Vines and wines

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

CHRONICLE 2020 IN BRUNELLO VINEYARDS AND WINERIES

In the year of Corona virus the vineyards in 2020 are the only ones who have had an easy year: cosseted regardless the lockdown, never like this year the final objective was a low yield

invaiatura-sangiovese-2020-Violante-Cinellicolombini

Sangiovese vineyards in 2020 veraison – Violante – Cinelli Colombini

In the confusion of the first days of lockdown, while all Italians were shut in their homes, my grape growers continued to go into the vineyards armed with written authorization for travelling by car, and with the first masks on their face. To complicate things, around March 20^th, while the vines were just budding, a frost arrived that burned the young leaves. Not a tragedy we all know that we have to hope for a low yield year because Covid-19 will devastate the markets. Such devastations arrived, even worse than we imagined. For this reason I decide to abandon 4 vineyards in 2020 for a total of 8 hectares. On these areas, which obviously I consider of less quality, we will only do the bare minimum.

SPRING FROST AND SPONTANEOUS REDUCTION IN GRAPE PRODUCTION

So I precede the decisions of the Minister Bellanova regarding the green harvesting.
The 2019-2020 winter was very mild and dry. During lockdown at Fattoria del Colle that was deserted, my husband Carlo and I console ourselves sunbathing at lunch time. Flowering of the vines happened between the end of May (in Montalcino) and the beginning of June (at Fattoria del Colle).

DRY AND MILD WINTER, RAINY JUNE, TORRID JULY

Germoglio-20 marzo-2020-Fattoria-del-Colle

Before the budding – March 15th, 2020 – Fattoria del Colle

In June after several “drought” months the rainfall finally arrives, allowing us some relief, because regardless of Covid-19 we had succeeded in planting a new vineyard at Casato Prime Donne. If it hadn’t rained we would have had to irrigate it.
But rain has also its negative sides: there are mildew attacks and the grape growers start a real battle to defend the vineyards. To stop the white mold, in an organic winery like ours we had to work during the night and interrupt the sulphur sprays as soon as the sun. Quite an endeavour for the tractor drivers and a disturbance for the first tourists arrived at Fattoria del Colle for a rest after months of quarantine at home. Shame but the vines come before everything else. Decidedly in the vineyards in 2020 the year has been a complicated one for several reasons.

3 August 2020

Sanchimento IGT 2019 Tuscan white wine

From Traminer grapes from the small vineyard next to the chapel at Fattoria del Colle in the best vintage of the century with a hint of orange

IGT Toscana white wine Sanchimento – Donatella Cinelli Colombini – Fattoria del Colle

This is the first 2019 vintage wine by Donatella Cinelli Colombini to be ready, and reveals a desire for experimentation. The Traminer grapes used to make it look towards orange wines. It is just a touch of orange but Sanchimento 2019 appears completely different to previous years, with more structure and aromas, with hints of yellow coloured fruits. This is something new and refined and even more versatile in food pairing because it can be matched also with young cheeses and dishes that are just a bit flavourful.
Sanchimento IGT 2019 is a BIO wine (organic) produced with Traminer grapes from the small vineyard that surrounds the San Clemente Chapel (or Sanchimento as in local old tongue) at Fattoria del Colle. The building was built in 1592 by the present owner’s ancestors while the vineyard was planted by her father in 1989. Traminer is an unusual variety in Tuscany that, thanks to the altitude of Fattoria del Colle at 404 metres above sea level and to the cool nights, reaches ripening preserving freshness and aromas.

Sanchimento IGT is a limited production of just 2.000 bottles.

Traminer – Tuscany – 2019 Harvest – Fattoria del Colle

SANCHIMENTO A TUSCAN WHITE FROM TRAMINER GRAPES

TYPE: dry white
PRODUCTION AREA: Tuscany, Trequanda, Fattoria del Colle
VINTAGE CHARACTERISTICS: dry winter, April and May very vey rainy, the summer was very hot even though interrupted by two great storms, on July 1^st and September 15^th that however irrigated the soil.
GRAPE VARIETY: Traminer 100%

HARVEST AND VINIFICATION OF THE SANCHIMENTO 2019

GRAPE HARVEST: September 10th. The grapes were handpicked and put into small crates with slits, where they were refrigerated before vinification.
FERMENTATION: A small amount of grapes was vinified with its skins and natural yeasts according to the orange wine technique. After 12 days of maceration the racking took place.

The rest of the grapes were pressed and the must obtained was cooled at 4°C for the static decanting of the lees. After 12 hours the limpid must was racked and as soon as the temperature reached 14°C the yeasts were added. The fermentation lasted about 18 days at a temperature of 16-18°C.

Only a few months later did we add to the Sanchimento the 5% of Traminer that had vinified with the skins.
QUANTITY PRODUCED: 2.000 bottles.

28 July 2020

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The vengeance of Brunello 2014

Considered a lesser vintage the 2014 Brunello di Montalcino offers pleasure to those who drink it. This is an important benefit as explained by Andrew Jefford in Decanter

Andrew Jefford, Decanter about Brunello di Montalcino 2014

Life as a wine producer is full of surprises: the article in Decanter is dedicated to the hedonistic pleasure of enjoying wine, rewards our Brunello 2014 and fills us with joy.

The wines born in weaker vintages are like “Children of a lesser God”, to discover their beauty it is necessary to overcome the clichés. This is what has happened to the Brunello 2014, product of a rainy and cool year that forced us to choose the clusters and o produced just a third of our normal production. Consequently in this vintage we used for Brunello what usually goes into our selection and the Riserva, the grapes from our TOP vineyards, that never fail, whatever the climate.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2014, GOOD RATINGS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS

Brunello 2014 – Donatella Cinelli Colombini – Casato Prime Donne – Montalcino

The specialized international press reports were favourable: 91/100 from Robert Parker -Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast, 90/100 from Wine Spectator. The market had appreciated this pleasant to drink and “carefree” Brunello, as Monica Larner called it.
However nobody let out a “cry of joy” before this article by Andrew Jefford, Decanter contributing editor and multiple award-winning author, published in the most important UK wine magazine and among the most authoritative and influential in the world.

15 July 2020

My Brunello 1970’s style

For the last 7 years Casato Prime Donne has worked, in the vines and in the cellar to bring Brunello back to the original style of the 1970’s: elegant, vertical and with long ageing potential

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Montalcino Brunello Casato Prime Donne – Family pictures Cinelli Colombini

I became aware of this thing gradually. Like a teenager that at the beginning refuses the past, then follows trends, until he or she takes on their own personality and understand which route to follow.

Such a confession might sound strange from someone like me, someone who grew up among Brunello barrels, but who, when I left my family estate in 1998 really had trouble in understanding what I wanted and to live off memories without suffering and allowing them to inspire me.

THE 1970’S BRUNELLO AND DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S DREAM

For the last seven years at Casato Prime Donne, we have been working on a Brunello that is “identitary”, one that can tell about the varietal and the terroir. Slowly I have understood that I was going in the opposite direction, I was going towards the Brunello as it was in the 1970’s, the original one.

The Sangiovese from Montalcino grown by my grandfather Giovanni Colombini, first alone and then with my mother Francesca united pleasantness and longevity, elegance and character. The cooler climate in those days permitted the production of great Brunello only in the excellent harvest and only in soil with many rocks able to drain they rainfall. Today the climate changes have multiplied the good and excellent vintages but they fore us to search for water in depth and also to work very hard in protecting the grapes from the sun and keep a certain balance in the vines.

HOW TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STYLE OF BRUNELLO

Brunello di Montalcino Casato Prime Donne

The “1970’s style project” is progressing well and some results are already evident especially in the vintage Brunello “but we will need another 10 years to conclude it: we want to graft the new vines just planted and to increase the number of barrels that contain 15hl ”.

15 June 2020

DOC ORCIA BIO LEONE ROSSO 2018

The first organic DOC Orcia Bio wine made by Donatella Cinelli Colombini is the Leone Rosso 2018, practically a Supertuscan made with Sangiovese and Merlot

Orcia DOC 2018 Leone Rosso Fattoria del Colle Donatella Cinelli Colombini

A RAMPANT LION AND DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S ANCESTORS

The name of the wine and the rampant lion on the label come from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors’ coat of arms. This family in 1592 built Fattoria del Colle where this wine is born. This was an old and rich Tuscan family, mostly jurists and philosophers; they were then called Socini or Sozzini. The names of two Socinis, Lelio (1525-1562) and Fausto (1539-1604) are written in philosophy books as they were free thinkers and against the Church and, because of their writings regarding the Trinity dogma. Unfortunately their creed made them famous but also made them poor because they ended up being excommunicated and all their properties confiscated. Fattoria del Colle became once again property of this family only in 1919 when it was bought by Donatella’s grandfather Livio Socini.
Still today the family blazon, the rampant lion, is visible upon the entrances and on the ceilings of the Colle villa.

9 June 2020

A vertical of Brunello Riserva together with its glasses

3 historic 5-star vintages of Brunello Riserva 2004, 2007 and 2012 with two bottles of each in a wooden case, together with 6 crystal Riedel glasses invented to exalt them...

26 May 2020

6 bottles of a Supertuscan wine and 16 Tuscan recipes

Delivered directly to your home 6 bottles of IGT Toscana Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2016 Supertuscan together with a professional corkscrew and a little recipe booklet

Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT Toscana 2016 has obtained 93/100 from Robert Parker – Wine Advocate and 91/100 from James Suckling. It is a Supertuscan wine: a creative one that does not belong to any designation. This is a family wine obtained with Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino grapes from the vineyards at Fattoria del Colle.

The 2016 harvest was one of the best during the last 20 years and has been rated 5 stars, the top.
Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2016 is a small production of about 16.000 bottles destined to wine lovers for their meals at the restaurant, but also for the outdoor barbeques.
Together with the 6 bottles of Il Drago e le 8 Colombe will receive a small booklet with 16 recipes so you can cook old and modern Tuscan dishes, such as baccalà alla fratina, pinci, panforte and latte in piedi. Plus in the same case with the wine, you will find a professional corkscrew just like the ones used by sommeliers.

Drago e le 8 Colombe – IGT Toscana 2016 – wine rating

OFFER 6 BOTTLES OF IGT SUPERTUSCAN IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE 2016

A recipe booklet and a professional corkscrew

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 97,00 Euro (instead of 119,00)
We offer free shipping within Italy, and 10 Euro off shipping costs abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 107,00 Euro (instead of 119,00)
To this price the shipping cost is to be added, in Italy it costs 18€, while to ship abroad it varies from country to country and will be quoted upon receiving of the order.

Payment via bank draft or with credit card, Visa or MasterCard.

TO BOOK THE WINE SEND AN EMAIL TO

vino@cinellicolombini.it
This offer finishes on June 2nd, 2020

12 May 2020

2 magnums of Brunello Riserva, 2012 and 2013

Two great vintages of Brunello in the Riserva version and in Magnum bottles in a wooden box delivered directly to your home for your parties and important dinners

All Brunello is able to last in bottle for many years; the Riserva version is born for very long cellaring. Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces Brunello Riserva only in the best vintages, choosing by hand a small quantity of absolutely perfect Sangiovese grapes. For this reason Brunello Riserva has only been made 10 times in 13 years.
Always small quantities, for each vintage about 6.000 regular bottles and 100 magnums get produced.
The Magnum size 1,5 lt is the size where the wine is preserved best. If you are a wine lover and you want to surprise your friends with two exceptional Brunello, do not miss out on the possibility of buying these magnums of Brunello Riserva 2012 and 2013.
They will arrive in wooden boxes, directly on your doorstep together with a vacuum wine saver. This will help you store the bottle and be able to enjoy the wine, within the next few days.

OFFER- BRUNELLO RISERVA 2012 AND 2013 MAGNUM IN WOODEN BOX

Receive directly at home in A WOODEN BOX AND WITH A VACUUM WINE SAVER

Brunello riserva 2012-2013 Casato Prime Donne Montalcino

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price 248 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

We offer free shipping in Italy and a 10€ discount on shipping abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET CLUB MEMBERS

Special price 265 Euro (instead of 310) up until May 19th 2020

To this price the shipping cost must be added, for Italy 18,00€ while abroad the cost varies from nation to nation and will be quoted upon acceptance of the order.

PAYMENT via bank draft or credit card (VISA or MasterCard)

TO BOOK THE TWO MAGNUMS OF BRUNELLO RISERVA

Send an email to vino@cinellicolombini.it

This offer will conclude May 19^th 2020

27 April 2020

Organic Chianti superiore 2018 from Fattoria del Colle

This is the first organic Chianti Superiore made at Fattoria del Colle. It is enriched with aromas thanks to the cold nights and hot days in September.

CHIANTI SUPERIORE 2018 FROM FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Chianti Superiore 2018 is a family wine, hence a wine that is born in Fattoria del Colle, that was founded in 1592 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors. This estate has a history more than 400 year old, in the vineyard and in the wines.

Chianti Superiore Bio 2018

This region in Southern Tuscany, at 404 m above sea level, in a territory particularly apt for the production of red wines. It borders with the Chianti Classico, Brunello and Vino Nobile wine regions. The soils are of neo-quaternary origin composed of sand and marine clays. These vineyards were planted on the top of the hills, because well ventilated and well exposed to the sun.

The 2018 vintage was a scarce one because of the frost during the previous year and because of the rainfalls that during the spring disturbed the flowering. In the month of May the showers were particularly frequent and there was also a cloudburst that flooded the winery.

Luckily in September the climate was ideal for the production of great wines, with its cold nights and sunny days, so the grapes size was reduced, and as a result increased the synthesis of the perfumes of the grapes and finally in the cellar we received sound and ripe clusters with a good content of extractable polyphenols

2018 harvest at Fattoria del Colle

The Chianti Superiore is a type of Chianti of higher level, because of the quality of the wine and because of the provenance of the grapes from vineyards that do not produce much.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHIANTI SUPERIORE DOCG 2018

Type: dry red.
Production area: Trequanda, Toscana, Fattoria del Colle.
Vintage characteristics: the spring was very rainy; the summer was cool with frequent storms. The veraison concluded within the month of August. September was dry with great diurnal temperature variation.

21 April 2020

OFFER: Brunello 2015 Robert Parker-Wine Spectator 94/100

6 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2015 in a wooden case and a vacuum wine saver to preserve opened bottles so they can be slowly consumed. All delivered to your home

Incredible offer for all Brunello lovers. A 5 star Brunello, at a special price for you to organize a real super dinner or a virtual dinner that will have all your friends die of out of envy . Because this Brunello is extraordinary and you will be among the first to drink it. In the wooden case there is also a vacuum closure to help you preserve the wine left over for a few days. The bottles that you do not want to open now can be stored in your wine cellar for great occasions in the future. In the meantime they increase in quality and in value.

WINE SPECTATOR AND WINE ADVOCATE 94/100

Have you seen the Wine Spectator April edition of Insider? Our Brunello di Montalcino 2015 has been rated 94/100 with this description << Complex and harmonious, this red evokes cherry, plum, earth, tar and wild herb flavours. Bright and solidly built, with a long finish echoing fruit, mineral and underbrush >> then the suggestion << Best from 2023 through 2042>> Bruce Sanderson.

Brunello-di-Montalcino-2015-offerta-per-il-club

The same wine gt the same rating of 94/100 from Wine Advocate –Robert Parker <<The Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2015 Brunello di Montalcino caps long years of careful study and experimentation. When I think back to what this wine tasted like, say, 10 years ago, I notice that the ongoing stylistic tweaks faithfully reflect the general evolution of the appellation. This wine is very much a symbol of a united move toward more streamlined and delicate expressions obtained with winemaking techniques that reflect a more traditional and Tuscan ideal.

The bouquet opens to delicate flowers and violets with wild cherry and bitter almond. The level of toast and spice has been ratcheted down quite considerably. The results are polished, clean and bright. Some 42,000 bottles were made (and were released in January 2020). Drink from 2021 through 2035>> Monica Larner.
You will receive directly at home

6 BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2015 IN A WOODEN CASE PLUS A VACUUM WINE SAVER AND STOPPER

FOR CLUB MEMBERS
At a special price of € 205,00 (instead of € 232,00) until April 28th
Free shipping in Italy and 10,00 € discount on shipping abroad

9 April 2020

Brunello 2015 according to Monica Larner

Comments and ratings by Monica Larner for Robert Parker Wine Advocate reward Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s two Brunello 2015 with 94 and 95 /100

Brunello 2015 Donatella Cinelli Colombini 94 and 95/100 from Robert Parker

94/100 from the Brunello and 95/100 for the “Prime Donne” selection, two extraordinary ratings and especially two comments that portray perfectly Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wines and her choice of style.

Monica Larner is the super taster for Italian wines for Robert Parker – Wine Advocate. This is the wine magazine that since 1978, taste and judges 12.000 wine per year, tasting the best wines the world over and orienting the most important buyers. Since 2013 Monica Larner is the Italian wine reviewer and with the passing of time she has begun to stand out because of her ability as a talent scout that can discover new trend and up and coming denominations. Her writing abilities emerge in articles where she tells of events and people with clarity and depth always with a personal touch

Brunello 2015 Prime Donne Donatella Cinelli Colombini 95/100 from Robert Parker Wine Advocate

WINE ADVOCATE – ROBERT PARKER

Wine Advocate-Robert Parker, recently bought by the Michelin group, those who print the famous red guidebook on restaurants. This is the only wine publication that does not accept advertisements. Rigorous ethical choices that are shared by all collaborators and that Monica Larner has extended also to other areas like in 2013 when she refused to taste the wines made by a producer who had written offensive racist remarks about a black woman.

Monica Larner’s words regarding Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello are an example of journalistic intelligence and great tasting ability.

3 April 2020

Chianti Superiore and Rosato IGT 2018 organic at your home

3 bottles of Chianti Superiore DOCG and 3 bottles of Rosato IGT Toscana 2018 certified BIO (organic) delivered directly to your home with a little shipping cost

Let us continue to drink great wines together. For online aperitifs with friends, or to emphasize a dish after spending time in the kitchen, transforming a regular meal into special moment, as if in a starred restaurant!

Chianti Superiore DOCG 2018 Rosa di Tetto 2018 Toscana Italy Donatella Cinelli Colombini

In just a few days the currier will bring 6 very special bottles, right to your front door.
We are proposing two wines in “limited edition” few bottles of what in the USA they call “family wines”. Two special wines: Chianti Superiore 2018 DOCG is a preview; you will taste it before anybody else. It is a BIO certified wine (organic) the same as Rosato IGT Toscana that is quite trendy at the moment. A wine to be consumed cool with cheeses and cold cuts giving a special touch to your aperitif or your brunch.

OFFER 3 CHIANTI SUPERIORE DOCG – 3 ROSE’ IGT TOSCANA

THREE 0,75 cl BOTTLES of Chianti Superiore DOCG 2018 – THREE 0,75 cl BOTTLES OF IGT Toscana Rosa di Tetto 2018
The special price reserved for you until April 9th is
39,50€ for Club members
44,90 € for those not yet members of the Club
Shipping in Italy costs 16,00 €
We accept bank draft payments or Visa or MasterCard

TO BOOK THE WINE SEND AN EMAIL TO

vino@cinellicolombini.it

This offer finishes April 9th 2020

2 March 2020

Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Rosso di Montalcino 2018

Rosso di Montalcino 2018 Cinelli Colombini

The first Organic Rosso di Montalcino of Casato Prime Donne, the Montalcino winery of Donatella Cinelli Colombini puts the green leaf on the label

Story of the 2018 Rosso di Montalcino vintage

The 2018 harvest has given wines rich in aromas thanks to the strong difference in temperature between night and the day, in September, consequently during the last stage of maturation.
That of 2018 was a harvest with few grapes and required real courage to wait to harvest after the grape skins had softened and so becoming able to yield to the must the noble substances: the polyphenols.

In fact, in 2018 the weather forecast promised rain and hail. If the storms had really arrived, they would have ruined the bunches. Donatella and her winemakers have bet on the sun and thus faced the challenge by taking into the cellar only wonderful grapes.

Novelty in 2018

For the first time, in 2018, we have resumed an ancient habit of the Montalcino winemakers, the grapes have been selected in the vineyard by harvesting only those with the same level of ripening. This allowed to vinify in each vat grapes with homogeneous characters. Obviously the work of the winemakers has become slower and they have returned more than once in the same vineyards always choosing the grapes.
Above all the advantage of this type of selective harvesting is to have the perfect grapes for both Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino.

24 February 2020