Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2018 - In Bond

Conti cosanti brunello di montalcino - wimbledon wine cellar

99 Points, Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast: Perfumed berry, pine forest, new leather and violet aromas mingle with enticing scents of vineyard dust that segue into underbrush and nutmeg. Linear, lithe and all about elegance, the savory palate has great energy that lifts juicy red cherry, spiced cranberry, star anise and tangy saline notes that linger on the close. Tight but refined tannins and vibrant acidity keep it youthfully tense and impeccably balanced. Those who love power and might could be surprised by its almost ethereal quality, but lovers of finesse, depth and balance will swoon in delight

17.5 points – Walter Speller, December 2022,JancisRobinson.com: “Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. A seriously minerally nose that is still quite closed and with a suggestion of old leather. Backward on the palate and stubbornly closed. Very slowly unfurls and shows a stunning, balanced whole on the finish and with beautiful, finely chiselled tannins. Right now, though, it is austere and not ready by far.”

94 points – Michael Morris, November 2022,Decanter.com:  “In 2018, Andrea Costanti used fewer tonneaux than usual, opting instead for larger, less oxidative casks, a significant portion of which were new. This lends some oak nuances but doesn’t detract. Aromas of exotic spice, violet and chestnut are amplified by a touch of volatile acidity. Those dark purple floral notes carry through to the palate, which brags lovely weight with balanced proportions and mouth watering, citrussy acidity. The tannins are weighing down the finish right now, but give this another year or so to come together and it should be a joy to drink.”

94 points – Eric Guido, October 2022,Vinous:  “The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino is a spice box, bursting from the glass with a tour de force of cloves, cinnamon sticks, mint, lavender, dried strawberries and freshly sliced vanilla bean. For all of its extroverted character on the nose, this is a delicate beauty on the palate, cool-toned and finessed, with violet-tinged red berries and exotic spice motivated by brisk acidity. It conveys a pleasant staining of fine tannins that lingers long, yet the character is only lightly structured and tapers off nuanced, leaving a persistent subtle hint of liquorice. The 2018’s acidity totals out at 6.3g/L and with only 13.6% abv., which has created a wine that is energetic yet unbelievably classic in feel, especially considering the vintage. Wow.”

The Sangiovese grapes were fermented on the skins in stainless steel tanks for two weeks at controlled temperatures. The vintage produced berries with concentration but thinner skins, thus Andrea opted for a shorter maceration than usual. After fermentation, the wine was aged in oak for a total of 36 months, 12 of which were in five hectolitre Allier medium-toasted tonneaux, and the remaining 24 months in 30 hectolitre Slovenian barrels. The wine was bottled and rested in the cellar for a further 12 months prior to release.

2018 VINTAGE REPORT

Considerable rainfall in the Spring slowed flowering and fruit set. The humid conditions continued throughout the Summer requiring meticulous vineyard and canopy management to reduce the risk of disease. Prevailing winds kept the vineyards ventilated and strong diurnal shifts ensured healthy berries. Harvest began during the last week of September. Despite the challenges encountered earlier in the year, the harvest produced some fantastic fruit, full of concentration and balance with a vibrant acidity. While production was not down on previous vintage, Andrea Costanti chose not to produce a Riserva in 2018, meaning that all the fruit went into the estate Brunello di Montalcino.

THE ESTATE

On 15th April 1555, Siena fell to the hands of the Florentine and Spanish forces. Just a week later, the Sienese nobility turned to the village of Montalcino to protect their independence and reconstituted the Republic of Siena. The Sienese loyalists upheld their republic in exil until 1559 when the territory was annexed by Cosimo I de Medici. The Costanti family proudly remained in Montalcino despite the circumstances, where they were able to acquire considerable land and began their entrepreneurial quest into grape growing. At the turn of the 18th century, bothers Crescenzio and Carlo Constanti were recognised for their valiant wartime service for the Venetian Republic. They were honoured and named Counts with hereditary rights.

In the latter part of the 19th century, Count Tito Costanti [1827-1895], Clementi Santi and Ferruccio Biondi Santi were pioneers in Montalcino. Tito was producing wines made from a single Sangiovese clone locally known as Brunello. Very early on, Tito distinguished his wines from others by referring to them as Brunello. In August 1870, Tito presented his first Brunellos at the Exhibition of the Province of Siena, produced from the 1865 and 1869 harvests. The relevance of these two styles of Montalcino wines is poignantly still relevant today, labelled as Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino.

Count Emilio Costanti [1906-1983], Tito’s cousin’s son, is to thank for the astute commercialisation of the wines from Colle de Matrichese. Before the 1960s, the Costanti wines were scarce and seldom found outside of close family and friends circles. Emilio strategically placed his Brunellos at Rotary Club dinners which he presided over in Pescara. It was not long before demand far outnumbered the production. In 1983, his nephew, Andrea Costanti inherited the property and has since strived to produce the very best wines in the DOCG. His dedication to Montalcino and the family estate encourages him to keep innovating in the vineyard and in the winery.

Today, Colle de Matrichese comprises 25 hectares, 12 of which are under vine perched between 350 and 450 metres altitude above sea level. The remaining land is home to an olive grove, woodland and fallow land. Seven hectares of Sangiovese are dedicated to the production of Brunello wines, while one and half hectare is dedicated to the production of Rosso, grown on lower and sandier sites at the base of the Montosoli hill. The remaining area under vine is planted with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields are kept well under maximum authorised threshold to produce Brunello. The Sangiovese vines range between 6 to 25 years of age.

 

Wine Features

Country: 
Vintage: 
2018
Dominant Grape: 
Sangiovese
Case Size: 
6
Bottle Size: 
75cl
Type: 
Red
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Appellation: 
£360.00 a case (6 x 75cl)