Let me introduce you to Astrid, Daniela and Marina the Brunello Prime Donne
Three of the 4 super tasters of the progetto Prime Donne at work on the future Brunello 2008 and 2010 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Valérie Lavigne - Barbara Magnani- May 2012-Fattoria del Colle
The “progetto prime donne” started in 1998 when Donatella Cinelli Colombini decided to dedicate to women the estate that she was just beginning to create.
From this decision derives the change in name for the winery which from Casato became Casato Prime Donne, but most of all the choice to have an all female team in the winery to take care of her wines. A panel of expert tasters was chosen to orient the production of a Brunello according to a more feminine taste. These are the three ladies who have just met up at Fattoria del Colle.
From their decisions comes a small selection of 3-5.000 bottles per year called “Brunello Prime donne”. Once or twice a year the tasters meet to choose, from which vineyard comes the Brunello nearest to their taste. Then they give
Marina Thompson-Valérie Lavigne-Daniela Scrobogna-Astrid Schwarz
indications regarding the length of the ageing and the type of barrel.
So these are the Brunello prime donne: Astrid Schwarz wine shop owner in Stuttgart who in the past has been a journalist and a wine producer in Montalcino. Daniela Scrobogna, teacher in the AIS school of sommeliers in Rome and taster for the wine guidebook Bibenda “Duemilavini”. Marina Thompson is an expert in image and marketing for International wineries. Maureen Ashley Master of Wine is also a journalist in the UK.
The first three came a few days ago to Fattoria del Colle where they found our consultant winemaker Valérie Lavigne and the cellar master Barbara Magnani waiting for them. Hugs and kisses all around and then straight to work on the future Brunello Brunello 2010 and 2008. No tasting done for the 2009, vintage where the Brunello Prime Donne.
As always the tasting which takes place in the morning and is a blind tastings. Basically the tasters get to know only after having written their opinions, the vineyard, and the type of barrels used for the samples that they are tasting.
Marina Thompson-Valérie Lavigne-Daniela Scrobogna-Astrid Schwarz
Year after year they have learnt to behave like players in a team, as they integrate each other, but during the past 12 years their tendencies are the same: in the direction of typicity and tradition. In other words their Brunello is one with a masculine character, or rather with little languor and little gentleness. This is not surprising, in fact women to like men!
P.s. Daniela Scrobogna has just been awarded the Oscar as best teaching sommelier 2012 by AIS -Bibenda.
Well done Daniela, you deserve it!
Donatella Cinelli Colombini