Costanti is an important estate winery in Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy, one of Montalcino’s original estates. Its main wines are Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC, Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG.

Owners: The Costanti family has owned this estate for over 200 years. Andrea Costanti (trained geologist) inherited it from his uncle Emilio in 1983. Andrea dedicated himself full time to the estate and was one of a then small group bottling Brunello. When Costanti served as head of the consorzio he managed, in 1998, to get the producers to agree to reduce the mandatory time in oak for Brunello from 36 to 24 months, back-dated to the 1995 vintage. Those that complained were reminded they could continue to age their wines in wood for as long as they liked.

Consultant: Vittorio Fiore. Staff: Annalisa Mancini.

Vineyards: 10-ha (25-acre) on the eastern limit of the Montalcino hill, just outside the town of Montalcino. Mainly Sangiovese, plus some Merlot and Cabernet. Altitudes range from from 310 to 470 m (1,312 to 1,542 ft) above sea level, and before the land begins its long descent north-east towards Torrenieri and north to Buonconvento. ‘We are lucky to have a place which has something to express. This is a cooler zone. Cool breezes from late August. Galestro soil. Dries quickly. Hard for younger vines. Small berries. Minimal trimming. Drop grapes pre-harvest via thinning only when very late, if at all. Italy was 30 years behind France on this,’ Andrea told me (visit, 7th July 2020). Moving towards certified organics. Grassing or cover cropping. The two main vineyard blocks are Vigna Casottino and Vigna Calbello.

Winemaking: ‘On skins at 20°C at end of fermentation on fine lees. Can do MLF on skins at 20°C at the end of fermentation Andrea told me (visit, 7th July 2020). Aging in a mix of 30hl wooden vats and barrels.

Production: 60,000 bottles (Gambero Rosso: 2015, p.599).

White wines

Albatro:

Red wines

Rosso, Ardingo: 1998 Bottled. | 1999 Cabernet, Merlot.

Rosso, Calbello: Merlot-Cabernet.

Rosso, Vermiglio: A part barrel-aged Sangiovese (previously a Cab-Merlot-Sangiovese blend). | 1998 Bottled.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Calbello: 1999 Bottled. | 2000 Bottled.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Costanti: 2014 13.5%. Very controlled, elegant fruit with balanced new oak, very good combo (Osticcio 2016). | 2017 14% alc. Almost like a Brunello with dense smooth fruit, inner power and focus (at Agriristorante Il Pelo nell’uovo with Gianna, Silvana and Roger Bissell 26 July 2020).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG: 2004 Ripe fruit, but not over-ripe, and nicely weighted at lunch with Fiona and Giles Williams at Grove Farm in Box, Sat 17th Aug 2013, bottle brought by Nick the Greek, Fiona’s brother-in-law. | 2009 Nicely crisp, ripe red fruit – more like a 2008 (tasted blind at Col d’Orcia 14 June 2014). | 2011 14%. Smooth, seductive fruit with a by no means overbearing new oak sheen (Osticcio 2016). | 2012 Hot vintage. |  2014 Not made. | 2015: 14%. A bit hotter than 2016. Kept all the lees during ageing. | 2016 30,000 bottles. Beautiful pure red fruit, like liquid silk, all sold already I was told (Visit 07 July 2020). 2017 Hot vintage.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva: Andrea Costanti makes a Riserva only if it’s creation provides no risk of negatively impinging on the quality of the Brunello normale. | 2006 Bottled. | 2007 Bottled. | 2010 14%. | 2015 Bottled. | 2016 Bottled.

Contact

Azienda Agricola Costanti de A. Costanti

Località Colle al Matrichese

I-53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy

Tel+39 0577.848195 | www.costanti.it

Sales: Liberty Wines (UK importer).