Castello Romitorio Rosso di Montalcino 2019

Cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant before serving.

This winery takes its name from the evocative ancient castle set on a high hill close to the town of Montalcino which was first built by the Romans and later used as a monastery. The estate’s modern history began in 1984 when it was acquired by Giorgio Franchetti who gave it to Italy’s iconic Neo-Expressionist artist Sandro Chia in exchange for several paintings. As well as creating art here, Sandro also began to make excellent wines and played a key role in the revitalization of Montalcino’s wine scene in the 1980s and 1990s.

Today the property has 15 acres of vineyards set to the northwest of Montalcino on excellent gravelly, mineral-rich soils. Winemaking at Castello Romitorio is overseen by famous consultant winemaker Carlo Ferrini who’s worked with top names like San Leonardo. For this youthful and expressive Rosso di Montalcino fruit is sourced from the estate’s youngest Sangiovese vines. The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted before vinification with 10 months of ageing in oak barrels prior to bottling.

The nose is bursting with ripe Marasca cherry and red fruit notes as is typical for Sangiovese, which evolve on the palate to notes of plums, leather, wild thyme and wood polish. Medium bodied with fine tannins and a bright streak of acidity, this is a great wine to pair with tomato-based pasta dishes, charcuterie, or roast pork.