Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Romito 2019 comes from Tuscany’s Maremma, where the vineyards lie between the Mediterranean Sea and Monte Amiata. The soils date to the Pliocene and combine red clay with gravel. During the day, the Mediterranean moderates the maritime climate; at night, cooler continental air descends from Monte Amiata. These conditions are particularly suited to Petit Verdot.
Grapes
Petit Verdot. From 1987 through 2018, Romito was instead produced principally from Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaiolo and Sangiovese. Over its history, the wine has drawn on different Tuscan territories and has appeared under several classifications.
Vinification
The grapes are picked by hand at optimal ripeness and transported to Castello Romitorio’s cellar in Montalcino. After sorting, they are handled gently and vinified in cement vats.
Ageing
Following vinification in cement, the wine matures in wood.
Tasting profile
The published assessments of the 2019 vintage describe an impenetrable ruby or dark, concentrated appearance. The aromatic profile includes ripe plum, dark cherry, blackberry, damp earth, wet leaves, crushed stone or limestone, graphite, spice and flint, with ethereal nuances. The palate is concentrated, powerful and full-bodied, supported by substantial, chewy tannins and lively acidity. Savoury, firm and fresh through the finish, it closes with good length and a bright, almost peppery character.
Vintage notes
The current presentation is the 2019 vintage, a Toscana IGT red centered on Petit Verdot from Maremma. It received scores of 94/100 from Falstaff, 94/100 from Robert Parker and 92/100 from James Suckling. The reviews emphasize its structure, animating freshness, long savoury finish and capacity to age.
Label / history
Romito was Castello Romitorio’s first wine, created in 1987 as a Super Tuscan intended to express Tuscan wine through both indigenous and non-indigenous varieties. Initially released as Vino da Tavola, it subsequently became Sant’Antimo DOC before assuming its present Toscana IGT classification.
The label reproduces Sandro Chia’s 1987 pencil drawing on paper, Romito del Romitorio. In Italian, romito means hermit and romitorio means hermitage, making the title literally “Hermit of the Hermitage.” The dreamlike figure resembles a Roman centurion and evokes passing time and nostalgia for a changing world. Behind it, the sketched castle appears enduring and resistant to time, mirroring the wine’s intended longevity and solitary character.
