Sangiovese
75cl * Vegan * 14.5% ABV * Tuscany, Italy
Founded in 1954, Castiglion del Bosco was one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello. Now under new ownership, there has been major investment in the winery and in the vineyards, and the quality has been consistently on the up. Set in the Val d’Orcia National Park, a UNESCO world heritage site northwest of Montalcino, the estate is protected from the polluting factors of the urban world. The Capanna vineyard, where the grapes destined for their Brunello are grown, slope south/southwest towards the Tyrrhenian coast and it’s cooling sea breezes.
The peculiar characteristics of this vineyard, such as the natural isolation along with the altitude and the type of soil, give this wine a refined elegance as well as great personality. This cooler site, the estate believes, benefits from 24 months’ ageing in French oak rather than the traditional larger Slovenian oak barrels used in warmer sites of Montalcino. The result is a profoundly distinct interpretation of Brunello in this outstanding vintage, widely considered to be excellent for Tuscany, this layered and beautiful 2016 is the highest scoring vintage ever achieved.
A wine of remarkable complexity and finesse, perfectly representative of the vintage. It displays a bright, inviting ruby-red color. On the nose, it reveals intense and precise aromas of fresh flowers, expressing both elegance and aromatic purity. On the palate, it shows good body and a harmonious texture, supported by soft, well-integrated tannins. The sip unfolds with balance, leading to refined notes of tobacco and black pepper that lend depth and character to the long, graceful finish.
Drinking window: 2026 - 2045.
"A soft and velvety red with plum, walnut, cedar and bark character, as well as orange-peel undertones. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a soft, silky texture and a delicious finish. This will age beautifully, but why wait? Drink or hold." 94/100 - James Suckling, December 2025
"There’s fine depth to the aromas and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, wild rosemary, pine and mineral. The flavors shift between fruit, savory and mineral elements as this red builds to the long, detailed aftertaste. Dense, gripping tannins keep this tight and youthful. Best from 2029 through 2047.." 95 Points - Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, March 2026
"A medium red hue, the 2021 Brunello Di Montalcino boasts a good deal of lifted spice intensity on the nose, with aromas of clove, blood orange, redcurrants, cranberries, spice, iron-rich earth, and toasted incense. It offers more vibrancy than I have come to expect from these wines. Medium-bodied and lively with a bright spine of acidity, it has a compact core of fine, angular tannins and a zesty mouthwatering finish. It’s quite a departure from previous wines from this estate, and it has a lot of tension. Drink 2026-2040." 92 Points - Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck, February 2026
Wine Geek Fact: The wines of Brunello di Montalcino were the first in Italy to be awarded DOCG status in 1980.