Conti Costanti - Brunello di Montalcino 2018

Conti Costanti was founded in 1555 in the province of Siena. Today, Andrea Costanti owns the winery and crafts the wines alongside the enologist Vittorio Fiore. Conti Costanti, which currently has 25 acres under vine and an average yearly production of about 60,000 bottles, is continuously lauded by the press for the respect it gives to the tradition and terroir of Colle Matrichese.

The noble Costanti family goes back a long way – at least to Renaissance times. 

One of several famous counts, Costanti – Tito – was both a lawyer and a winemaker, and anticipated the present DOCG and DOC denominations. Not only was he one of the very first to use the name Brunello for Montalcino red wines, but the methods he employed were strikingly similar to those used for Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino today. 

Costanti Brunellos, however, were jealously guarded wines until the early 1960s, circulating solely among the owners’ friends and family. This changed with Count Emilio Costanti, physician and grape-grower, who first put the family name on the wine map. Dr. Costanti was dedicated to maximizing the winery’s potential and was the first to release Brunello vintages to the public. 

The 2018 Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino is near perfection with intoxicating aromatics of dark berries, tar, leather, violets, and exotic spices. It shows great depth and finesse balancing the line of acidity, tannin, and lush fruits. Aged 48 months in total (18 months in large tonneaux cask, 18 months in Slavonian oak wooden barrels and 12 months in bottle.) The Costanti family has been part of Montalcino history since 1555 and are one of Montalcino's greatest estates, producing elegant, nuanced, and long-lived wines of exceptional quality.

“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. Drink 2024–2038.” - 99 Points, Kerin O'Keefe

“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 licorice. 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.” - 94 Points, Vinous

Producer: Conti Costanti

Country: Italy

Region: Tuscany

Varietal: Sangiovese

Appellation: Brunello di Montalcino

Vintage: 2017

Size: 750ml