2018 Rosso di Montalcino
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino opens to bright, red fruit intensity with wild cherry, raspberry and cassis. You also get background aromas of powdered root licorice and aniseed. The wine is simple and graceful, and there is enough acidic freshness in this vintage to pair with a cheesy lasagna or eggplant parmigiana. This is another great value option from Castello Romitorio. The 2018 season was relatively difficult due to rain and some mold issues, Filippo Chia tells me. Fruit selection was very important, and this wine was released with just 888 cases made, compared to the usual 1,800 cases, due to the fact that two hectares of Rosso di Montalcino vines were sold to Poggio di Sotto in 2018. Filippo says: "The 2018 is very different from 2017 and is finally a beautiful Rosso with lovely dancing fruit. It was a cool vintage, but the [Sangiovese] ripened slow and steady and maintained much of its intrinsic characteristics."
Critic scores
Average Score
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Eric Guido, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Castello Romitorio Rosso di Montalcino takes time to blossom in the glass, yet it is totally worth the wait. A pretty and understated display of cherry and strawberry mixed with dusty earth, roses and hints of undergrowth opens nicely. Soft, silky textures flood the palate with ripe red and hints of blue fruit, sweet yet perfectly contrasted by saline-minerality, along with hints of fine tannin that slowly mount toward the close. The finish is remarkably long, as notes of dried wild berries, blueberry skins and hints of violet florals linger.