Castello Romitorio 'Romitorio' Toscana Rosso 2021
93 POINT Tuscan! Way under $20 – and the BEST price ANYWHERE! Castello Romitorio in da’ HOUSE!!!
YES!!! What a wine! What a Wednesday! The absolutely EN FUEGO Castello Romitorio winery has been blowing up on a global scale these last few years. Their simply cult-like, wake-up-in-a-bathtub-full-of-ice-missing-a-kidney just to get one Brunellos have been snagging TONS of praise from all the top critics – 97, 98, 98 again, 97+ – and on and on…just fiercely hip and having their “It Girl” moment. We tasted this at VinItaly back in April – and honestly…we considered canceling the appointment. We KNEW beforehand the wines were epic, with crazy high scores, and a cult-like following. But the production size is small – what are the chances they even had enough? At these sort of prices, we insist on getting the all-time great deals our loyal Last Bottlers demand. It seemed a herculean task…and well, this was day four of “networking” over negronis and Champagne until 3:30 in the morning out in Verona’s Piazza delle Erbe.
But we really, REALLY wanted to try the wines! So we soldiered onward…and my word, are you gonna be glad we did!!! Somehow – I was barely conscious at this point – our crack team of buyers SCORED an all-time deal on this 93 POINT Romitorio Toscana Red. It was one of our favorites from all THIRTEEN wines we tasted from this great estate – with a quality for value that simply couldn’t be beat! UNDER $18 for a wine of this pedigree is just ga-ga…plus, it’s got a friggin’ BULL on the label! (Everybody loves animal labels, right?) I digress…the wine!
Stunningly pretty, with loads of wild berries and flowers – from blueberries to violets and lilacs, with accents of black plums, red currants, and black cherries – and followed by a structured and lusciously rich mouthfeel that evokes molten milk chocolate and cafe mocha. Whispers of wild fennel, and orange zest complete the sensations – a velvety smooth, and wild ride that simply SINGS with freshness and depth! Huzzah, indeed! This will smackdown wines three times the price – a stunning marriage of power and elegance not often found at these sort of daily drinker price points. Get a case, get two, just GET MOVING! Not enough, and you have to know – the office is loading up on this for their personal stash! While it lasts!
** ROMITORIO!!! Fun Fact: Head honcho Filippo Chia’s dad traded 3 paintings for these 200 hectares of land and a castle ruin that would become Castello Romitorio (Hermitage Castle). Sandro Chia (who also designs all their stunning labels) is a principal member of the Italian Neo-Expressionist movement – and his art is nearly as stunning as the wine inside! **
Free ground shipping on 6 or more bottles.
93 points
“This wine has seen several name changes (from Il Toro to RomiTòro and now Romitorio). The Castello Romitorio 2021 Romitorio is a hearty, full-bodied red blend with the muscle and power to mimic the beautiful Sandro Chia drawing of a raging bull on the front label. Fundamentally, this wine shows an all-Maremma spirit with rich concentration, big fruit weight and a whole range of savory and black fruit aromas. This wine is a delight to drink; it has a soft texture and is just raring to go straight out of the gate.”
~Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
93 points
“A fresh and crunchy red with dark cherries, currants, crushed flowers and a little bit of chocolate. Medium- to full-bodied. So lively and bright with textured, chalky tannins. Attractive juiciness with cherries and red spice undertones. Mineral and savory with some salinity at the end. Drink or hold.”
~James Suckling
92 points
“A dark blend of wild herbs, crushed ashen stones, licorice and black cherry waft up from the 2021 Romitorio. Silky yet sleek, this combines juicy acidity with orange-tinged wild berry fruit to create a sense of boundless energy. It finishes remarkably fresh yet still long and staining as salted licorice fades beneath an air of inner violet florals. The 2021 Romitorio is a wonderfully balanced and high-energy Syrah and Petit Verdot blend.”
~Vinous
This Romitorio hails from vineyards in Scansano, a hilltop village in the Maremma – on the Tuscan coast. A blend of syrah and petit verdot that becomes something altogether unique in the hands of this avant-garde producer.
Technical Details
- Country: Italy
- Region: Tuscany
- Appellation: Tuscany
- Varietal: Super Tuscan Blends
- Alcohol: 14
About The Producer
Castello Romitorio is a new kid on the block by Tuscan standards, going back in its current iteration to just 1984. They have become revered for pushing the boundaries of what Brunello di Montalcino can be in the modern day, and for their perfect marriage of art and agriculture.
Pairing Suggestions
Rack of lamb with rosemary potatoes
Your daily purveyor of fine wines.
We’re wine drinkers, collectors, and part of the global wine trade. Mostly, we are totally stoked to bring you incredible juice at the best prices we can possibly obtain, every day.
Sign Up for FREE
