2013 Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino 750 ml

Brunello As Art

Showing dried roses and violet, wild strawberries and sour cherry, as well as tobacco leaf, cigar box, lively acidity and rich tannins, Castello Romitorio is a textbook example of Brunello elegance—one that normally comes with a price tag that pushes triple digits. Today is your chance to claim it for a fraction of its $90 SRP.  

Castello Romitorio is located in the hills of Tuscany, interspersed with forest teeming with wolves, deer, foxes, and wild boar, and the only thing more spectacular than its landscape is its story. 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 WWII and sat in disrepair until the 1980s, when it was rescued from decay by Sandro Chia, one of the most famous artists in Italy.

Today, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re bringing Castello Romitorio’s 94-point 2013 Brunello—a $90 wine—to a price level that will make anyone who’s ever had a sip of savory Brunello salivate: just $49.99, or $39.99 on cases. That’s a stunning 55% off its SRP, and it makes our price by far the best in the nation—one that should have you pondering how much space you have in the cellar. 

From a Brunello vintage that Wine Advocate dubbed extraordinary and Vinous compared to the all-time great 2010, the 2013 Castello Romitorio Brunello has won praise from every critical angle. James Suckling gave it 94 points (his highest ever for this wine), and the Advocate cheered its “beautiful garnet-like intensity” in their 93+-point review, saying its “bouquet offers similar stamina and vigor, with thick layers of dark cherry and blackberry.” 

Chia set about restoring the estate (which he also uses as an art studio) and by any measure, the endeavor has been a massive success. Less than two decades after he purchased Romitorio, James Suckling wrote an article in Wine Spectator, declaring the artist’s Brunello to be on its way to becoming a “cult favorite.” Since then, Romitorio has been a regular in the upper reaches of Suckling’s and Wine Advocate’s ratings.

His 2013 delivers on the estate’s early promise, and of what critics praised as a fantastic year for Brunello. As Wine Enthusiast wrote: “If you want to experience the energy, elegance and age-worthy structure that first drew wine lovers and collectors to Brunello di Montalcino decades ago, then 2013 is your vintage.” The Romitorio shows an enticing ruby-brick-colored core, dried rose petals, tons of red fruit complexity, and the savory herbal notes and lively acidity that make Brunello a must-have in the cellar.

Whether it belongs to a wide-ranging collector, a dyed-in-the-wool devotee of Italian varieties, or just a lover of red wine, absolutely every cellar should have a rock-solid Brunello at the ready—one that delivers classic Brunello elegance and complexity without breaking the bank.