ERIC GUIDO REWARDS DONATELLA’S BRUNELLOS
STELLAR RATINGS FOR DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S BRUNELLOS: 96,94,94 AND 93/100 ARRIVE FROM VINOUS THANKS TO ERIC GUIDO’S TASTING
By Donatella Cinelli Colombini, wine destination, Fattoria del Colle Trequanda, Casato Prime Donne Montalcino
Eric Guido-Vinous
Eric Guido, editor of Vinous, always has a serious, almost sullen expression, but he’s actually an extremely kind and passionate man. He loves wine and food, but also the people behind the bottles, and he himself loves working in the kitchen.
He tastes for Vinous, Antonio Galloni’s portal, which in just a few years has established itself as one of the most authoritative and objective voices in global wine press. This goal also stems from Galloni and Guido’s tireless and meticulous work in the wine regions.
Eric Guido‘s tasting of our Brunellos took place last November and was subsequently published on Vinous with a brief introduction. <<The Donatella Cinelli Colombini estate, run entirely by a female team, has been one of my favourites for many years. These wines always display class and elegance, and age surprisingly well despite their immediate appeal. The 2021s are no exception>>. How thrilling to read these words!
96/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO IOSONODONATELLA 2019
This is a very small series of just 300 bottles produced with grapes from the Ardita vineyard. The wine matured in five to seven hectolitre oak barrels, while the vinification and pre-bottling period took place in bare concrete vats and egg-shaped tanks. Eric’s description is so beautiful that I’m copying it almost entirely here: << The Brunello di Montalcino IosonoDonatella 2019 is sleek and sensual, irresistible with its magnificent interplay of black cherries and crushed raspberries, enriched with nuances of mint, Earl Grey, and dried roses. It is elegant and fresh in tone, with radiant red and black fruits, juicy acidity, and sharp mineral notes. A light touch of citrus adds contrast. The 2019 unfurls with exceptional length and precision, leaving a complex texture of fine tannins while hints of tart blackberry tingle the cheeks. A beautiful interpretation of the vintage, destined for a long and fascinating evolution>>.
94/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO IOSONODONATELLA 2018
Eric Guido’s description of this wine, too, offers an almost tactile image of the wine, accurately describing the sensations it offers. <<This is my favorite>>, says Donatella Cinelli Colombini, who often serves the 2018 vintage to her most important guests. Guido describes it as <<fine and graceful, in keeping with the vintage, yet still complex, with vibrant acidity and taut red fruits under a floral veil. Silky tannins define the extraordinarily long finish>>.
Eric Guido- Vinous
94/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2021
Excellent rating for a Brunello that has yet to reveal its best features. A later-than-usual bottling delays the moment when this wine will reveal its best, and it’s comforting to note that Eric Guido saw its beauty even at this early stage.<<It displays splendid smoothness and silky depth. Juicy acidity enlivens the taut berries while the wine fades into vibrant tannins, enhanced by a light citrus note. A beautiful inner harmony reigns here>>.
93/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2021
<<The surprisingly refined Brunello di Montalcino 2021 offers an inviting bouquet of red plums, rose petals, cedar spice, and dried sage. It is sleek and refined, with crisp red fruits and internal violets complemented by vibrant mineral tones.>> A truly extraordinary rating that demonstrates Eric Guido’s preference for newer expressions of Brunello, where elegance and freshness prevail over power.
93/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2020
The delayed bottling means we’ll have to wait a few months before enjoying the harmonious splendour of this wine, but Eric Guido has already captured its distinctive features. <<It’s graceful and fresh in tone, with fragrant wood berries and a sweet herbaceous kick towards the finish>>.