BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2021 ORGANIC AND SINGLE VINEYARD
DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S FIRST “SINGLE VINEYARD” BRUNELLO IS THE PRIME DONNE SELECTION 2021
Sangiovese for the 2021 harvest Toscana Montalcino Casato Prime Donne
The Ardita vineyard is one of Montalcino‘s finest. Every year, in any climate, it produces perfect grapes with small clusters and berries and uniform ripening.
It was planted in 2002 at 225 meters above sea level in a Plio-Quaternary soil with a prevalence of clay and marine sand. It had a slow start and is still not very vigorous; in fact, it almost never requires green harvesting because it spontaneously produces about a kilo of grapes per plant.
Like all the world’s great vineyards, the Ardita vineyard requires very little attention; in other words, it “does everything itself” thanks to a particular terroir. Even in the cellar, the wine produced from the Ardita vineyard requires no human intervention because it is flawless; therefore, it simply needs to be carefully stored in the finest quality barrels.
For this reason, the tasters who choose Brunello Prime Donne through blind tastings of the estate’s entire production often prefer the powerful, velvety structure of the wine from the Ardita vineyard. In the past, they requested it be aged in barrels (15-20 hl), but now they are also fascinated by the character of 5-7 hectoliter tonneaux, especially when steam-bent.
THE 2021 VINTAGE IN MONTALCINO
The 2021 harvest will be remembered as the longest and most expensive because the grapes were selected bunch by bunch in the vineyards. Due to an Arctic current that swept across Europe at the end of April, a large portion of the buds were scorched by the frost, while those that were still closed opened late, several days later. The vines’ growing cycles therefore began at different times, and the grapes therefore ripened at different times.
The bunches and berries were small and beautiful. But to pick them at the perfect moment of ripeness, the harvesters had to select them by hand, moving from one vineyard to another. It was a huge undertaking.
The very long ripening phase of this vintage created the foundation for the wines with excellent structure and with a particular vocation for long aging.
BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2021
Elegance is the distinguishing feature of all Donatella Cinelli Colombini‘s wines, although their character varies depending on the terroir and grape variety. Brunello Prime Donne is the most classic and austere in style. For this reason, it sometimes requires a few extra months to fully express itself.
The Prime Donne project began in 1998 when Donatella Cinelli Colombini distinguished her brand from that of the rest of her family. That year, the 1993 Brunello was released, becoming the first Prime Donne selection.
The idea was to select a Brunello dedicated to female consumers at a time when all aged red wines were designed for male wine lovers.
To select it, a panel of international experts was formed, one capable of identifying, through a blind tasting, the wine closest to their tastes within the estate’s entire production.
Today these tasters are the Masters of Wine, Rosemary George and Madeleine Stenwreth, the wine expert Astrid Schwarz and the sommelier Daniela Scrobogna
THE PRIME DONNE PROJECT
This Prime Donne Brunello is part of a larger project dedicated to promoting the role of women in the world of wine.
The winery is the first in Italy with an all-female staff and supports an award that recognizes Montalcino and the women who are blazing new trails for women all over the world. Their dedications are engraved on plaques located in the Casato Prime Donne winery and vineyards, alongside works by contemporary artists.
Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s winery has been gender-certified since 2025.
THE CASATO PRIME DONNE
Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s property in Montalcino extends over 40 hectares, 20 of which are cultivated organically as vineyards. Casato Prime Donne is located on the northeast side of the Montalcino hill, 250 meters above sea level. The soils date back to the Plio-Quaternary period, with a mixture of clay and marine sands. Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors owned the house over four hundred years ago and also used it for their honeymoon.
PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION OF THE 2021 ORGANIC SINGLE VINEYARD BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE
TYPE: Dry red.
PRODUCTION AREA: Tuscany, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne
CLIMATE: Frost at the end of April, followed by a long dry period from June to September with only two rain showers totaling 31 mm of rainfall. September saw ideal weather for grape ripening, with 29°C (84°F) during the day and 15°C (59°F) at night.
GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Sangiovese
HARVEST: September 27. Manual harvest with meticulous selection of the bunches in the vineyard and the berries on the sorting table in the cellar.
VINIFICATION: In bare concrete truncated cone-shaped vats with open caps, punching down the cap, and automatic temperature control. Subsequent 15-day maceration on the grape skins.
BARREL AGEING: 2 years in 5-7 hectoliter French oak barrels and tonneaux. After maturation, the wine was unfiltered.
QUANTITY PRODUCED: 4,000 bottles
SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS AND SERVING SUGGESTIONS
COLOUR: Bright ruby red. The wine’s solid structure is evident in the slow swirling in the glass.
AROMA: Fine, rich with a multitude of different spices along with hints of ripe red fruits and woodland undergrowth.
TASTE: The impact of the French oak is still perceptible, giving the wine a greater punch. A silky smoothness full of spicy and intense nuances. The finish is long and pleasant.
FOOD PAIRING: A gastronomic wine that pairs well with substantial dishes such as large joints of roast meat, aged cheeses, and game.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Room temperature (16-18°C). Use large, balloon shaped clear crystal glasses. It’s best to uncork the bottle an hour before serving and decant, taking care to allow for thorough oxygenation.
CELLARING: 20 years and more. Store the bottles flat, in a dark, cool place. Replace the cork in Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s cellar when the liquid has descended to the shoulder of the bottle (around 2036).