in the WRONG direction as the word gets out.

Huge scores every vintage – like double 96 points – do not help our cause. Thus, dear Ops, we again have precious little of this one to have it out in the open, so there ya have it APPY PEOPLE…

According to Liv-ex, the industry-standard ‘stock market’ of fine and rare collectible wine: “2022 is the year of Soldera Case Basse” mostly due to the insane prices they’ve been hitting on the auction block. Yet very few connoisseurs have even heard of SanCarlo, Soldera’s NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR!

With Soldera in the $700-1,000 range, talk about severely UNDERVALUED terroir. And we mean at the super reasonable $99 release price, not our silly $59, which is GIFTING IT, basically.

Could this be the best-kept secret in Brunello? We sure think so, as it drinks way, WAY above its humble league, into that cultdom realm with the finesse of Biondi Santi or Poggio di Sotto coming to mind, and those have reached the near untouchable price points these days, while SanCarlo remains under the radar.

Brought in by North Berkeley, named Importer of the Year by Wine & Spirits 4 years’ standing now. The most eloquent portrayal of this stunner in our glasses comes from them, “this is the true character of Montalcino, born from an honest family farm. Bold fruit, suave tannins, and as long as a Montalcino summer sunset. What a beautiful wine!” Cherries galore, red currants in there too, with raspberry leaf, chocolate-coated cranberries, and candied walnuts. Can’t think of a better Sangiovese for the Holidays.

Oh, and as Jeb says “they are one of the smallest producers in the region,” so you know why we hid it here. Appy Friday indeed. Have at it!

96 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “In 1965, Gemma Marcucci’s grandparents purchased land across the road from Soldera - Case Basse, and their first vintage of Brunello was released in 1974. Besides their 24 acres of forest and three acres of olive groves, they have eight acres (roughly three hectares) of vineyards in front of the winery that face southwest in an amphitheater and are surrounded by forest. Since the beginning, they have focused on the original property and have not expanded, but they have regularly made upgrades to the winery. With an average annual production of 10,000 bottles a year, they are one of the smallest producers in the region. While Gemma studied art history in college, her father retired from his job in banking in 2002 and kept the winery going, giving Gemma the space and time to learn in the winery and the vineyard. Two years later, she decided to become a farmer and dedicate herself to the land and the winery. Pouring a medium red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino is lush and pure on the nose, with cherry liqueur, crushed lavender, polished leather, and sage. The palate is medium to full-bodied and tightly coiled, with vibrant acidity, ripe tannins, and a compact, restrained feel that carries through the long finish. It’s going to benefit from another year or more in bottle to unfurl and should drink beautifully over the coming two decades. Drink 2026-2046.”

96 Points – Vinous “I was excited to taste the wines from Gemma Marcucci at SanCarlo. This is traditional winemaking at its finest, though the estate remains largely under the radar. Both the Brunello and the Rosso boast remarkable purity. This small estate, with only about three hectares of vines, is located in Tavernelle, just up the road from Soldera, Caprili and Gaja’s Pieve Santa Restituta estate. All of SanCarlo’s fruit comes from estate vineyards surrounded by thick, lush forests and olive groves. The 2021 Brunello di Montalcino bursts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed blueberries elevated by nuances of sage and a cascade of autumnal spices. It is hauntingly dark in style with textures of pure silk and masses of ripe red and black fruits underscored by tactile mineral tones. The finish is classically structured and incredibly long, leaving black tea-like tannins to resonate while also leaving the senses salivating for more. This is a wonderfully classic interpretation of the vintage. Drink 2028-2046.”