Conti Costanti

Conti Costanti is one of Montalcino's most distinguished and historic estates, with the Costanti family's documented presence in the region connected to events of 1555, when they were involved in the creation of the Republic of Siena on Ilcinese land. Tito Costanti, a lawyer and winemaker, was among the very first producers to use the name Brunello for Montalcino's red wines, anticipating the methods and nomenclature that would later become the DOCG framework. For generations, Costanti Brunellos circulated only among family and friends. This changed around 1964, when Count Emilio Costanti, a physician and grape-grower, began commercial bottling and became one of the first Montalcino producers to sell Brunello publicly. Having no children, Emilio traced the sole living descendant of the Sienese family: Andrea Costanti, a fresh geology graduate from the University of Siena with no background in wine. Andrea took over the estate and has led it since 1983, developing it into a benchmark Montalcino producer through self-taught mastery and deep geological understanding of the terroir.

• Costanti family active in Montalcino since the 15th century; Tito Costanti was among the very first to use the name Brunello for Montalcino reds
• Count Emilio Costanti began commercial Brunello sales around 1964, pioneering public releases at a defining moment for the appellation
• Andrea Costanti, geology graduate of the University of Siena, took over the estate in 1983 after Count Emilio traced him as the sole living family descendant

Costanti represents a crucial bridge between Montalcino's historical winemaking tradition and contemporary quality standards. Count Emilio's decision to release Brunello commercially in the early 1960s helped establish the reputation of the appellation during a pivotal era, when fewer than a dozen producers were making Brunello. Under Andrea Costanti's stewardship since 1983, the winery has become recognized for elegant, terroir-driven Brunellos that balance traditional methods with selective modernization. The estate is certified 100% organic, and fruit from the Colle al Matrichese, with its galestro-rich soils, is dedicated exclusively to the estate's Brunellos. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino received three simultaneous perfect 100-point scores from Kerin O'Keefe, Decanter critic Michaela Morris, and Italian wine authority Ian D'Agata, an extraordinarily rare achievement that cemented the estate's position at the very top of the Montalcino hierarchy.

• Count Emilio's commercial releases around 1964 helped legitimize Montalcino wines at a formative moment for the appellation
• 2019 Brunello di Montalcino received three simultaneous 100-point scores: Kerin O'Keefe, Michaela Morris (Decanter), and Ian D'Agata
• Certified 100% organic; fruit from Colle al Matrichese with galestro-rich soils dedicated entirely to Brunello production

The heart of Costanti lies in Colle al Matrichese, located in the eastern zone of the Montalcino district on a high ridge at 310-400 meters above sea level. The soils are galestro of Cretaceous origin, a friable limestone-clay schistous rock that is poor in organic matter but rich in mineral components, a combination that encourages deep root systems, natural yield limitation, and aromatic concentration in the Sangiovese. Vineyards benefit from carefully selected exposures, with vines ranging from 6 to 25 years old and planted at densities up to 5,500 vines per hectare. A separate Montosoli vineyard, located approximately 7 kilometers north-northeast of Montalcino at 350 meters elevation, with western exposure and clay soils, provides fruit for the estate's Ardingo Toscana IGT. The combination of elevation, poor soils, and optimal sun exposure produces Sangiovese (Brunello clone) grapes that achieve full phenolic ripeness while maintaining the acidity and tannin structure essential to Brunello's aging capacity.

• Colle al Matrichese: eastern Montalcino, 310-400m elevation, galestro soils of Cretaceous origin; poor organic content drives root depth and concentration
• Vine density up to 5,500 vines per hectare; vines range 6-25 years old; galestro soils naturally limit yields and enhance aromatic precision
• Montosoli vineyard (north-northeast of Montalcino, 350m, clay soils) used for Ardingo Toscana IGT; Colle al Matrichese fruit reserved exclusively for Brunello and Rosso

Costanti's flagship is Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, produced 100% from estate-grown Sangiovese (Brunello clone). Fermentation takes place over 14-21 days with maceration in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats of maximum 50-hectoliter capacity. The wine is then aged for 48 months total: 18 months in tonneaux (500-liter used barrels), 18 months in large Slavonian oak botti, and 12 months in bottle before release on January 1 of the fifth year after harvest. Riserva bottlings, produced only in outstanding vintages, require release no earlier than January 1 of the sixth year. Annual production of Brunello ranges between 30,000 and 35,000 bottles from the estate's main Colle al Matrichese vineyards, with an additional 10,000-20,000 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino. The estate also produces Vermiglio, a second-tier Rosso di Montalcino, and the Ardingo Toscana IGT, a blend of Merlot and Sangiovese from the Montosoli vineyard. Total production across all wines averages approximately 60,000 bottles annually.

• Brunello: 100% Sangiovese; 14-21 days maceration in stainless steel; 48 months total aging (18 months tonneaux, 18 months Slavonian oak botti, 12 months bottle)
• Brunello released January 1 of year 5; Riserva released January 1 of year 6; 30,000-35,000 bottles of Brunello produced annually
• Full range: Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Vermiglio Rosso di Montalcino, and Ardingo Toscana IGT (70% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese from Montosoli)

Costanti occupies a position of high regard within the Montalcino hierarchy. The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino achieved the rare distinction of three simultaneous perfect 100-point scores from Kerin O'Keefe, Michaela Morris of Decanter, and Ian D'Agata, joining an elite group of Italian wines to achieve such recognition. Earlier vintages have also earned exceptional praise: the 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva received 98-point scores from multiple critics including Antonio Galloni. The standard Brunello di Montalcino averages around $112 per bottle at US retail, while the Rosso di Montalcino averages $42-55. The estate deliberately keeps total production at approximately 60,000 bottles annually across all wines to maintain quality standards. The 2012 Brunello was named Wine Enthusiast magazine's number-one Cellar Selection of 2017, demonstrating consistent critical recognition across vintages.

• 2019 Brunello: three simultaneous 100-point scores (Kerin O'Keefe, Michaela Morris/Decanter, Ian D'Agata); among very few Italian wines to achieve this
• 2010 Riserva received 98 points from multiple critics including Antonio Galloni; 2012 Brunello was Wine Enthusiast's number-one Cellar Selection of 2017
• Average US retail: Brunello ~$112, Rosso di Montalcino ~$42-55; total production approximately 60,000 bottles annually across all labels

Costanti Brunellos are typically backward and dense in youth, requiring extended bottle aging to reach their finest expression. Mature examples display copious dark cherry and blackberry fruit bolstered by svelte, elegant tannins. The 2019 vintage, with its triple 100-point scores, carries a suggested drinking window of approximately 2027-2044. The 2010 Riserva's suggested drinking window extends well into the 2030s and beyond. Rosso di Montalcino, released after one year of aging in 500-liter barrels, reaches its drinking window much sooner and is designed for consumption within 4-7 years of the vintage. The structural characteristics of Costanti Brunello, particularly its high acidity from elevated Colle al Matrichese sites and firm but refined tannins, underpin a genuine potential for 20-30 or more years of cellaring in top vintages. Andrea Costanti's geological background informs his approach to terroir: he focuses on the interplay between galestro soils, vine stress, and phenolic development to produce wines built for the long term.

• Brunellos typically backward and impenetrable in youth; optimal drinking begins 8-10 years post-release; 2019 drinking window approximately 2027-2044
• High-altitude galestro soils and refined tannin structure underpin 20-30+ year aging potential for top vintages such as 2010, 2015, and 2019
• Rosso di Montalcino: aged 1 year in 500-liter barrels before release; designed for drinking within 4-7 years; Vermiglio represents a step-up selection from the same vineyards