Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2004 750ml

Wine Advocate #183 Jun 2009
High-toned aromatics lead to a firm, taut expression of fruit in Costanti’s 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Wild herbs, red cherries, tobacco and flowers are just some of the nuances that emerge from this chiseled, traditionally-made Brunello. The wine possesses gorgeous length and finessed tannins that provide lovely balance. Today the wine is clenched and unexpressive, but it should come together in bottle. That said, numerous bottles of this Brunello have failed to deliver the magic I found when I tasted the wine from tank prior to bottling. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.

It was 1983 when a very young Andrea Costanti took over Colle a Matrichese, inheriting quite a large responsibility for one of the few distinguished labels of quality in Montalcino at the time.
The passing years have demonstrated an increasingly confident manifestation of total harmony among the characteristics of the land, the Brunello of these unique vineyards and Andrea Costanti's sensibility to wine and his encompassing idea of the experience and pleasure of wine.
In developing the aromatic variety of the wines as far as possible, he has aimed for an elegant and perfect bouquet. As a result, the vines have rewarded him with even richer aromas though grown at an altitude in excess of 400 meters with consequent extreme ranges in temperature.
This young wine-maker has aspired to produce long-lasting and complex wines which, by nature, need time to mature and are not easy to make.
Although he has a great respect for the Brunello tradition, he is continually looking to the future with his far-reaching innovations.
The age of the vines, their particular biotypes and the soil composition have also aided in rendering a rich and long-lasting wine.
The authenticity of these wines rises above the fleeting trends.

Meats, Beef and Venison