2016 Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino "Riserva" DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

In the 17 hectares of vineyard at Casato Prime Donne, each year, the winemaker Valérie Lavigne chooses one or two hectares with the best grapes to destine to Brunello Riserva. The selection takes place by tasting the grapes just like they did a century ago (chemical analysis confirms the decision).

Through the same tasting, the date of the harvest is decided and the grapes are picked by hand choosing cluster by cluster. A slow and careful procedure that allows us to send in only perfect grapes that are at the same level of ripening.

Generally, the best grapes come from a vineyard called Ardita planted in 2001 with 5.500 vines and bred with the spurred cordon system. Since 2015 we have followed the organic regime and since 2018 the wines are certified organic. It is at 225 m above sea level, southeast facing, and has soil of plio-quaternary origin with clayey scarcely fertile soils.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Donatella Cinelli Colombini dreams of going back to the original style of Brunello that she discovered as a child in the wines made by her Grandfather Giovanni, one of the pioneers in the Montalcino denomination. Elegant wines, that are vertical, fresh, and with a strong territorial imprint as well as the ability to be cellared for a long time. The project “original style” began in 2011 through a return to manual labor and old traditions, like the use of concrete tanks for fermentation.

Donatella is very connected to traditions and does not forget that Casato Prime Donne already belonged to her ancestors more than 400 years ago.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is produced from Sangiovese grapes from Casato Prime Donne, a property of about 40 hectares with 17 vineyards situated on the northern slope of Montalcino. This is the cooler area of the Brunello territory where the ripening is slower and more regular thanks also to the soils that are not very fertile and that give wines characterized by high sensorial intensity and floral and fruit notes.

Brunello is produced only in great vintages when the climate creates small and loose clusters with small berries that are perfectly ripe.