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.
Rosso Montalcino 2018
TYPE: dry red.
PRODUCTION AREA: Tuscany, Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE YEAR: Very rainy spring with very rainy May. Summer with hot days alternating with rains. September sunny. The budburst and the veraison occurred in normal times. Rain has severely hampered flowering by reducing the number and size of clusters. In September the vines were pruned of their leaves especially in the part least exposed to the sun. The grapes which, by the middle of September, appeared stiff and bigger than average size have progressively softened and narrowed until they were in optimal condition at the time of harvesting
GRAPES: 100% Sangiovese
HARVEST: 24-25 September. Manual harvest based on the selection of grapes in the vineyard. Grapes were destemmed in the cellar and the grapes were selected on the sorting table.
VINIFICATION: in conical truncated vats of steel and cement with open cap, Punching down and automatic temperature control. Indigenous yeasts selected at Casato Prime Donne.
BARREL MATURATION: 6-12 months of oak tonneau of 5-7 hectolitres.
QUANTITY OF PRODUCT: 45,000 bottles
ORGANOLEPTIC NOTES ON THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018
COLOUR: intense and brilliant ruby red.
NOSE: fine, clean, of good complexity and intensity, rich in fruity aromas, cherries, raspberries, blackberries along with floral suggestions, especially violets.
PALATE: harmonious, satisfying, the tannins are silky and well balanced by the intensity of the taste. Long and pleasant finish
HOW TO STORE AND KEEP THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018
FOOD PAIRING: very versatile, accompanies tasty first courses, roast or grilled meats, cold cuts and medium-aged cheeses.
TABLE SERVICE: serve at room temperature (16-18°C) in large tulip-shaped white crystal goblets.
AGEING POTENTIAL: The wines of Montalcino are all long-lived but Rosso di Montalcino is destined to be drunk still young. The bottles should be kept cold (16°C) in the dark, laid down and consumed preferably within 5 years from the harvest.
