Purchased by Massimo Ferragamo in 2003, Castiglion del Bosco, after major investment in the vineyards and winery, has been restored to its position as a leading Montalcino estate. The estate, with 62 hectares of vineyards (51 of which are permitted for Brunello production) is located in the Val d’Orcia National Park, a UNESCO site, to the north west of Montalcino, near Buonconvento. Locally trained oenologist, Cecilia Leoneschi, who has been working at the winery since 2003 oversees the vineyards and the cellar.
Campo del Drago is a single-vineyard Brunello that comes from the finest and highest parcel of Capanna vineyard, 3.5 acres at 450 meters with the best exposure. Displaying a noble personality and structure, it has a unique character and a great aging potential. It matures two years in French oak. This wine has great power and personality and represents a wonderful combination of tradition and innovation.
The wine vats are filled by gravity alone, without resorting to mechanical pumps. The entire vinification process is carried out in Castiglion del Bosco’s cellar, completely gravity-fed. The grapes are quality-selected in the vineyards first, then the clusters travel to sorting tables where trained eyes make a further selection of the finest fruit. Fermentation in steel tanks starts with natural yeasts only, once completed, the wines are transferred to French oak in a spacious, climate-controlled cellar that is partially underground, where it refined for 24 months, partly in barriques and partly in 30-50 HL French oak barrels. This was followed by refinement in unglazed concrete prior to bottling.
The hot and dry summer of the 2017 vintage certainly characterized the ripening of the grapes. Compared to other areas of the denomination Castiglion del Bosco was distinguished with varied rains at the beginning of September. This mitigated the summer heat slowed the phenolic ripening especially in the upper part of Capanna. It also allowed to avoid the risk of over-ripening and helped maintaining a good acid level. At Castiglion del Bosco, similar to the rest of the appellation, the harvest began earlier than usual. The 2017 harvest was marked by quality thanks to the great selection in the vineyard.
Campo del Drago 2017 is surprisingly fresh on the nose with floral and citrus notes. The perfectly completed phenolic maturity is distinguished in the mouth, with a tense and long finish. The wine has no bitter notes, typical of the 2017 vintage.
Serve with rich meat dishes, game, roasted meats and strong cheese.
Serve at 16°C.
“Subtle cherry, orange-peel and floral notes on the nose. Medium body, firm tannins and a long, fresh finish. Shows intensity and structure with length. Linear and fresh. Minerally. Try after 2023.” 95 points – James Suckling
“If you consider all the glorious vineyard sites in Montalcino, Campo del Drago must be one of the most beautiful. The vines sit on a flat plateau surrounded by wild forests with views that extend south all the way to the Tyrrhenian Sea and the sleepy farming town of Grosseto. The site is just spectacular, and cooling elevations reach 430 meters above sea level. The mid-weight 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Campo del Drago reflects the sun-drenched nature of its namesake vineyard with ripe cherry, plum cake and mild oak spice. Production is 6,000 bottles.” 93 points – The Wine Advocate, Monica Larner
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
100% Sangiovese Grosso
Natural Cork
Yes
Yes
