2020 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino 750 ml

In a standout Brunello growing season like 2020, Castello Romitorio's Brunello di Montalcino is at another level entirely. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate thought so, too, declaring "If you were to buy one village Brunello from the accessible 2020 vintage, let me direct your attention to this wine."

Romitorio has long been a member-favorite, and this bottle blew us away when we tasted it in Tuscany. Made under the watch of Carlo Ferrini, the 100-point consulting winemaker Decanter calls an "Italian Master," it packs power and structure, livened by a beautiful elegance and freshness.

Castello Romitorio is located in the hills of Tuscany, interspersed with forest land teeming with wolves, deer, foxes, and wild boars. It likely dates back to Roman times—first it was a temple, then a fortress and monastery, then a shelter for shepherds and their flocks. It was abandoned during World War II and sat in disrepair until the 1980s, when it was rescued from decay by Sandro Chia, one of the most famous artists in Italy. Chia has returned the castle and its grounds to their former glory, and Carlo Ferrini's top talent has elevated the estate's wine every step of the way.

Mother Nature blessed Tuscany with near-perfect growing conditions in 2020—a mild spring followed by warm, sun-drenched summer days and cool nights that preserved crucial acidity. September brought gentle rains at precisely the right moment, allowing the Sangiovese to achieve exceptional phenolic ripeness without sacrificing structure.

The result is a Romitorio that has beautiful fruit, an opulent texture, and tannins that are already silky, but will improve in the cellar. The way to buy this is by the case, and watch it evolve over the next decade-plus.