Antinori Castello della Sala 2024 "Bramito del Cervo" Chardonnay Umbria IGT 750ml

Bramito means "the roar of the stag" — a name that reaches back to the Bronze Age, when the deer that still roam the woods around Castello della Sala would have echoed through this exact corner of Umbria. The castle itself dates to 1350, and legend holds that "Cervara" was the nickname of a member of the Monaldeschi family, the medieval rulers of the estate around 1300 — a name that likely inspired the wine's own. Purchased by the Antinori family in 1940 after years of neglect, the 170-hectare property surrounding the castle has since been restored and replanted almost entirely to white varieties, with Chardonnay finding a particularly natural home in the soils immediately surrounding the fortress walls — soils rich in fossil deposits and threaded with veins of clay, a terroir the Antinori family credits directly with giving the wine both its minerality and its elegance.

Bramito is affectionately known among wine drinkers as "Baby Cervaro" — the more accessible, everyday sibling to Cervaro della Sala, Antinori's flagship and considerably more prestigious white wine from the same estate. First released in 1994, it's become, by some accounts, Antinori's most popular restaurant white — and the 2024 vintage shows exactly why. The 2024 growing season delivered well-balanced conditions throughout: a mild winter with normal precipitation replenished groundwater reserves to ideal levels, a slightly cooler-than-average spring brought well-distributed rain that ensured a normal budbreak, and moderate rainfall through May and June sustained healthy vine growth without ever tipping into water stress. Harvest began at the end of August, about a week later than the prior year, and wrapped up in the first week of September.

Production follows a deliberately split approach: freshly harvested grapes are destemmed, gently crushed, and chilled with their skins to 10°C for a brief two-to-four-hour maceration to draw out aroma and flavor. After clarification in stainless steel, the must is divided — roughly 40% goes into French oak barriques, where it undergoes full malolactic fermentation, while the remaining 60% ferments in stainless steel at a controlled 16-18°C without malolactic conversion, preserving brighter acidity. The two lots are then blended and bottled. The result: bright straw yellow with golden hues, a fresh and elegant bouquet of Williams pears, Scotch broom blossoms, and light citrusy lime, layered with toasted hazelnuts, fresh butter, and Pan brioche. K&D Wines found hints of bergamot tea and chamomile, "primary and fresh," with "a citrusy note that adds verticality and brightness" and "a hint of reduction that underlines the purity of its fruit" — "full of tension and energy." The palate is harmonious and well-structured, balancing freshness and sapidity, closing on a long, persistent finish accented by fresh almonds and the mineral character that speaks directly to its Umbrian origin.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Castello della Sala is a medieval castle in Umbria, near Orvieto, built in 1350 and purchased by the Antinori family in 1940 after years of neglect, restored to bring it back to something approaching its original grandeur. The estate's 170 hectares of surrounding vineyards are planted almost entirely to white varieties, with the notable exception of Pinot Noir, and the 16th-century cellar beneath the castle's stronghold has been modernized to ensure production of consistently fresh, high-quality wine. Bramito is produced exclusively from Chardonnay grown in the vineyards immediately surrounding the castle, on soils rich in fossil sediments and threaded with clay — terroir the estate credits directly with the wine's characteristic minerality and elegance. Vines are planted at altitudes between 200 and 400 meters. First released in 1994, Bramito has since become one of Antinori's most widely enjoyed restaurant whites, often referred to as "Baby Cervaro" in reference to its more prestigious estate sibling, Cervaro della Sala.

The 2024 growing season was marked by well-balanced climatic conditions throughout: a mild winter with normal precipitation restored groundwater to optimal levels; a slightly cooler-than-average spring brought well-distributed rainfall and ensured a normal budbreak; and moderate rain through May and June sustained healthy vine development while avoiding future water stress. Harvest for the 2024 Chardonnay began at the end of August — about a week later than the previous vintage — and was completed during the first week of September. Freshly picked grapes were destemmed and gently crushed, then chilled along with their skins to 10°C for a brief maceration of two to four hours to enhance aromatic and flavor extraction. Following clarification in stainless steel, the must was divided into separate lots: approximately 40% was fermented in French oak barriques, where it also underwent full malolactic fermentation, while the remaining 60% fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature of 16-18°C, without malolactic conversion. The two components were then blended and bottled.

Tasting Profile

Nose
Bright straw yellow with golden hues, intense with greenish reflections. Williams pears and Scotch broom blossoms lead, joined by light citrusy hints of lime. Toasted hazelnuts, fresh butter, and Pan brioche add warmth, alongside hints of bergamot tea and chamomile. Tropical fruits, pineapple, and light vanilla round out a genuinely layered aromatic profile.

Palate
Harmonious and well-structured, balancing freshness and sapidity. Golden apples and lemon carry vivid citrus brightness, with a citrusy note adding verticality and lift. A hint of reduction underlines the purity of the fruit, giving the wine real tension and energy. Complex and elegant, with delicate fruit notes carried by excellent freshness — the 40% oak-fermented component contributing gentle roundness against the stainless steel portion's brighter acidity.

Finish
Long and persistent, accented by a delicate note of fresh almonds and mineral character that echoes the wine's Umbrian terroir. Clean and precise, closing with genuine tension rather than heaviness.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• White fish and seafood
• Vegetarian recipes
• Poached or butter-based dishes
• Fresh cheeses
• Light Italian first courses