Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva DOCG
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SaleRated 98/100 by Wine Spectator (top 1% of their reviews).
From our sommelier team
A terroir-focused Brunello Riserva from a high-altitude Montalcino estate founded by a painter, not a musician — Sangiovese-only, minimal-intervention, released only in strong vintages.
The estate was founded in 1984 by Sandro Chia, an Italian painter and sculptor and a leading figure of the Transavanguardia (Neo-Expressionist) art movement, who acquired the medieval castle and surrounding land from Baron Giorgio Franchetti and planted Sangiovese there; his son Filippo Chia took over the estate in 2005. The Riserva DOCG comes from Sangiovese grown on the estate's high-altitude northwest-facing vineyards (up to 500 meters), where varied soils of galestro, clay and marine-fossil deposits let the family select specific parcels for the top wine. Winemaking philosophy under Filippo Chia is minimal-intervention -- open-tank fermentation with hand pushdowns and aging in a majority of used French oak -- and the Riserva is released only in vintages the estate judges strong enough to merit it, so production is small and irregular. The resulting wines are typically dark, structured and long-lived, with tones of dark cherry, dried rose, leather, tobacco, clove and a dusty mineral edge.
Producer history
Sandro Chia bought the Castello Romitorio property, a centuries-old castle west of Montalcino, in 1984 from Baron Giorgio Franchetti and began planting Sangiovese, initially treating the castle as much as an art studio as a wine estate -- his paintings and sculpture still feature on the estate's labels. His son Filippo Chia took over winemaking and estate direction in 2005, expanding the cellar and vineyards and steering the wines toward a more precise, terroir-driven style. It remains a family-owned, relatively small Montalcino producer rather than part of a larger corporate portfolio.
Signature pairings
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina — The classic regional pairing: a thick-cut, simply grilled T-bone has the fat and protein density to match Sangiovese Riserva's firm tannin and high acidity.
- Wild boar ragù with pappardelle — Gamey, slow-cooked wild boar echoes the wine's earthy, leathery tones while the dish's richness stands up to a structured Riserva.
Castello Romitorio's Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG is a classically structured Tuscan red built on 100% Sangiovese from the prestigious Montalcino terroir. The 2015 vintage displays the hallmark dark fruit intensity and mineral-driven tannin profile characteristic of the appellation's finest expressions. Riserva designation indicates extended aging in oak and bottle, developing secondary cedar and spice notes alongside tertiary leather and tobacco complexity. This is a wine of considerable depth and food compatibility, suited to serious cellaring or immediate enjoyment with substantial dishes.
Details
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Tuscany
- Subregion
- Brunello di Montalcino
- Variety
- Sangiovese
- Vintage
- 2015 **
- Bottle size
- 750 ml
** Vintage may change — please confirm with our team before ordering.
Taste profile
- Body
- Medium-Full
- Acidity
- Medium
- Tannin
- Medium-High
Pairs well with
- Grilled red meat & steak
- Lamb dishes
- Hard & aged cheese
- Tomato-based pasta
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