2018 Sangiovese Brio, Castello di Romitorio

Wine Variety: The most widely-planted grape of Italy is also an ancient one, its first mention in written word being in the early 17th century. And as with many old varieties, untangling Sangiovese's origins is a labour of love. It appears to be of Tuscan origin, but its progenies lie scattered around southern and central Italy and even Sicily and outlying islands. It is certainly closely related to Gaglioppo (grown in Calabria) and Nerello Mascalese of Sicily. To add further to the confusion, a number of unrelated varieties are cultivated under the name Sangiovese. Further, Sangiovese itself offers great clonal diversity i.e. there are many slightly differing cultivated varieties of the grape. When all is said and done, this is a variety straight out of the top drawer and is capable of producing exceptionally fine wines.

Wine Region: The Maremma is a strip of coastal land that stretches from southern Tuscany into Lazio. Until the early 20th century and its draining, the Maremma was a swampy, malaria-riddled and backward land. The renowned wine Sassicaia comes from Bolgheri, which is part of the Maremma, as is Scansano, from where comes this wine.

Wine Producer: Castello Romitorio lies adjacent to the Corte Pavone estate in the north western sector of the Montalcino commune. And the estate has a long history: there was an Etruscan temple on this site, followed by a Roman settlement and evidence of human activity on this lofty hilltop more-or-less unbroken to the modern day. The manor was abandoned after the last war (there was very little money in Montalcino at the time) and not rescued until the 1970s when it was bought by Baron Giorgio Franchetti. He, in turn, sold it to artist Sandro Chia in 1984. Since then there has been a period of continual development and upgrading, now unertaken by Sandro's son Filippo. 

Re the last vintage (now out of stock):  2017 Sangiovese Brio - "...well worth seeking out..." in The Sunday Times, 24/05/2020