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95/100 from wine Enthusiast for our Brunello Riserva 2006

The OIV adventure is concluded, we all go home!

The adventure began long ago in November 2010, from then many new friendships have been made, many stamps on my passport, many wineries visited, many wines tasted….

Students in Champagne

After a long time we have returned to the OIV headquarters in Rue d’Aguesseau in Paris in exactly the same room where, 15 month previously we had began our Master course. We are here for two weeks lessons and exams.

But now it is different, now I can say: Diplȏme International de l’OIV in Management du Secteur de la Vigne et du Vin “done”.

Paris is well worth a mass!

Parigi-Oliver

Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello is in Paris

I met Oliver Nicolazo and his girlfriend Julia here at Fattoria del Colle where the young couple were spending a romantic holiday. Oliver is a wine lover and knows many wineries around the world, he is curious, always smiling and constantly looking for excellent new wines to taste which are to fascinate and charm him.
He lives in Paris where he is the owner and manager of “Cave Nicolas”. And when I arrived in the French capital to conclude my Master OIV I make the most of the opportunity and go and visit him.
His shop is well visible from the outside and is well organized, with many shelves, and on shelf in the centre our Brunello stands out.

The Brunello 2007 begins its journey around the world with a rating of 94/100

Il Drago e le 8 colombe

Today is the beginning of the Chinese New Year and this is the year of the dragon. A magic year for this wine which changes completely.

New vintage, new blend of grapes, new name and new packaging for the Drago wine by Donatella Cinelli Colombini.

“Il Drago e le 8 colombe” in the flesh

The doves represent the women and consequently refer to the female cellar staff, a revolutionary work situation for Italy. With the arrival of the female consultant wine maker Valérie Lavigne the doves increase in number and the name of the wine changes: it used to be called “Il Drago e le Sette Colombe” and has become “Il Drago e le 8 Colombe”

Quite on the contrary the Drago emphasizes a male presence – nobody here wants to be discriminating – in the person of Carlo Gardini, Donatella’s husband who is a great wine lover
The arrival of Valérie Lavigne, sets of a serious thought about Italian grape varieties and the possibility of blending them to make high quality wines that are able to sell on foreign markets.
From here the desire to emphasize the Sagrantino grape, a variety greatly used in Umbria, which is just 20km away from Fattoria del Colle and belongs to the same geographical area. For the moment we are cultivating Sagrantino grapes in just a few rows, but soon it will be possible to harvest a whole new Vineyard.

The Cancello Nero vineyard is beautiful once again

Written By Donatella Cinelli Colombini for the vine and the cellar

Fattoria del Colle impianto Cancello Nero

The  “Cancello Nero” Vineyard, the best at Fattoria del Colle, is returning to its old glory. A few days ago the grape growers captained by Efisio Luche have planted the poles which will hold the steel wires were the vines will grow.

This is job seems easy but it is not so. In fact the aesthetics want the poles to be well aligned, from whichever angle one is looking at the vineyard. This is only way to give the vine covered hills a harmonious aspect, in that agrees with the surrounding countryside.

The Brunello 2007 is just born

Brunello di Montalcino and other wines

Brunello becomes Brunello at midnight of new years eve. Let me explain

Old vineyard Casato Prime Donnebetter: the red wine produced with Sangiovese grapes in Montalcino , then vinified, aged in barrel and refined in bottle according to the rules, become Brunello at midnight of January 1st of the 5th year after the harvest.

So the new Brunello is just born. In this case it is an extraordinary harvest: vintage 2007 – five stars, where the grapes reached a level of perfection never seen before.

Let me tell you how the climate was in 2007, and why it brought to the production of such wonderful grapes. That year the winter never arrived. In Tuscany it seemed as though one was in Sicily and it was possible to eat out of doors even in January. The rainfalls arrived in Spring. During the summer regardless of a few days of heat wave , the temperatures were quite normal, with some storms that occasionally reduced the temperature and helped the vine’s vegetative cycle.