Castello di Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino 2021
Tuscany · Brunello di Montalcino · Sangiovese · red
About this wine
“The 2021 vintage establishes a new benchmark for the wines of Tuscany. It is the best vintage to date...” – Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator And…hold on to your hats!!! The new Last Bottle favorite of Castello Romitorio is most certainly back — and this 96+ POINT Brunello is a certified STUNNER! Better still…we got it at the BEST price in the USA! Over $65 BELOW retail, too??? Let’s go! First…a warning! As monumentally fantastic of a growing season as 2021 was — a big frost in early April cut yields by as much as 50% across Montalcino…so there is far, FAR less than we’d like…and me, and every buyer, and most of the staff in the office are already loading up on this — so load up that cart first, and then come on back to read all about it, ok? OK! Welcome back. Man, I hope you got enough! The wonder that is Castello Romitorio — and the budding legend of the young, charismatic Filippo Chia — makes this THE estate to watch in Montalcino, and this baby is flat out GORGEOUS! I tasted a special sneak preview in Montalcino back in October, and it was one of the highlights of my Italy trip. So good, in fact, I immediately bought another bottle to enjoy with the porcini mushroom three-course menu at Il Leccio after we left the estate! (If you’re ever in Montalcino…go here!) But…THE WINE!!! A supremely elegant and aromatic style of Brunello, with laser-like precision, and layer after layer of complexity. The northwest corner of Montalcino is considerably wooded, and the estate here benefits from the cooling insulation that the surrounding woods bring. High-toned, but simply packed with ripe and plush fruits…this baby is SINGING! Violets, and peonies, with red currants, and plump cherries, punctuated with pristine minerality, and delicately roasted herbs, and…AND!!! The wine really comes to life with a few swirls of the glass and dances across your senses hypnotically. A bright lift of orange zest, and earthy tetherings of sun-baked clay, and above all else…BALANCE. This is built to last, but man-oh-man…is it ever tempting now!!! While it lasts!!! ** Romitorio Fun Fact: Head honcho Filippo Chia’s dad traded 3 of his prized paintings for these 200 hectares of land and a castle that would become Castello Romitorio (Hermitage Castle). Sandro Chia (who also designs all their stunning labels) is a principal member of the Italian Neo-Expressionist movement – and his art is nearly as stunning as the wine inside! **
Wine details
- Producer
- Castello di Romitorio
- Vintage
- 2021
- Region
- Tuscany
- Appellation
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Varietal
- Sangiovese
- Blend
- 100% Sangiovese
- Color
- red
- Winemaker
- Filippo Chia
- Alcohol
- 15
- Last Bottle price
- $59
- Retail price (estimate)
- $125
- Wine-Searcher average
- $68
- Critic score
- 96 — Jeb Dunnuck