Castiglion del Bosco, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG (Tuscany, Italy) 2018

 The winery occupies 150 acres of the 5000-acre Castiglion del Bosco estate, which was founded almost 400 years ago and is today part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It has been owned by Massimo Ferragamo since 2003.  Castiglion del Bosco, located near Siena in the Val d’Orcia, includes an exclusive resort with a private golf course and a cooking school.  Guests can also arrange to go truffle hunting on the property followed by a Brunello di Montalcino tasting.  The estate’s diverse vineyard soils include volcanic, clay and limestone. In the gravity-fed cellar fermentation occurs with natural yeasts; after 18 days of alcoholic fermentation the wine goes to French oak barriques and is then aged in barrels followed by 24 months in bottle.  It is released 5 years after harvest.  The 2018 vintage is a beautiful dark red color and is very aromatic.  It has a firm and chewy texture along with fresh, appetizing and nicely balanced flavors.  On the palate it is intense, elegant, and long.