MICHAEL GODEL’S EXCELLENT RATINGS
Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG 2021, Brunello Riserva DOCG 2020 e Brunello Prime Donne DOCG 2021 Casato Prime Donne Donatella Cinelli Colombini Toscana
CANADIAN BRUNELLO EXPERT AWARDS DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S WINES EXTRAORDINARY SCORES, AND HIS FAVORITE IS THE IOsonoDonatella SELECTION
For many years, renowned Canadian critic Michael Godel has spent extensive periods in Montalcino. He has visited most of the Brunello wineries, tasting all their wines. He therefore has a deep knowledge of the places, the people, and the different Brunello production philosophies, including its evolution over time. Receiving a positive assessment from him is a great honour and a great satisfaction.
Donatella Cinelli Colombini was delighted to receive the stellar scores of 96, 95, 95, 94, and 93 awarded by Godel to five of her Brunellos. These wines are produced at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino on the northern slope of the Montalcino hill, where the clay-rich soil is cooler and creates ideal conditions for the gradual ripening of the grapes.
96/100 BRUNELLO IOsonoDonatella 2019
Michael Godel is charmed by this wine and its history, and he takes the time to explain it.
<<A name that means “I am what I am,” but also a sort of word game that says “we know how to do things, and this is our way of being.” Medieval studies of gold and enamels inspire the label of this unique Sangiovese, also produced in the 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 vintages.>>
Godel describes the taste of this small selection created by Donatella Cinelli Colombini in her image and likeness: “Exaggerated richness and elegance, with balsamic notes and a refined elegance at the highest level of a Sangiovese.”
95/100 for the 2020 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA DOCG
Like all Canadians, Michael Godel loves aged red wines and awards the Brunello Riserva produced by Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino 95/100, although he recommends waiting a little longer before drinking it because “the 2020s aren’t ready yet.”
His description is masterful and almost tactile. “The tannins remain taut, enveloping the original material, while the texture expands with a depth composed of red ochre-coloured fruit, oak care, and sweet acidity. The extended aging and choice of barrels have helped create an authentic Riserva style, for a wine destined to become one of Casato Prime Donne’s greatest.”
95/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2021
<<The cleanest, purest, and most definitive Brunello, recognized as a true symbol of the Donatella era at the Casato Prime Donne winery in northern Montalcino.>>
The description is spectacular and precise down to the smallest detail. <<An intoxicating bouquet… precise, deliberate spicy aromas, wildflowers, and a complete pantry for all your savory, sweet, and umami needs.>> Recommended to drink within the next five years.
94/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2021
<<You’ll see how it develops later,>> says Donatella Cinelli Colombini, although Canadian expert Michael Godel currently prefers the 2021 Brunello over the 2021 Brunello “Prime Donne.”
<<The concentration and impact of the French oak are more deeply felt, giving the wine a greater punch. A multitude of spices delight the palate in an exotic way, between cumin and fenugreek.>>
93/100 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2007
The tasting is bold because 2007 wasn’t among the most renowned vintages, because Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s vines were only 10 years old at the time, and because the wine was harvested by a male winemaker and finished by a female winemaker. Indeed, Carlo Ferrini and Valérie Lavigne were both involved.
However, the wine pleasantly surprises: “persistently fresh, with great nuance and a touch of warmth; on the palate, it expresses a sweet volatility and a liquid confluence of soils.
Far from being a perfect wine, its intrinsic flaws reveal grace and longevity under pressure.” 18 years of age make even the imperfections fascinating. “Everything has been resolved and forgiven.”