Winemaker Notes
"2004 was a truly great vintage (una grandissima annata) not just in Montalcino, but all over Tuscany. '04 Brunello was awarded the maximum official score: 5 stars; thus, an extraordinary year. We consequently made a Brunello Riserva, which was bottled in June 2008. As in all great years, the Riserva 2004 is complex and austere, and will undoubtedly benefit from further bottle age, peaking in 5-10 years' time. Being a top year, it will also have top longevity." - Andrea Costanti
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva reveals impressive richness in its wild cherries, sweet herbs, spices, minerals and tobacco that meld with a high-toned bouquet. This gorgeous, medium to full-bodied Brunello blossoms on the palate as intricate layers of fruit continue to emerge with a wonderful classiness. The long, harmonious finish leaves a lasting impression. This is a terrific effort from Costanti. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. This is a beautiful set of new releases from Costanti, a reference-point producer of traditionally made Brunello and Rosso.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a standout Brunello Riserva thanks to the smoothness and richness of its inviting aromas. The bouquet includes elements of cherry, chocolate fudge and soft plum and prune. Nothing is out of tune and the wine is equally harmonious and tasty on the finish.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.