Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2019 by Donatella
Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) from a 5-star harvest produced with artisan care at Casato Prime Donne, first Italian winery with an all-female staff
Rosso-di-Montalcino-2019-Casato-Prime-Donne-Donatella-Cinelli-Colombini
<<In my experience as a wine producer, which is now very long, I remember only two other harvests like this: 2010 and 2016>> said Donatella Cinelli Colombini, commenting the 2019 vintage. A confirmation that Montalcino has had an increasing frequency of excellent vintages thanks to climate change that seems to benefit inland Tuscany.
THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019 AND THE MORE AND MORE FREQUANT 5 STAR HARVESTS
There are also other changes; contrary to the past, the great harvests of the new millennium, generally, are also abundant in grapes and the vineyards are still in vegetation during the harvest days.
Another feature of 2019 and of the other great recent harvests in Montalcino is the small size of the berries and bunches. <<It seems Cabernet>> the oenologist Valérie Lavigne told Donatella, visiting the vineyards to decide the harvest calendar. A comment that does not do justice to Sangiovese, king of Tuscan oenology, but that had a touch of truth in it because, in 2019, Sangiovese di Montalcino behaved exactly like the most famous French variety by immediately giving a lot of colour to the must.
THE SAME SANGIOVESE AND THE TWO DIFFERENT WINES FROM MONTALCINO
Sangiovese 2019 harvest 4 days later – Montalcino-Casato-Prime-Donne-Tuscany
Rosso di Montalcino comes from the same Sangiovese vineyards where Brunello is born. The grapes are chosen to become one of the two wines based on the component of alcohol, acids and polyphenols that must be more abundant for the type of wine destined for long aging. Very few vines have the extraordinary versatility of Sangiovese in producing excellent young wines and refined bottles to be cellared
But to obtain the two types of wine it is essential to harvest the grapes by hand by dividing the vineyards, according to maturation, into small areas, to be harvested, vinified and aged in barrels separately. An impressive job and a great attention to detail, but it’s worth it, the result is amazing.
TECHNICAL SHEET OF THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019 BY DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI
TYPE: dry red.
PRODUCTION AREA: Tuscany, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne
VINTAGE CHARACTERISTICS: winter with little rain, mild temperatures and no snow. Rainy spring that delayed the beginning of the vegetative cycle and reduced the size of the bunches. Summer with hot days alternating with large thunderstorms that have hydrated the soil and lowered temperatures. First half of September was warm. Then the sky became overcast and the nights became cold with a temperature range that favoured the synthesis of perfumes.
GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Sangiovese
HARVEST: Manual harvest based on the choice of bunches in the vineyard. In the cellar the grapes were deprived of the stalks and the berries were selected on the sorting table.
VINIFICATION: in truncated cone shaped steel and cement vats with an open cap, punching down and automatic temperature control. Indigenous yeasts selected at Casato Prime Donne. Excellent content of polyphenols and maceration with grape skins longer than usual.
AGING IN CASK: 6-12 months in 5-7 hectolitres oak tonneau.
ORGANOLEPTIC ANALYSIS OF THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019
COLOR: intense and brilliant ruby red.
AROMA: rich, intense and of good complexity with vinous aromas that recall Sangiovese combined with fruity references, cherries, raspberries, blackberries together with floral suggestions especially of violets.
TASTE: satisfying, harmonious, full. Silky tannins balanced by fruit and alcohol. The persistence is long and pleasant.
THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019 ON THE TABLE AND IN THE CUSTOMER’S CELLAR
FOOD PAIRING: very versatile, goes well with tasty first courses, roasted or grilled meats, cold cuts and medium-aged cheeses.
TABLE SERVICE: serve at room temperature (16-18 ° C) in large white tulip shaped glasses.
CELLARING: Montalcino wines are all long-lived but Rosso di Montalcino is intended to be consumed when young. The bottles should be kept in a cool (16 ° C) dark place, laid down, and consumed preferably within 5 years of harvest.