Costanti’s 2003 Brunello di Montalcino is among the handful number of standouts in this vintage. The wine reveals lovely depth and purity. Fragrant aromatics meld seamlessly onto the palate, where layers of dark cherries, spices and toasted oak come to life in a very pretty expression of Sangiovese from Montalcino. There is plenty of volume and depth here to insure at least another decade of superb drinking. The 2003 Brunello saw malolactic fermentation in steel, after which it spent about 18 months in 350-liter French oak barrels followed by another roughly 18 months in 30-hectoliter Slavonian oak casks. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018. In 2003 the harvest at Costanti took place starting the 10th of September, rather than during the more customary end of September-early October time frame. The high altitude of the vineyards (400-450 meters), once an obstacle to achieving full ripeness, has become a valuable asset in preserving freshness in the wines, particularly in hot years. Unfortunately, I was not able to taste the 2006 Rossos as Costanti didn’t think they were ready to be evaluated. Costanti is one of the small number of producers who is especially selective in deciding which vintages merit a Riserva bottling. There will be no 2003 Riserva Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

Has aromas of dried cherry and old spice on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of fruit and a spicy, leathery aftertaste. Best after 2010. 2,900 cases made, 800 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Brunello di Montalcino Select to Add