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Global warming and italian vineyards: What to do

Our Brunello Riserva 2007 rated in the Top Scoring by WS

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator prefers the following Brunello vintages: 2004 (with 97/100), 2006, 2007, 2008, 2005 and 2003

WineSpectator 94 Brunello Riserva 2007

Donatella Cinelli Colombini celebrates her Brunello Riserva 2007 among Bruce Sanderson‘s favourites, he is Senior editor and Tasting department director for Wine Spectator. For the second consecutive year the wine produced at Casato Prime Donne in 2007 is in the Olympus of wine in the Top Scoring by the super taster Bruce Sanderson. It is in 11th position with a rating of 94/100. Donatella is quite rightly over the moon.
Sanderson’s opinions are very interesting, his article begins with << The Americans have a special love for Brunello di Montalcino and it is not difficult to understand why. This red wine made with 100 % Sangiovese, is one of the best Italian products. With various styles – form true traditionalist to the decidedly modern –the best Brunello bottles show the complexity in the soil and the variety of microclimates which are peculiar to Tuscany.……In 2008 the temperatures were cool during the vegetative cycle of the vines and there were great difference s in day and night temperatures at the end of august right up until the harvest which took place later than usual.>>

Wines by celebrities: there are many and often exaggerated

The film director Francis Ford Coppola, the actors Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas, the football player David Beckham, the singer Madonna, here are but a few of the famous names on bottles.

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Savanna Samson naked on grapes

Most wineries belonging to celebrities are in California but some are actually a short distance from Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino, like the ones belonging to the porno-star Savanna Samson or to the luxury shoe king Massimo Ferragamo with his spectacular Castiglion del Bosco. Still in Tuscany one finds vineyards belonging to Sting, to Lorraine Bracco the actress and to the super chef Mario Batali.

But what is it that compels a person who has everything, absolutely everything that life has to offer, to produce wine? It is probably the desire to have bottles with their name on them, with unrepeatable nectar inside. Or maybe it’s the Bacchus world which attracts them and the apparent simplicity in creating great wines. Apparently because the embrace between nature and oenological geniality is something rare, really difficult and often very expensive.

90/100 to Brunello Prime Donne by Tanzer alias Ian D’Agata

Sangiovese is most popular but Prosecco is increasing more

Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Catarratto, Merlot and Tuscan Trebbiano are together more than 30% of Italian vines. Among these the red wines are increasing but the white are decreasing

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Donatella Cinelli Colombini holding Sangiovese

A very interesting article in the “Corriere Vinicolo” reveals which varieties are cultivated in Italy. The autochthonous varieties dominate the scene while the trinity of most popular International varieties – Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay – detains only 11% of the total. Some are surprised, because of the bell pepper aroma in many blends and sometimes even in the mono-varietal appellations ….but the figures (Istat) are figures and we must consider them fact until the contrary is proven
There is an incredible decrease, and I would like to say thank goodness, in the Trebbiano toscano which practically halved, the Catarratto bianco, the Barbera and Negro Amaro.

92/100 to Brunello 2007 Riserva from Wine Advocate

The last tasting from the Montalcino area by Antonio Galloni for Wine Advocate, and it regards Brunello vintage 2008 and riserva 2007: for us 89, 90 and 92/100

read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Brunello di Montalcuino 2007 Riserva Wine Advocate

This is practically a goodbye from Antonio Galloni who will continue his career as a taster on his blog and leaves the sceptre as super taster for the most influential wine magazine in the world – Wine Advocate belonging to Robert Parker – to Monica Larner. Monica will bring to the ratings a touch of feminine taste, a market in expansion. She is clever and tireless. She knows Italian wines very well and has always shown a great interest for the identifying traits and for autochthonous varieties which clearly is favourable for Italian wines made in thousands of ways.

Let’s see Antonio Galloni tasting for Brunello 2008 and riserva 2007.

The most important wine word today is “autochthonous”

Indigenous, that is the key element in wine according to Matt Kramer editorialist for Wine Spectator

Read for you by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Matt-Kramer-Wine-Spectator

Since 1985 Kramer writes regularly for the most influential wine magazine in the world and has an analytical ability and a knowledge regarding wines which are extraordinary. Listening to his opinions is consequently a must for those who want to understand where the wind blows for wine. In his article dated June 30th he began with this phrase <<Do you think that at this moment the most important word in wine is “natural”? Or “authentic” Or better still “commercial” None of these. The most important word in wine today is “autochthonous ” (indigenous).>> With his usual understandable explanation he gets across that all that happens in the Vineyard and the cellar is important but not fundamental, not as much as the 3 key elements: microclimate, soil, grape variety. No matter how hard the producer may try to characterize his Cabernet Sauvignon, it will always remain a Cabernet Sauvignon. But, what is the identity or indigenous character as Kramer calls it?