Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino 2020
Country
Italy
Region
Tuscany
Grape Varieties
Sangiovese, Chardonnay
Wine Types
Still, Red, White
About Castiglion del Bosco
Castiglion del Bosco is a historic Brunello di Montalcino estate in Tuscany, Italy, located in the Val d’Orcia near Montalcino and known for Sangiovese Grosso, Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino Riserva. One of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino in 1967, the estate combines significant vineyard scale, organic cultivation and a refined interpretation of Sangiovese. For the UK wine trade, Castiglion del Bosco offers a complete Montalcino range, from accessible Rosso di Montalcino to age-worthy Brunello and single-vineyard fine wine.
Castiglion del Bosco is one of the most established estates in Montalcino. Wine production began in 1954, and in 1967 it became one of the founding members of the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the body created to protect and promote Brunello’s identity.
Brunello di Montalcino later made Italian wine history in 1980, when it became the country’s first wine to receive DOCG status. This appellation is based exclusively on Sangiovese Grosso grown in Montalcino and requires long ageing before release, giving Castiglion del Bosco a place within one of Italy’s most important fine wine categories.
Heritage
Renewal and continuity
Massimo Ferragamo purchased Castiglion del Bosco in 2003 and invested significantly in the vineyards, winery and historic borgo, restoring the property to its position as a leading Brunello estate. In 2022, a new chapter began with the transfer of the estate to an international family office, intended to support the future development of both the agricultural and hospitality areas.
Region and Vineyards
Val d’Orcia and Montalcino
The estate lies in the Val d’Orcia National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, north-west of Montalcino near Buonconvento. Its isolated position, away from other producers and sources of pollution, helps support organic cultivation and gives the vineyards a distinct environmental setting.
Castiglion del Bosco extends over 1,800 hectares, with 62 hectares dedicated to vines. The vineyards are divided between two key sites: Capanna and Gauggiole. Capanna covers 42 hectares and is the main vineyard for Brunello di Montalcino. It faces south and south-west towards the Tyrrhenian coast, at elevations from 350 to 460 metres. The upper 1.5-hectare plot is Campo del Drago, source of the estate’s single-vineyard Brunello.
Gauggiole, on the northern side of the estate, is mainly dedicated to Rosso di Montalcino. Only Sangiovese is planted, allowing the whole range to focus on the expression of Montalcino’s principal grape across different sites, selections and ageing levels.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Organic Sangiovese cultivation
Castiglion del Bosco is farmed organically, reflecting the estate’s isolated location and the team’s detailed approach to vineyard management. The microclimate is strongly influenced by the sea, with hot, dry summers and a constant breeze that reduces humidity and supports healthy fruit.
Cecilia Leoneschi, who has worked at the estate since 2003, oversees both vineyard and cellar. Her approach is based on careful observation, precise harvesting and the belief that the character of Sangiovese should be expressed through balance rather than excess.
Gravity-fed cellar and natural yeasts
The vinification process takes place in the estate’s gravity-fed cellar. Grapes are first selected in the vineyard, then pass across two sorting tables for further selection. Fermentation begins with natural yeasts, preserving the connection between site, fruit and vintage.
After fermentation, the wines are transferred to French oak in a spacious, climate-controlled cellar that is partly underground. Ageing is adapted to each wine, from the freshness of Rosso di Montalcino to the structure and longevity required for Brunello, Campo del Drago and Millecento Riserva.
Style of Wine
Castiglion del Bosco produces still red wines exclusively from Sangiovese. Rosso di Montalcino is fresh, expressive and food-friendly, showing red cherry fruit, floral notes and approachable structure. Brunello di Montalcino is more layered and age-worthy, with depth, savoury complexity, fine tannins and the freshness associated with high-altitude Montalcino vineyards.
Campo del Drago offers a more precise single-vineyard expression from the top of Capanna, while Millecento Riserva is produced only in great vintages and released in magnum format, emphasising longevity, concentration and estate selection.
