Brunello di Montalcino Castello Romitorio is the flagship wine from this amazing estate owned by artist Sandro Chia. It is a deeply structured, elegant yet extremely intoxicating wine that drinks superbly on its release but will age gracefully for decades. Made from 100% Sangiovese and aged in oak barrel for 24 months you’d expect a backward and oak laden wine but the bright cherry, violet and crushed red fruit really shines through the oak. It opens into an earthy wine with darker spice notes and fresh herbs. An exquisite and sensual wine with length, depth and structure.

Castello Romitorio was a half renovated abandoned wreck when artist Sandro Chia purchased it in 1984. What was left of the building had been abandoned after WW2 and used only by shepherds until Baron Giorgio Franchetti, a historic building restorer, purchased it in the 1970s. He abandoned his plan (I didn’t say he was a successful building restorer) and sold the property to Sandro who completed the work and brought the building back to life as his home and art studio. The building had been built originally in the 12th century as an imposing hilltop fortress to guard the town of Montalcino. In the late 1980’s Sandro set about restoring the land around the castle back to its former glory with an overhaul of the vineyards. New cellars were constructed in 2005 and Filippo, Sandro’s son became an integral part of the team. The wines have become internationally recognised as elegant expressions of Sangiovese that flirt between the modern and classic style.