Brunello di Montalcino 2019,1133 (Castello Romitorio)

Cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant before serving. This ancient castle set on a high hill near the town of Montalcino was first built by the Romans and later became a monastery and a shelter for shepherds. In 1984 it was bought aby the art lover Giorgio Franchetti who later exchanged it for some paintings by the well-known Italian painter Sandro Chia. Chia used the property as his studio, but he also renovated the vineyards and played a key role in the revitalization of Montalcino’s wineries during the 1980s and 1990s. In 2005 Sandro’s son, Filippo, joined the business and has helped lead it into a new era with help from winemaking consultant Carlo Ferrini who’s worked with a host of top names including San Leonardo. The property has 15 acres of vineyards which mostly sit on fine mineral-rich gravel soils high in magnesium and iron. This stunning Brunello is the estate’s flagship wine crafted from top quality fruit from plots located in the appellation’s northwestern reach. The fruit is harvested at optimum maturity fairly late in the growing season with vinification taking place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The young wine is then aged in oak for 24 months followed by another 12 months in the bottle. This creates a heady and enchanting Brunello that’s full of intense dark fruit flavours and intriguing hints of woodsmoke, spice and sage. The powerful structure and tannins make it a great wine to drink now with hearty red meat dishes or to cellar for another decade or so.