New on the List: Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino
New on the List: Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino
There's a particular kind of late summer evening we're always happy to see float into our propped open door, a little chill sneaking in once the sun drops, patio heaters set on low, for perfect comfort past 7:45 pm while still outdoors. That's a Brunello evening, right? You are reading a wine blog, so full circle. There's a new bottle on the Stoneburner wine list built exactly for evenings such as this. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino from Caparzo, a wine with enough warmth and weight to hold its own against the first real edge of late summer air.
If you're building out a Seattle food and wine itinerary, here's your reason to stop in Ballard: Stoneburner is now pouring one of Montalcino's most respected producers by the glass and bottle, alongside a wood-fired, Mediterranean-leaning menu built for exactly this kind of pour.
The Winery
Caparzo has been making wine in Montalcino, Tuscany since the late 1960s, and it's been under the care of Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini since 1998. The estate farms roughly 90 hectares of Sangiovese across the Montalcino appellation and was one of the early pioneers of single-vineyard Brunello di Montalcino — meaning instead of blending fruit from all over the property, they started bottling wine from specific vineyard plots to show off how much a single hillside can change a wine's character. It's the kind of detail-obsessed winemaking that Brunello lovers geek out over, and it's a big part of why Caparzo carries the weight it does in Montalcino and among Brunello collectors worldwide.
The Wine
This bottle is Caparzo's classic Brunello — three years in oak, another three in bottle before it's even released, so what you're drinking has had real time to come together. Expect ripe plum and black cherry up front, with tobacco, a little chocolate, earth, and a whisper of nutmeg underneath. On the palate it's warm and firm, with high acidity and tannins that are strong but smooth rather than gripping — the kind of structure that's built for food, not just sipping.
Why the Grape Sounds Familiar
Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100% Sangiovese — the same grape behind Chianti, just grown in a warmer, more concentrated corner of Tuscany and held to much stricter aging requirements. If you've had Chianti before, think of Brunello as its bigger, more brooding sibling: same DNA, more time, more intensity.
What to Order With It
That high acidity and firm tannin structure make this a natural at the table, especially with anything rich, savory, or slow-cooked. On our current menu, a few pairings we'd point you toward:
Fusillino, short rib sugo — braised beef and tomato is textbook Sangiovese territory; the wine's acidity cuts right through the richness of the sugo.
Grilled Dry Aged Skirt Steak — the char and the sherry-cornichon vinaigrette play well against those firm tannins.
Dry Aged Tomahawk Chop — if you're going big, this is the bottle to go big with.
Toy Box Tomatoes pizza — tomato and basil are old friends with Sangiovese, even in pizza form.
Quick Questions, Answered
What grape is Brunello di Montalcino made from? 100% Sangiovese, the same grape behind Chianti, but grown in the warmer Montalcino zone of Tuscany and aged much longer before release.
What does Caparzo's Brunello di Montalcino taste like? Ripe plum and black cherry, tobacco, light chocolate, earth, and a touch of nutmeg, with high acidity and firm, smooth tannins.
What food pairs well with Brunello di Montalcino? Rich, savory, slow-cooked dishes — braised meats, red sauce pasta, grilled steak, and tomato-based pizza all hold up well against its structure.
Where can I try Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino in Seattle? It's on the wine list now at Stoneburner, on Ballard Avenue in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, available by the bottle only, at this time (although sometimes, we break out the big flights — stay tuned for more there).
Find us on Ballard Avenue, next to Hotel Ballard. Reservations can be booked here, or for larger parties in our dining room, email info@stoneburnerseattle.com for more availability.
