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Drink now or cellar for up to 17 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Originally built by the ancient Romans, Castello di Romitorio is dramatically set on a high hill next to the village of Montalcino. In 1984 it was purchased by Giorgio Franchetti who gave it to the famous Neo-Expressionist Italian artist Sandro Chia in return for some of his paintings. Chia set up his studio in the castle, but also embraced the revolutionary winemaking movement that was sweeping Montalcino at the time. Today Chia’s son Filippo is heavily involved in the winery which has 15 acres of prime vineyards planted primarily on gravelly iron and magnesium-rich soils. This magnificent bottling is crafted from fruit sourced close to the castle itself and is named “Silk Thread” after the small stream that flows through the nearby forest. The microclimate here is cooler than other parts of Brunello di Montalcino, crafting a wilder, intense expression with plenty of savoury and earthy character. The grapes are harvested by hand fairly late in the season to ensure optimum ripeness and are fermented in high tech temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The young wine is then matured in oak for 30 months followed by another 12 months in the barrel. The result is a serious, structured wine that’s bursting with dark fruit, hints of violets, and undertones of forest floor, leather, and subtle spices.