Toscana Rosso Romitoro Castello Romitorio 2022 (750ML)

Castello Romitorio, the Montalcino estate founded by the artist Sandro Chia, first made this Syrah and Petit Verdot blend in 2008, and the 2022 holds to 50% of each. The fruit comes from the Scansano area of coastal Maremma, where the climate is maritime, and is brought back to the Montalcino winery for vinification in stainless steel and concrete tanks. The nose mixes blackberry, boysenberry and violet with smoked meat, cracked white pepper and juniper. Supple and generous with dark fruit, it has smooth, well-integrated tannins and lively acidity that keeps the finish fresh rather than heavy. Pairing a Bordeaux grape with a Rhône one on the Tuscan coast is an unusual idea, and here it works. Critics see it at its best from 2026 through the late 2030s. Wild boar pappardelle, grilled fennel sausages, smoked brisket or aged pecorino fit its smoky side.