Vines and wines

9 April 2020
in Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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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.

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3 April 2020
in Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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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!

2018 vini organici Fattoria del Colle

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

 

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2 March 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Rosso di Montalcino 2018

Rosso Montalcino 2018 Biologico

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.

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19 February 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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USA duties to which wines do they do most harm?

How much and on which Italian wines could US duties do us most harm? In percentage terms on white wines but the absolute terms on red Tuscan PDOs

 

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Are the great Tuscan reds, Brunello, Bolgheri and Chianti Classico the ones that would come out with broken bones if Trump put import duties? Probably they are.

USA DUTIES ON WINE

An analysis made by Corriere Vinicolo draws the geography of the possible disaster, keeping in mind that after October 2019, that is after the application of the duties, it seems French wines lost 36% of their business to the USA, although Champagne and great reds were exempt from the tax. Such a backlash  in  purchases that perhaps the income of the American treasury has been negative even with respect to the past. Apparently the real effect of the duties was not the recovery of the money paid to the Airbus Consortium, which according to Trump brought Boeing to its knees (as if the 737 Boeing did not fall) but to terrorize European governments and create a veritable chaos in the US distribution system of importers, distributors and retailers.

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10 February 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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The Italian wine seen by Wine Spectator

During Wine2Wine 2019 the senior editor of Wine Spectator Bruce Sanderson tasted with young people and showed how his readers perceive our wines

 

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

wine2wine-sonia-franco-violante-gardini-cinellicolombini

wine2wine-sonia-franco-violante-gardini-cinellicolombini

The tasting with 9 exponents of the new generations of Italian wine– among them my daughter Violante Gardini, Bernardino Sani and Dominga Cotarella- took place in the most multi-ethnic and social area of Veronafiere, the reign of Stevie Kim and VinitalyInternational. This is an environment that inspires creativity, with its painted ceilings, trendy interior design… But young people were very much “in the role” with little lightness and much determination. In front of them, Bruce Sanderson, one of the world’s most popular wine gurus, tastes Burgundy, Piedmont and Tuscany for Wine Spectator and, in my opinion, tastes the best!

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7 February 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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The land of Sangiovese: Chianti Classico and Montalcino

The nature of the soil gives a specific sensory character to the wine, so understanding the soil is crucial to understand the most variable vine: Sangiovese. Today we talk about the land of Sangiovese: Chianti Classico and Montalcino

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini


It is well known that Sangiovese has the highest number of clones (108) and the greatest variability. In short, it is a mutant grape variety which is best expressed in two areas: Chianti Classico and Montalcino.

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5 February 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Very small selection of extraordinary Vin Santo

A very small selection of extraordinary Vin Santo

Just 350 small bottles of Vin Santo del Chianti 2007 produced by Fattoria del Colle with artisan care. A very very small selection of extraordinary Vin Santo

 

Jewels for true enthusiasts who, with the previous vintage, have obtained prestigious international awards such as 95/100 by Robert Parker/ Wine advocate.
The Vin Santo DOC Chianti is the most prestigious and successful result of the project on dessert wines wanted by Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s husband, Carlo Gardini. Donatella does not drink sweet wines and had strongly reduced their production at Fattoria del Colle although this winery, located in the south of Chianti, had a centuries-old tradition of Vin Santo. Carlo is instead a fan of sweet whites and has dedicated time and energy to create small selections of signature wine handcrafted in detail. It includes the Passito, the Vin Santo and the prestigious Vin Santo selection we are talking about.

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3 February 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Maturation of wine in cask, “Italian style”

With the rise in temperatures and the consequences in the vineyard and cellar, it becomes urgent to rethink the barrels and the Maturation of wine in cask, “Italian style”

botti-tonneau-montalcino-brunello-_CasatoPrimeDonne

barrels tonneaux Montalcino CasatoPrimeDonne

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

For what regards the maturation of wine in cask, “Italian style”, we go from one exaggeration to another. After  years of wines with too much wood we went to the fashion of no oak at all.

To understand which is the right way the Italian Union of Wines through the Wine Corriere has organized a survey and then a conference during the exhibition in Milan.

WOODEN TASTE: MANY SAY THEY HATE IT BUT IN REALITY IT IS NOT TRUE

The results were intriguing, stimulating and even a little embarrassing.

In fact there is a fundamental contradiction: the consumer says he appreciates one type of wine but then he buys another. He thinks he prefers dry wines but then he is more happy to put in the glass those with residual sugar. He claims to hate barriques and “Parker style” wine but then chooses the one with an oak imprint to which he is accustomed.
Contradiction that, from my experience, also affects many tasters formed in the era of late 20th century style wines.
This is not a small problem especially for wines with long aging in cask like Brunello.

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29 January 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Vin Santo del Chianti 2008 Fattoria del Colle

Donatella Cinelli Colombini presents her Vin Santo del Chianti 2008 Fattoria del Colle aged in caratelli for eleven years .

A small selection of very few bottles for lovers of sweet wines

First of all Vin Santo is part of the history of Tuscany. In ancient times all the noble families had caratelli (small barrels) in which the Vin Santo aged in the attic of their Villas. Vin Santo was always served at important banquets .
We do not know when the production of this sweet golden and refined wine was born, it surely existed already in Siena in the fourteenth century. But it was precisely during a banquet that the Vin Santo ceased to be called “vino pretto” that means pure and took on its present name.

The legend

According to legend, this happened in 1439 after the Council of Florence. That meeting was attended by the Greek Cardinal Giovanni Bessarione who, tasting it, exclaimed “this is the wine of Xantos! ” in reference to the island where sweet wines were produced at the time particularly appreciated. Hence, since then xantos wine became  Vin Santo and the name  remained to indicate the delicious Tuscan nectar.

Fattoria del Colle too, has its vinsantaia, it is  in the attic of the sixteenth-century villa. So, crossing the winery and climbing a staircase you can reach the attic where in winter it is very cold and in summer it is very hot. Here are the small barrels  in which the golden liquid, squeezed from the dried grapes, remains to ripen for over ten years.
Last year the Vin Santo del Chianti of Fattoria del Colle received 93/100 from Robert Parker/Wine advocate. A success that we hope will be repeated in the future.
We recommend not to dip cookies in Vin Santo. It is a popular practice very widespread in Tuscany but absolutely harmful because it alters the aroma and taste of the wine.

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22 January 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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The future of luxury wine is female

They are oriented to organic wines, sustainable and fair but affordable, they have a spending potential that increases, also in wine, along with their income and social role. Hence the future of luxury wine is female
By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Wine intelligence, the mega agency of analysis on wine market, based in London, highlighted how women are growing among consumers also in the segment of premium wine, consequently those over 15€ per bottle.

 

MEN CONSUME 64% OF PREMIUM WINES IN USA.

THE FUTURE OF LUXURY WINE IS FEMALE

So, to turn this trend into business, producers and retailers need to believe and increase the female segment with the same commitment as for the Chinese market and towards  young people because it seems the opportunities for growth are similar.
In the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, China and in Australia likewise, women buy less expensive bottles than men. Only 35% spend more than 20 Dollars while for males this share rises to half of those who usually consume wine.

Furthermore the report “US Premium Wine drinkers 2019”, tells us that almost 64% of wines over $15 per bottle are purchased by men. Out of 22 million US premium wines consumers only 8 are women.
Women have lower incomes as well highlighted by the gender gap, but also less confidence in their choices for which they are cautious, even in spending.
Finally there is also the component of the habit whereby sommeliers and maitre’s give to male customers the list of wines at the restaurant.

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20 January 2020
in Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Brunello Prime Donne: story of a challenge

Donatella Cinelli Colombini had just started designing the company that bears her name when she realized that women managers and consumers counted for nothing. Brunello Prime Donne: story of a challenge

Brunello-Prime-Donne-2015-storia-di-una-sfida

Brunello-Prime-Donne-2015-storia-di-una-sfida

Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne is very traditional in style, produced in a small exclusive selection.
It owes its exceptionality to the grapes of Sangiovese from which it is born. The small size of the bunches and grapes allow it to combine longevity, an extraordinary elegance and a surprising pleasure. The solid acidic and tannic structure is in fact barely perceptible thanks to a perfect harmony.

 

HISTORY OF A CHALLENGE: BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE

Brunello Prime Donne selection was produced for the first time with the 1993 vintage.
Donatella Cinelli Colombini had just begun to design the company that bears her name and that is characterized by the two wineries– Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda – with an entirely female staff. The attention to the role of women in wine led Donatella to observe that  wine critics and curators of the Italian wine guides were, in 1998, all men.

She decided to reaffirm the importance of women’s taste in the choice of wine by creating the first Brunello selected from a feminine and international panel. The first group consisted of 4 tasters, the English Master of Wine Maureen Ashley, the German wine maker Astrid Schwarz, one of the best Italian sommeliers Daniela Scrobogna and the Italian-american Pr Marina Thompson.

Over the years, the group has changed to become the current one composed of two Masters of Wine, the English Rosemary George and the Swedish Madeleine Stenwreth, as well as Astrid Schwarz and Daniela Scrobogna.

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17 January 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Cabernet is the most cultivated but not the most loved

Cabernet is the most cultivated grape in the world but is it also the most loved? A research on Wine searcher shows that wines of Bordeaux blend are the favorites ones

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Cabernet is the most cultivated but not the most loved

 

The big data on wine, the computer analysis on one of the most boundless existing portals in the world, Wine searcher, allows you to understand which grape is really liked by wine lovers – Cabernet or Bordeaux blend?

 

CABERNET IS THE MOST CULTIVATED GRAPE, BUT THE BORDEAUX BLEND IS THE MOST LOVED.

An exercise that Don Kavanagh enjoyed doing with his typical irony starting from a question: “Cabernet is the most cultivated grape in the world, but is it the favorite?” Is it more liked single vines or Bordeaux blend?
In the end the victory of the Bordeaux blend is overwhelming but with many distinctions Country by Country.
In the USA, Cabernet (14%) is particularly popular, but the Bordeaux blend is second in consumers’ interest with only half a percentage point of distance. In the United Kingdom, however, the Bordeaux blend wins, followed by Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Champagne and Rhône Valley with Cabernet only seventh.

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15 January 2020
in Forum: News and lifestyle, Vines and wines
by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
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Chianti Superiore DOCG 2017

2017 the lowest yield vintage ever brought to the winery gives us a Chianti Superiore, really superior, at Fattoria del Colle in the south of Tuscany

2017 will remain in the history of European viticulture as the year of the great frost. At the end of April, for three consecutive nights an arctic cold wave crossed the continent reaching as far as Spain and Sicily and destroying the buds that, that year, had sprouted 20 days in advance. The photos of Burgundy and Collio with the fires in the vineyards were on the front pages of the newspapers to show the heroism of the winemakers who fought, unfortunately, unnecessarily.
Who, like us, was saved from the frost, then had to fight with the drought and the summer heat that reached 43°C for ten days in a row. The rains of late August and September literally saved the vines and the harvest.
The last scourge was the wild boar which, driven by thirst, also ate the unripe grapes.

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