Castello Romitorio
Decanter
93 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
Filo di Seta is one of the estate's lower lying plots at 350 metres above sea level. It takes its name from a nearby creek said to resemble a thread of silk. At the moment, sweet oak nuances dominate the nose, eventually giving way to mint, tarragon and woodland flowers. It's fully charged and chewy, though the tannins are polished and it finishes with a lingering succulence. An expansive, exuberant Brunello that finds its balance. Drinking Window 2022 - 2030.
James Suckling
94 -BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013
There's a purity and clarity of fruit in this young Brunello. Cherry and berry character follow through to full body, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows depth and intensity. Drink in 2020.
95-BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
A dense and rich Brunello with lots of ripe fruit, spices and hints of new wood. Full-bodied, chewy and rich. A muscular wine that needs time to come together. Better after 2022.
94-BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2016
A well structured red with lots of dried mushrooms, oysters and crushed stones. Dried blueberries and herbs, too. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. A little dusty on the finish. Let it soften. Drink after 2024.
95- BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA DOCG 2012
Some very bright flowers and dried red berries, all making this an attractive fresh impression. There are good aromatic details here. A really focused palate with a vibrant core of tangy cherries with a nice acid kick in the finish. Try from 2020.
95 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA DOCG 2013
The sweetly spiced red berries and cherries here are nicely augmented with cedar and cocoa-powder notes. The palate delivers a beautiful array of fine and fresh tannins, carrying long, supple and fresh fruit flavor. Drink or hold.
96 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA DOCG 2015
A tight, focused red with blackberry, black-cherry and walnut aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with juicy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Creamy and focused. This is still very structured and powerful. Give it two or three years to open.
95 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013
This is a Brunello with a beautiful purity of fruit and balance of ultra-fine tannins. Full body, totally integrated and holistic. Fresh and focused. Drink in 2020 but already a joy to taste.
96 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
Extremely perfumed and pure on the nose with bright and vivid, crushed cherry and berry character. Full body. Tight and poised with rich yet polished tannins and an ever so long finish. Needs at least three or four years to come together. Better after 2021.
96 -FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2016
Floral notes of fresh and dried violets and spicy cloves. This is a full-bodied red with juicy red fruit, spiced plums and hints of tea leaves. Firm but caressing tannins. So rich and polished at the same time. Drink after 2025 and beyond.
93 - ROMITORO TOSCANA IGT 2018
Cherries and blackberries with some floral and walnut character. Medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a delicious finish. Easy to appreciate the polish and finesse to this. Give it a year or two to come together. Try after 2021.
92 - IL TORO TOSCANA ROSSO IGT 2015
Aromas of black cherries and blue berries with flowers and hot stones. Full body, tight and focused tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Drink now.
92 - IL TORO TOSCANA ROSSO IGT 2016
The pure lavender and violet aromas are very attractive here, as are the spice and herb undertones. Medium body, fine and medium-chewy tannins and undergrowth-laden finish. Drink now or hold
Vinous
92 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013
Bright red. Enticing aromas of violet, licorice and minerals. Fresh and juicy; saline, licorice and dark plum flavors are lifted by vibrant acidity. Finishes savory and long, with an enticing glyceral, fleshy quality. Aged about two years in large 20- to 45-hL Slavonian oak barrels and 500-liter tonneaux and is made with a 75%/25% blend of grapes from the vineyards in Romitorio and Castelnuovo dell’Abate, respectively.
94 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
Good full red. Tobacco, mint and earth notes complement red cherry aromas and !avors. Very fresh and precise, with a steely element to its red
fruit and herbal !avors that linger nicely on the clean, juicy and !oral "nish. Blessed with a relatively high but harmonious acid mouthfeel and impeccable balance, this will likely age better than many other 2015 Brunellos. 95 The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is laced with spicy, dark red fruits, wild, sweet and spicy floral tones that give way to savory herbs, hints of animal musk and black earth. On the palate, it's soft, enveloping, almost creamy in texture and offset by a mix of savory spice, fine tannin and saturating mineral tones as black cherry and sage seem to hover on the senses. The finish is spicy and long, structured, but also with vibrant primary fruits holding on strong, as a twang of savory herbs lingers long.
92- BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA DOCG 2012
Bright red. Enticing aromas of red plum, Asian spices, candied violet and sandalwood. Then flavors similar to the aromas; polished tannins and a solid acid spine nicely extend the flavors on the long back end. The finish is very juicy and offers delicately spicy and herbal red berry nuances.
93+ - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013
Deep ruby. Tar and flowers mingle with red plum and peppery herbs on the nose and in the mouth. Juicy and spicy, with herbal nuances picking up steam on the spicy long, suavely tannic finish. An outstanding Brunello."Filo di Seta" is the name of a stream that runs right by the castle on the property.
95 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
Deep red. Perfumed aromas of violet, redcurrant and red cherries are complicated by violet and minerals. Then juicy and fresh, with well-
integrated acidity nicely lifting and extending the red fruit and herbal Flavors on the long, vibrant finish. Deep, complex Brunello that is quite
polished and age-worthy. -- Ian D'Agata
96 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is sourced from a selection of vines planted around the Romitorio winery, and showcases it’s high-elevation fruit (approximately 3,250 feet). Here I find a gorgeous and earthy bouquet of dusty soil, crushed stone, leather and dried red florals, as bright cherry comes forward, both lifting but also intensifying the experience. On the palate, soft textures envelope the senses in ripe dark red fruits, with spicy depths and a beam of laser like acids, as saline-minerals saturate the senses amidst pretty inner floral tones. The finish is long and structured, resonating of mineral-laden dark fruit, a twang of savory herbs and spices, with lasting fine tannins. This is gorgeous and built for the long haul.
97 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2016
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is a remarkably pretty and pure expression of the vintage. It impresses with a lifted yet stimulating display of bright red fruits and savory spice, framed by notes of crushed stone, animal musk and dusty florals. This boasts striking depth and elegant textures, all offset by a mix of tart wild berries and cool-toned acids, as salty minerals create an almost-crunchy feel toward the close. The tannins are firm yet rounded, displaying tremendous balance and length, as the 2016 Filo di Seta never grows tiring or youthfully clenched. That said, the best is yet to come for this complex and age-worthy effort. -- Eric Guido
92 - ROMITORO TOSCANA IGT 2018
The 2018 Romitorio Toscana is fresh and lifted on the nose – unexpectedly so, showing smoky cherry and citrus-tinged blackberry with savory herbs. On the palate, silky textures contrast spicy raspberry fruit, as saline- minerals and zesty acids add grip under an air of inner violet
florals. The finish is long, showing saturating red berry tones and hints of youthful tannin. This blend of Syrah and Petit Verdot is already rocking, yet a few years of cellaring should reveal even further depths.
91 - ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018
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.
Wine Advocate
95 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
The Castello Romitorio 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is a suave and supple expression that shows a slightly more opulent texture compared to many of its peers. The Castello Romitorio vineyards tend to be cool, both in terms of exposure and soils, and the estate shows its best results in a warm and sunny vintage exactly like 2015. You taste the natural richness and exuberance of the fruit, with variety-speci!c elements of wild cherry, blue "owers and soft earth. The house style prizes more width and latitude in terms of mouthfeel. That attractive medium to full-bodied style is achieved thanks to 24 months of oak aging. At the end of the day, the quality of the fruit is really what shines brightest here. Some 60,569 bottles were made, and the wine was released to the market in January 2020.
95 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2016
The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a classic expression of the vintage, showing lots of ripe fruit, crushed mineral, herbal nuances and varietal-driven purity. This wine nails that sweet spot between elegance and power that is not easily achieved. It o"ers an expanded array of Sangiovese #avors with wild cherry, forest #oor, crushed clove and medicinal herb, but it also shows plump density and a velvety texture. Filippo Chia and his team have created a sold wine for medium or long-term drinking. Production is exactly 58,874 bottles.
96 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG RISERVA 2015
Showing richness, dark fruit, bold cherry and blackberry, the Castello Romitorio 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with exactly 7,456 bottles made) embraces the exuberant character of the vintage, its warmth and its sunshine. If you seek a time capsule of 2015, I suggest that you put this bottle somewhere safe. The tannins are polished and chiseled, and at its core the wine is over#owing with blackberry preserves, cherry confit and plum.
94 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2013
Made with fruit from a slightly cooler site, the 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta takes a few minutes to open but is well worth the wait. Despite the tight and nervous character of Sangiovese, this wine is suddenly generous, opulent and exuberant all at once. It's like meeting a person for the first time who initially seems shy, but then who suddenly moves in for the big bear hug. Its disposition is as generous as it is genuine. The mouthfeel is textured, supple and warm.
96 - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
We didn't see this wine in 2014, so it's nice to have it back. The Castello Romitorio 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is born in a unique vineyard site that is characterized by a greater presence of schist or slate-like shards in the soils. These conditions contribute to the sharp and focused aromas you get here. Pencil shaving and granite rock come to mind. However, the wine is equally expressive when it comes to its ample fruit and !oral pro"le, and there's enough spice and soft leather or tobacco to hold it all neatly together in one happy package. It ages in oak for 30 months. This wine marks an ideal marriage between vintage and soil. The wine was released in January 2020, and 7,472 bottles were made.
95+ - FILO DI SETA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2016
The Castello Romitorio 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Filo di Seta is beautiful in the way you would regard a contemporary painting awash in color, texture and broad brush strokes. It doesn't all line up at first glance, but then you are magically aware of the symmetry—between the lifted fruit aromas and the grounded spice and oak. The wine's various moving pieces come together in harmony. Thanks to its softly integrated tannins, it also shows great versatility in terms of its drinking window. You can enjoy it in the medium term or wait for later. Production is 6,900 bottles.
93 - ROMITORO TOSCANA IGT 2018
The previous vintage of this wine carried the name Il Toro, but the wine has been renamed with this vintage. In archaic Italian, the name RomiTorò translates as Romitorio. The Castello Romitorio 2018 RomiTòro is made with equal parts Syrah and Petit Verdot, all aged in oak for 10 months. This edition opens to an inky dark appearance followed by a thick and succulent texture. It o!ers a certain "rmness to the tannins and a thinner spot on the mid-palate that thickens quickly as the wine hits the palate. Dark plum, prune and blackberry emerge at the top. Lighter notes of spice, smoke and tar also appear. Pair this wine with your favorite steak dinner. Some 44,437 bottles were made. The wine was bottled in December 2019 and hits the market in February 2020. RomiTòro is one of the great value wines to emerge from Tuscany.
95 - IL TORO TOSCANA ROSSO IGT 2016
A blend of Petit Verdot and Syrah , the 2016Il Toro is a muscular animal that boldly exposes dark fruit, blackberry preserves, dried cherry, spice, leather and spicy cedar. The blend is unique because it pairs the volume and spicy intensity of Syrah with the density, darkness and structure of Petite Vedot. Softer aromas of sweet fruit cede quickly to tar, grilled herb and rich plum. Pair this wine with grilled T-bone steak. This a bold expressive wine that opens a new chapter for Filippo Chia and his talented team.
Wine Enthusiast
90 - BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2015
Aromas of cedar, leather and dark-skinned fruit emerge from the glass. The polished palate offers dried black cherry, mocha and tobacco alongside fine-grained tannins. Drink 2022–2029.
Podere Biancanelle
Wine Advocate
91 - GHIACCIO FORTE MORELLINO DI SCANSANO DOCG 2017
I have an admitted soft spot for the wines made by Filippo Chia and his family, from their estates in Scansano and Montalcino. I love the hipster retro Italian esthetic of the packaging and the enormous story-telling opportunities that each wine affords, and that Filippo so passionately narrates to those who give him their ear. I hear his voice when I taste his wines. The Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte 2017 Morellino di Scansano Ghiaccio Forte depicts a little Etruscan statue head on its front label. The backstory here is that a tractor fell into an ancient Etruscan tomb while ripping the land, and that tiny clay statue was discovered inside. This part of southern Tuscany is honeycombed with Etruscan tombs. A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Syrah, this wine is rich in power and personality, and it transports you to this relatively undiscovered and wild part of Italy. Winemaking is executed in stainless steel only. The bouquet is redolent of blackberry and plummy fruit, and there is an interesting, albeit vaguely carbonic element to the bouquet. There are clear elements of candied fruit and crushed white pepper. The mouthfeel is rich, without being too heavy, and that firm tannic bite on the finish hints at the difficultly in obtaining balanced ripeness in this hot and dry vintage. The heat of the vintage was somewhat contained by the breezes that lift off the Tyrrhenian Sea not too far off in the distance. This 2017 expression is a bit more rugged and rustic overall, so I would recommend a dish of similar personality like the Maremma favorite, tagliatelle al ragù di cinghiale. Some 25,485 bottles were made.