Castello Romitorio has been striding forward from humble beginnings to become a modern staple on the Brunello scene. The castello, a medieval-era outpost, lies on an isolated hill off to the west of Montalcino, with nearby vineyards tucked in amongst Mediterranean forest and olive groves. Their wines are sleek, stylish, robust and more open-knit than the average. They're modern artistic expressions for founder Sandro Chia, a painter and sculptor whose bold works adorn the labels. He bought the land in the 1980s Sandro because the wild, natural character of this ancient, bucolic area seemed destined for rebirth.