About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Filo di Seta Brunello di Montalcino Riserva comes from old Sangiovese vines in the north-western area of Montalcino. This part of the appellation gives the wine its bold, elegant expression and a wilder, darker aspect of the local terroir. The vines are tended to achieve harmonious, balanced yields and optimal grape maturity.
Grapes
Sangiovese.
Vinification
The grapes undergo two rounds of manual sorting at the winery: one before destemming and another afterward. Fermentation takes place in cement tanks with skin maceration. Natural malolactic fermentation follows. The finished wine is then rested to separate it from the lees.
Ageing
Maturation lasts at least 24 months in oak. After bottling, the wine remains for at least another 6 months in Castello Romitorio’s temperature-controlled cellars.
Technical data
The inaugural 2016 vintage yielded 3,940 individually numbered bottles. Production information accompanying reviews of the 2019 vintage is inconsistent: separate entries report 2,575 bottles, 2,666 bottles, and 220 cases.
Tasting profile
The 2019 vintage has a dark, complex aromatic profile encompassing black plum, blackberry, sour cherry, dark cherry, wild strawberry and tart red berries, together with juniper, clove, candied and dried orange peel, bergamot, lavender, sage, incense, smoke, graphite, iron, sandalwood, sarsaparilla, forest floor and porcini. Its palate is described as medium-full to full, broad and expansive yet savory and slender, with silky or creamy textures, mineral grip, vibrant cooling acidity, and polished, suede-like tannins that become crisp and firm on the finish. Citrus freshness, saline notes and persistent red-fruit character carry through a long finish.
The 2016 vintage is characterized by black cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry and dark plum, with mineral, soy, spice, pine-cone and mushroom nuances. It combines density and concentration with agility and vividness. Fine-grained dusty tannins, lively acidity and a fresh, lingering finish provide structure and balance.
Vintage notes
The 2016 Riserva was the first release, selected through extended ageing and a rigorous choice of the finest barrels from the Filo di Seta Brunello di Montalcino harvest. The 2019 was the second Riserva release and the first produced since 2016. Reviews characterize 2019 as approachable but ageworthy, with suggested starting dates of 2027 or 2028 and one drinking window continuing through 2047. For 2016, published recommendations generally begin in 2024 or 2025 and extend to 2043 or 2045.
Label / history
The central image on the label derives from Sandro Chia’s painting In acqua strana e cupa, se brilla un punto bianco, se salta una pupa, al volo suo m’affianco. Filippo Chia designed the label as a tribute to Montalcino’s history, in which leading Brunello di Montalcino wines traditionally carried black labels. Each bottle is hand-wrapped in black paper printed with a repeating Filo di Seta pattern.