Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino Vermiglio

Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino Vermiglio is a barrel-selection Rosso di Montalcino made from 100% Sangiovese at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Awarded 94 points by Eric Guido of Vinous — the second-highest-scoring 2019 Rosso di Montalcino, trailing only Poggio di Sotto's $100 bottling — the Vermiglio represents one of the most compelling values in the appellation.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy  |  100% Sangiovese  |  Producer: Conti Costanti

Production & Heritage

Conti Costanti is one of Montalcino's most historic estates, with roots in the region stretching back centuries. The name "Vermiglio" is the old household term the Costanti family used for their Rosso di Montalcino decades ago, revived by current proprietor Andrea Costanti. What distinguishes the Vermiglio from a standard Rosso di Montalcino is both its origin and its aging: it is a barrel selection aged for two years in cask — one year in 500-liter tonneaux with minimal new oak and one year in very large old barrels — double the typical one-year cask maturation required for the appellation. This extended élevage gives the wine a depth and structure that bridges the gap between Rosso and Brunello.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A bright, layered bouquet opens with dried strawberries and crushed rose petals before moving into shaved cedar, cinnamon spice, and a whisper of sweet smoke. The floral and spice elements gain complexity as the wine breathes.

Taste: The entry is rich and round, with masses of black cherry and raspberry fruit enveloping the palate in an almost fleshy texture. The mid-palate turns more austere, revealing hints of tar, licorice, leather, and underbrush, all kept in sharp focus by vibrant acidity. Violet and quinine lift the ripe red cherry and sweet spice notes through the peak.

Finish: Long and beautifully balanced, with acid, alcohol, and fine-grained tannins in precise equilibrium. Lingering cherry, earth, and a subtle spice trail close the wine with authority.

How to Drink Vermiglio

Serve at 60–65°F with 30 minutes of decanting to allow the layered aromatics to fully unfold. This is a wine that rewards attention neat in a large-bowled Burgundy or Brunello glass. For food-driven occasions, it pairs beautifully with classic Tuscan cuisine: wild boar ragù over pappardelle, where the wine's acidity cuts through the richness; bistecca alla fiorentina, whose charred fat amplifies the cedar and smoke notes; or aged pecorino, which mirrors the wine's earthy, savory undertones.

Best For

• Gifting a Brunello enthusiast seeking a high-scoring Montalcino red at a Rosso price point
• Italian wine dinners centered on Tuscan cuisine and Sangiovese
• Building a cellar with age-worthy Rosso di Montalcino selections
• Introducing serious wine drinkers to the depth Montalcino Sangiovese can achieve below the Brunello tier

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Vermiglio taste like? It leads with ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit wrapped in a fleshy, deeply textural palate, then shifts to more austere notes of tar, licorice, leather, and underbrush, all framed by vibrant acidity and fine tannins.

How does Vermiglio compare to Poggio di Sotto Rosso di Montalcino? In the 2019 vintage, Poggio di Sotto scored 95 points from Vinous to Vermiglio's 94, making them the top two Rosso di Montalcino wines reviewed. Poggio di Sotto typically retails at roughly double the price, which positions the Vermiglio as the stronger value play among elite Rosso bottlings.

Is Vermiglio good for drinking now or cellaring? Its two years of cask aging and balanced tannin structure make it immediately approachable, but the wine's acidity and concentration also give it the backbone to develop in bottle for several years.

Where is Vermiglio made? It is produced by the Conti Costanti estate in Montalcino, a hilltop commune in southern Tuscany, Italy, within the Rosso di Montalcino DOC appellation.

What foods pair well with Vermiglio? Wild boar ragù — the wine's acidity and earthy depth complement the gamey richness. Bistecca alla fiorentina — charred beef amplifies cedar and smoke notes. Aged pecorino — mirrors the wine's savory, leathery undertones. Mushroom risotto — earthy flavors align with the wine's underbrush character. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary — the herbal crust echoes the wine's spice and dried-flower aromatics.

What sizes does Vermiglio come in? Conti Costanti Rosso di Montalcino Vermiglio is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Vermiglio worth the price? It positions as a premium Rosso di Montalcino — above everyday Sangiovese but well below Brunello pricing — and its 94-point Vinous score alongside two years of cask aging make it one of the strongest value propositions in the Montalcino hierarchy.

Why Vermiglio?

The Vermiglio stands apart because it is not simply a Rosso di Montalcino; it is a barrel selection given twice the standard cask maturation, a production decision that yields Brunello-adjacent complexity at a fraction of the cost. Its 94-point score from Vinous — second only to a bottle costing roughly double — validates that ambition with critical evidence. The revival of the historic "Vermiglio" name by Andrea Costanti signals this is not a commercial exercise but a return to a family tradition rooted in Montalcino's winemaking heritage. For anyone seeking Sangiovese with real depth, structure, and provenance, this bottling earns its place among the finest wines the Rosso di Montalcino appellation produces.