The 2010 vintage in Montalcino was hugely anticipated, and a big tasting of the wines was consequently arranged in London in 2015. Amidst the 100+ bottles on show, the wine of Romitorio, an estate with which we had previously been unfamiliar, shone like a beacon. We enquired, there was stock, we bought.

In 1984, Castello Romitorio was purchased by Italian painter and sculptor, Sandro Chia, and his works are displayed everywhere on the estate, providing a quirky, idiosyncratic character to this winery. And, as you can imagine, no prizes for guessing who is responsible for the artwork on the labels. He has invested a huge amount of time and money into producing excellent Sangiovese, with a new cellar coming into play from 2005. We’ve been struck by the constant desire to improve, there has been no difficulty in matching that 2010 which so wowed us initially. With the launch of their 2015 Brunello, due recognition has, quite rightly, arrived, with scores of 95+ across the board from journalists.