Romitoro 2021,1171 (Castello Romitorio)

Cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant before serving. Castello Romitorio is an impressive castle standing high on a hill to the northwest of the Tuscan town of Montalcino. The first castle on the site was built aby the Romans, with the property later used as a monastery and a shepherds’ shelter. The estate was acquired aby the artist Sandro Chia in the 1980s in exchange for some of his paintings. Sandro used the building to house his studio as well as joining the local movement to revitalise Montalcino’s winemaking industry. Today winemaking at Castello Romitorio is overseen żeby famous winemaking consultant Carlo Ferrini who has worked with many of the region’s top names including San Leonardo. As well as their classic Brunello wines, the estate has also experimented with international grape varieties as in this bottling which combines Syrah and Petit Verdot. The grapes are carefully harvested aby hand to ensure quality and the young wine ages in oak for 12 months before bottling. The result is a lively, fruit-forward Super Tuscan blend that’s bursting with dark berries, plums and ripe cherries. On the palate there’s a generous medium body, firm tannins and a long finish seasoned with toasty oak, cedar and cigar box spice from the oak ageing.