Conti Costanti, `Ardingo` Merlot IGT Toscana 2021

The Costanti family has owned this 10-hectare estate in Montalcino for over 200 years. Andrea Costanti inherited it from his uncle in the mid-1980s and has worked hard to make Conti Costanti one of the best producers in the region.

The Conti Costanti style is characterised by striking elegance and intensity, combining Montalcino's characteristic power with a fragrancy derived from high-elevation vineyards in the northern part of the zone. These vineyards are planted over 400 metres above sea level on galestro soil, which is typical of the area. This friable rock soil, also found in Chianti Classico, is particularly suited to producing top-quality Sangiovese.

The Rosso di Montalcino is elegant yet intense, offering a wonderful introduction to the Costanti style. The Brunello di Montalcino has wonderful elegance and balance with good concentration and silky tannins. The Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a fantastically complex example with great structure complemented by balancing acidity, a signature of the estate. The ‘Ardingo’ is a 100% Merlot sourced from a four-hectare vineyard in Monte Calbello. Planted in 1990 at an elevation of 300-350 metres, the soils here are mainly composed of clay. The resulting wine is defined by elegant cherry and red berries aromas, complemented by excellent structure and velvety tannins.