The Ardita vineyard is one of Montalcino‘s finest. Every year, in any climate, it produces perfect grapes with small clusters and berries and uniform ripening.

It was planted in 2002 at 225 meters above sea level in a Plio-Quaternary soil with a prevalence of clay and marine sand. It had a slow start and is still not very vigorous; in fact, it almost never requires green harvesting because it spontaneously produces about a kilo of grapes per plant.

Like all the world’s great vineyards, the Ardita vineyard requires very little attention; in other words, it “does everything itself” thanks to a particular terroir. Even in the cellar, the wine produced from the Ardita vineyard requires no human intervention because it is flawless; therefore, it simply needs to be carefully stored in the finest quality barrels.

For this reason, the tasters who choose Brunello Prime Donne through blind tastings of the estate’s entire production often prefer the powerful, velvety structure of the wine from the Ardita vineyard. In the past, they requested it be aged in barrels (15-20 hl), but now they are also fascinated by the character of 5-7 hectoliter tonneaux, especially when steam-bent.

THE 2021 VINTAGE IN MONTALCINO

The 2021 harvest will be remembered as the longest and most expensive because the grapes were selected bunch by bunch in the vineyards. Due to an Arctic current that swept across Europe at the end of April, a large portion of the buds were scorched by the frost, while those that were still closed opened late, several days later.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2021 ORGANIC AND SINGLE VINEYARD sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The very small production run limits this wine’s audience to connoisseurs seeking exclusive bottles. In short, it’s a rare gem.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for over a year,” said Donatella Cinelli Colombini, without hiding her affection for the Cenerentola wine, which she considers one of the greatest successes of her professional life. “I believed in the native Foglia Tonda grape variety when it was on the verge of extinction, and I followed step by step the research for the right way to grow, harvest, and age it. I found winemakers who love it as much as I do—Valérie Lavigne and Barbara Magnani—and I made the Cenerentola DOC Orcia wine a true princess of winemaking,” she says, referring to the international ratings that award it scores between 91 and 94 out of 100.

“Producing an Orcia Riserva means showcasing Cenerentola’s excellent aging potential. The Sangiovese and Foglia Tonda grape varieties are genetically father and son. The former gives the wine elegance, the latter power. In the Fattoria del Colle terroir, at 400 meters above sea level, they find a particularly favourable habitat, producing elegant, powerful, velvety, and wines for cellaring.”

DOC ORCIA CENERENTOLA 2020 FROM FAIRY TALE TO WINE

Each magnum bottle will come in a white “royal case” with gold lettering that recalls the fairy tale from which the wine’s name originates.…

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Casato Prime Donne is usually the first to harvest Brunello grapes, but in 2021, it was among the last to harvest in Montalcino.

This is a very strange year, beginning with the disappointment of the frost that struck all of Europe’s vineyards. In our vineyards, it burned the tips of the first shoots and delayed the opening of those that were still covered when the cold wind arrived. This had two effects: a reduction in grape production and uneven ripening. Indeed, bud break marks the beginning of a vegetative cycle that lasts about six months. The 20-day gap between the first and last shoots resulted in uneven ripening. The result was a very labour-intensive harvest, requiring us to harvest each parcel separately and even go through the same vineyard multiple times, selecting bunch by bunch. This was a painstaking task, entirely done by hand by the pickers.

2021: THE LONG, CAREFUL, AND SPECTACULAR BRUNELLO HARVEST

Most of the harvest was therefore postponed to the end of September.

The bunches resembled those of Pinot Noir: small, open, and with miniature berries.

The heat and drought were also severe, with only two rains totalling 31 mm of rain from June to September, and peaks of over 40°C mid-August. However, paradoxically, the Sangiovese vines ripened in perfect health.…

L'articolo ORGANIC BRUNELLO 2021 BY DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The highly elegant style that characterizes all Donatella Cinelli Colombini wines is enhanced in the Brunello Riserva. These are wines designed to last. In the 2020 vintage, this characteristic is extremely evident in the silky yet taut tannins and the acidity that lends vitality to the palate and is well balanced by the intensity of the flavour and the alcohol. Those who drink it now will find a great Brunello in their glass, but those who have the patience to wait two or three years will enjoy truly extraordinary powerful and velvety harmonies.

THE BRUNELLO RISERVA 2020 IN THE VINEYARD AND IN CELLAR OF CASATO PRIME DONNE

In 2020, the winter was mild and dry, so the vines budded early, and the frost of March 18-23 caused more damage than expected for that time of spring. The result was a reduction in the number of grapes in the vineyards. A very rainy June allowed the vines to withstand sixty days of scorching heat from mid-July to mid-September. The leaves were used for shade, leaving the rows with an unattractive but highly protective bushy appearance. For the same reason, pre-harvest leaf removal was avoided.

At harvest time, the grapes were perfectly ripe, healthy, with well-lignified seeds, and had the typical crispness of great vintages. Analytical data even better than 2019: smaller berries, higher extractable polyphenols, potential alcohol around 14%, and a good acidity.…

L'articolo DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI PRESENTS HER BRUNELLO RISERVA 2020 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

It’s difficult to stand out in an international wine market overcrowded with bottles. Especially with a young appellation like the Orcia DOC, and even more so with a native grape variety abandoned for over a century.

This is why Donatella Cinelli Colombini is happy every time her Cenerentola wine achieves a good result, like the 92/100 awarded by Wine Spectator for the 2019 vintage.

The Orcia DOC was born on February 14, 2000, in the high hills of southern Tuscany, nestled between the Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano territories. Sandwiched between two important and famous sisters, the Orcia DOC is in a favourable position for vineyards but difficult to establish a commercial niche.

THE NAME CENERENTOLA INDICATES THE PRINCELY DESTINY OF THIS WINE

That’s why Donatella named her wine Orcia Cenerentola, betting on a native grape variety that almost no one cultivated anymore—Foglia Tonda—but which seemed to her an ideal partner for Sangiovese. The goal was to produce a wine with distinctive characteristics, capable of achieving success at the highest levels.  Therefore thanks to her passionate grape-growers and formidable cellar women, the training system, harvest timing, wine making technique, and barrel type were gradually perfected. A ten-year effort with stellar results at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda.

Today, the Orcia Cenerentola DOC receives scores between 91/100 and 93/100 from the most important international press.…

L'articolo 92/100 WS CENERENTOLA ALWAYS MORE A PRINCESS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

At the end of August, after 60 consecutive days of scorching heat, the vines were at a standstill, and Donatella Cinelli Colombini was very worried. Then the weather changed, with heavy thunderstorms and a drastic drop in temperatures, dropping to 10°C at night.

These were ideal conditions for grape ripening, skin softening, and the synthesis of aromas.

The harvest was carefully prepared, leaf-pulling and removing excess bunches from the vines.

The harvest calendar was then planned like a military operation, monitoring the weather forecast, analysing the grapes, and tasting them to position machines and workers on the best day for each vineyard or portion of the vineyard.

A planning that called for very long days and work even on holidays, but the result was excellent.

WHAT IS CHIANTI SUPERIORE?

In 1996, the Chianti DOCG regulations were amended to introduce the Chianti Superiore type, with stricter production regulations than standard Chianti. The vineyards for this wine must have particularly favourable soils and exposures, and yields are lower than those for Chianti.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini‘s Chianti Superiore is a “family wine,” meaning it comes from the vineyards of those who vinified the grapes and bottled the wine.

FATTORIA DEL COLLE IN TREQUANDA

Practically a small hamlet, built by the current owner’s ancestors in 1592. Surrounding the villa and chapel are parks with three swimming pools, farmhouses converted into tourist accommodations, and a restaurant.…

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Autumn brings the pleasure of spending time together at the table, we have thought of something ideal for Thanksgiving. We’ve created a special gift set for you that captures the diverse spirit of our region, with wines to sip by the fireplace and something for the little ones, too:

• Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2019, a wine with a silky harmony that conceals a powerful structure.
• Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2020, dedicated to strong personalities, decisive and full-bodied.
• Colombino Olive Oil, our most delicate extra virgin olive oil, in a 500 ml tin to keep on the table and in two practical 250 ml formats, perfect for any occasion.

A box that represents family in all its nuances: romantic, strong, and everyday.

🎁 Along with the bottles, you’ll find a Fattoria del Colle recipe book featuring the tastiest local recipes.

This is a special opportunity to receive two “family wines” from Casato Prime Donne and Fattoria del Colle di Trequanda.

The 2019 Riserva is a 100% Sangiovese wine, from Casato Prime Donne’s finest vineyard.

Il Drago e le 8 Colombe is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, and 20% Sagrantino.

The offer is completed by two sizes of Fattoria del Colle EVO oil, the smallest ones suitable for children.…

L'articolo Family Gift Set: Wine and Olive Oil for Relaxing Moments Together sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Would you like this offer featuring two vintages of Rosso di Montalcino for €264.00 delivered directly to your home?

This offer focuses on Rosso di Montalcino, a wine appreciated for its fragrance and freshness! 10 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino from two vintages and two different sizes: the 2023 Rosso di Montalcino in a 0.750 Liter bottle and the 2022 Rosso di Montalcino in a 1.5 liter magnum (last bottles available).

🎁 together with the bottles you will find: a corkscrew with the logo of the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

What’s special about this offer?

This is a special opportunity to receive two Rosso di Montalcino wines from different vintages, made with Sangiovese from the organic vineyards of Casato Prime Donne belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini. The two sizes allow you to choose the occasion for which to open them. An ideal wine for the last days of summer and autumn, for aperitifs, lunches, dinners, and parties. For events with a few close friends, or for a real celebration! Extraordinary: the white-label bottles allow you to personalize a gift for friends or family with a special dedication!

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Donatella Club Members

4 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino 2023, 0.75 litres

4 bottles of Rosso di Montalcino 2023 with customizable white label, 0.75 litres

2 Magnums of Rosso di Montalcino 2022, 1.5 litres

4 gift bags + 4 tissue papers + 4 package seals

1 personalized corkscrew

🎯 Special price: €264.00 (instead of €307.00)

💡 Want to double up?…

L'articolo Offer: two vintages, one passion for Rosso di Montalcino sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Dear friends, we have prepared for you an unmissable opportunity for true Sangiovese lovers! Two masterpieces from amazing vintages. The Rosa di Tetto IGT Toscana 2024, in preview, and the Brunello DOCG 2020.

🎁 together with the bottles you will find: two blue shopper bags, two sheets of tissue paper (to give a touch of elegance to a gift you will give to your friends) and the package sealer

What’s special about this offer?

This is a special opportunity to receive 2 different expressions of Sangiovese from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini farms. For the first time, part of the grapes used for the Rosa di Tetto 2024 come from the Casato Prime Donne vineyards in Montalcino. Donatella’s vineyards are grown organically and with great commitment.

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Members of Donatella’s Club

3 bottles 0.75L Rosa di Tetto IGT Toscana 2024

3 bottles 0.75L Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020

two blue shopper bags, two sheets of tissue paper and two package sealers, all with the logo of the Donatella Cinelli Colombini wineries

🎯 Special price: €154.90 (instead of €184.20)

🚚 €10 discount on shipping

💡 Want to double?

12 bottles for €289.00 (instead of €368.40) with the same advantage on shipping.

For all wine lovers

3 bottles 0.75L Rosa di Tetto IGT Toscana 2024

3 bottles 0.75L Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2020

two blue shopper bags, two sheets of tissue paper and two package sealers, all with the logo of the Donatella Cinelli Colombini cellars

🎯 Price: €169.00 (instead of €184.20)

💡 Want to double?…

L'articolo Super offer with Rosa di Tetto 2024 and Brunello 2020! sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Rosé wines intense enough to accompany the entire meal and soft enough to be drunk cold.

Fattoria del Colle has been producing rosé wines for over forty years but in 2024, for the first time, part of the grapes for this wine come from the Montalcino vineyards of Casato Prime Donne. A circumstance that gives greater structure to the Rosa di Tetto.

ROSA DI TETTO IGT TOSCANA

The choice to produce a more structured rosé stems from the international success of this type and the demand for rosés with greater personality and aging capacity. A change that coincided with a return to the origins, inspired by the “acquati” produced by Tuscan farmers since time immemorial. Those of a century ago were fragrant but poor-quality rosés obtained by stealing a part of the must at the beginning of fermentation or by refermenting the marc. They were therefore poor wines.

Today there is a precise desire to seek out wines of high quality and great elegance. The Rosa di Tetto 2024 belongs to this typology to which it combines great oenology with a touch of Tuscan tradition already evident in the onion skin colour. This characteristic derives from a prolonged contact between the skins and the must which transfers the typical notes of Sangiovese and a more intense colour to the wine.…

L'articolo ROSA DI TETTO 2024 IGT TOSCANA ROSATO BIOLOGICO-ORGANIC sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

2019, 2020 and 2021 are three very different vintages but of great quality. They show how global warming favours the vineyards of southern Tuscany despite the excessive heat and cold, drought and monsoon storms that characterize the new climate.

In fact, 2021 had started badly with a spring frost that, fortunately, only grazed the Fattoria del Colle but caused a drastic drop in temperatures preventing the birth of new shoots. There were therefore about 20 days of distance between the first leaves born at the beginning of April and those at the end of the month. The frost and the three summer months without rain produced a drastic decline in the bunches and the size of the grapes that, at harvest, resembled Pinot Noir more than Sangiovese. A cool September that became cold at night, offered the ideal conditions for a slow and regular ripening of the grapes. The result is a wine that combines power, freshness and longevity.

CENERENTOLA’S HOUSE AT FATTORIA DEL COLLE

The grapes for the Cenerentola wine come from the organic vineyards at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda, in southern Tuscany. 404 meters above sea level with a soil mainly composed of marine sands of Pliocene origin. The wine is a blend of two native vines, Sangiovese (65%), king of the Tuscan vineyard and Foglia Tonda (35%), an ancient variety, from the same region, that was abandoned until Donatella Cinelli Colombini fell in love with it.…

L'articolo CENERENTOLA ORCIA DOC 2021 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the 2023 harvest was <<the most difficult harvest of my life, with my husband Carlo in hospital in Malta and my daughter Violante who directed the harvest alone flying back and forth from Valletta>>.

Added to this were the rainfalls in spring and summer, the attacks of downy mildew and 3 small hailstorms.

In the end, few grapes arrived in the cellar, half the amount of the previous year, but of excellent quality. The Sangiovese grapes showed perfect analytical values. A new selector with optical reader completed the grape selection work by choosing only the best, berry by berry, with the utmost attention.

THE 2023 VINTAGE

After a very dry 2022, a very rainy 2023 arrived. It rained in winter and especially in spring with a June like a universal deluge. Even in summer, very hot days alternated with thunderstorms. The grapes changed colour at the end of August and then the ripening had a slow and regular character. An old-fashioned climate that gives rise to very classic wines.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

Casato Prime Donne is all organically grown. It is located on the northern side of Montalcino on the slopes of the Montosoli hill. The vineyards surround the old farmhouse that gives its name to the property and belonged to Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors at least since the end of the sixteenth century.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2023 BIO-Organic sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Dear friends, we have prepared an unmissable opportunity for you! Three vintages of Il Drago e le 8 Colombe, all 5 stars: 2012, 2015, and 2020.

This is a special opportunity to compare three harvests of the Super Tuscan il Drago e le 8 Colombe produced at Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda. This wine brings you the aromas of ripe red fruits and the powerful and harmonious flavour typical of a high hill territory where the air is clean and the ripening of the grapes is slow.

OFFER OF THE MONTH: THREE VINTAGES WITH FIVE STARS

The classification of Italian wine vintages ranges from the maximum excellence of five stars, awarded exclusively to the best vintages, to a minimum of one star for the worst vintages. By consulting the vintages you can choose which ones to buy for a wine to cellar or to drink immediately.

🎁 together with the bottles you will find a small gift: a personalized wine saver pump from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery. Ideal for decorating your cellar or your kitchen but also as a gift..

🍇 Offer of the Month – For Members of Donatella’s Club

2 bottles 0.75L Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT 2012

2 bottles 0.75L Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT 2015

2 bottles 0.75L Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT 2020 BIO

1 customized wine- saver pump from  Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s winery

🎯 Special price: €159.00 (instead of €191.00)

🚚 €10 discount on shipping

💡 Want to double?…

L'articolo TOP offer with the Supertuscan Il Drago e le 8 Colombe sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Dear wine lovers, we have prepared an unmissable opportunity for you! Brunello Prime Donne 2020, an extraordinary wine resulting from a meticulous selection by four internationally renowned female experts, is available in a special proposal in two formats.

This is the first vintage in which Brunello Prime Donne is produced exclusively with grapes from the “Prime Donne” vineyard at Casato Prime Donne, with a limited production of only 5,000 bottles. A Brunello that embodies elegance, finesse and longevity, created to satisfy the palate of the most demanding female consumers, but capable of conquering everyone.

OFFER OF THE MONTH: TWO FORMATS FOR EVERY OCCASION

– The 0.75L bottle, perfect for an intimate dinner or a tasting among a few connoisseurs.

– The magnum (1.5L), ideal for special occasions and for those who love to see the wine evolve over time in a sublime way.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

– 4 bottles (0.75L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 Magnum (1.5L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 personalized wooden lid from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

Exclusive price: €292.00 instead of €338.00

€10 discount on shipping

For those who want to double their wine purchase

€575.00 (instead of €679.00) always with a €10 discount on shipping

OFFER FOR ALL WINE LOVERS

– 4 bottles (0.75L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 Magnum (1.5L) of Brunello Prime Donne 2020 BIO

– 1 personalized wooden lid from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery

Price: €316.00 instead of €338.00

€10 discount on shipping

For those who want to double their wine purchase:

€606.00 (instead of €679.00) always with a €10 discount on shipping

📌 Offer valid through March 21st 2025!…

L'articolo AN EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR TRUE ENTHUSIASTS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Everyone remembers  Covid masks and tests always at hand. In reality we should remember it as one of the luckiest harvests because the damage from the spring frost (18-23 March) was less than elsewhere and because the autumn rainfalls circled around the vineyards until the end of the harvest.Lucky but scarce, the 2020 vintage certainly deserves 5 stars, the maximum rating.Donatella Cinelli Colombini has been cultivating her vineyards organically for years and has been following a project called “Vineyard first” for years. It consists in a large investment in labour and equipment so that the grapes arrive in the cellar in perfect conditions on the first day of full maturation. A lot of work and a lot of attention which, in years like 2020, are helped by nature and the climate.

The 2020 grapes were healthy, with small berries, well-lignified seeds and the Sangiovese had the typical crunchiness of great vintages. Analytical data even better than 2019 with an excellent content of noble substances in the skins (extractable polyphenols) and a nice acid content

IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE, A WINE DEDICATED TO MEN IN THE WOMEN’S CELLAR

Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wineries – Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda – are the first in Italy with an entirely female staff.…

L'articolo IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE IGT TOSCANA 2020 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

There are vintages that seem born to produce wines capable of defying time and 2019 is one of them.

These are the harvests in which the grapes arrive in the cellar so perfect that they don’t need anything, just attention and patience.

Brunello 2019 is celebrated by critics and consumers as one of the best vintages of the last 20 years and in the Riserva version it finds its most enthusing expression for the silky harmony that hides a powerful structure.

Contrary to what usually happens in the best harvests, 2019 was abundant. A circumstance that also occurred in the legendary 2010 vintage and reveals how global warming has changed the internal balance of plants. In both of these vintages the vines were still in vegetation at the time of the harvest. This is also a rare but very favourable feature.

BRUNELLO 2019 RISERVA IN THE VINEYARDS AND IN THE CELLAR

Mild and arid winter, very rainy spring which delayed budding and then disturbed flowering, resulting in the open

and small nature of the bunches. The summer was hot but not very hot and interrupted by some storms. Disturbances that continued into September when the nights became very cold.

The 2019 Sangiovese had small grapes with particularly thick skins that made it resemble Cabernet. For this reason, the must immediately took on a very rich colour and aroma.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2019 ORGANIC CASATO PRIME DONNE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Vinum is the most important wine magazine in German. This magazine often dedicates monographic issues to a region with profiles of characters and tastings. In this case the protagonist of the magazine is Tuscany. Violante Gardini Cinelli Colombini newly elected President of the Movimento Turismo del Vino –  Wine Tourism Movement is among the profiles described at the beginning while our Brunello Riserva 2018 is among the 10 TOP wines of this type.

VINUM AND CHRISTIAN EDER

As always, the scores are not very high, German culture is always sparing in its judgments and does not reach 1000/100 with the same enthusiasm as American critics. For Germans, perfection is a philosophical concept that almost requires something close to a miracle.

For this reason, the TOP 10 of Brunello Riserva 2018 are between 96 and 94 out of 100, that is, closely positioned. Overall, the best Brunello Riservas proposed by Vinum are 25 and three of them come from the area where Casato Prime Donne is located. A circumstance that demonstrates the growth in the qualitative potential of this corner of Montalcino which, twenty years ago, was too cool and now manages to express itself at a high level even in rainy years like 2018.

VINUM’S DESCRIPTIVE SHEET OF VINUM FOR THE BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018

The descriptive sheet of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s Brunello Riserva is a palette of emotions, aromas and flavours.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018 IN THE TOP 10 BY VINUM sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A circumstance that has never happened before which confirms the extraordinary vocation of the Brunello area for the cultivation of Sangiovese, its only grape variety. The favourable effect of the new climate which multiplied the excellent harvests was also confirmed.

However, 2019 and 2020 have different characteristics that enthusiasts will be able to enjoy comparing.

2020 A YEAR AND A BRUNELLO TO REMEMBER

In 2020, the year of Covid, there was a spring frost (18-23 March) which drastically reduced the grapes in the vineyards.

After a mild and arid winter, June was very rainy while from mid-July to the end of August the heat was never interrupted by storms. The good weather continued in September until the harvest when the disturbances began to arrive. The rain circled  around leaving Casato Prime Donne dry until September 25th when the harvest was almost completed. That day there was a real downpour but, fortunately, almost all the grapes were already in the cellar.

The 2020 Sangiovese grapes were perfectly ripe, healthy, with well-lignified seeds, small berries and the typical crunchiness of great vintages.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

The Casato Prime Donne cellar, where this wine was born, is a flagship of female oenology and is the first in Italy with a staff of only women.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2020 ORGANIC sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by #donatellacinellicolombini

For the first time, in many years, the ripening of the grapes was what winemakers dream of: the ripening of the pulp of the grapes (technological) and that of the skins (polyphenolic) occurred simultaneously and completely.

Average 13% alcohol, lignified seeds, small berries and bunches, good content of noble substances, acidity and PH just below perfection… And lots of grapes.

At the beginning of September no one was hoping for such a spectacular result, in fact everyone was pessimistic because the weather forecast was terrible.

CHRONICLE OF THE 2024 HARVEST: FROM PESSIMISM TO JOY

After 60 days of scorching temperatures in July and August, with temperatures of 37°C during the day and 22 at night, the vines are still. Veraison is slow and ripening does not seem to progress. Then the weather changes suddenly and a very rainy month begins: from early September to early October, around 200 mm of rain falls. It’s cold and at night the thermometer drops to 10°C.

Managing a climate of this kind is very difficult: you need a team of very good agronomists, grape growers and oenologists, excellent harvesting technology and a pinch of luck. We have all this and in fact we produce an amazing harvest.

We are lucky to have the vineyards full of small bunches, open with small grapes with thick and hard skins and therefore capable of resisting the rain.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO HARVEST 2024, A MASTERPIECE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

NEWS ON THE EXCELLENT VINTAGE 2022

Few very good and healthy grapes due to the 2021 frost which extended its effects into the following year, and also

due to the seven months of drought which put the vines and the winemakers to the test, as they were forced to continuously hoe the earth. 2022 will be remembered as the year of drought and tannins and it was also a very hot year where budding occurred early, also leading to an early harvest compared to the normal calendar. The small caliber of the grapes and their thick skins have allowed the creation of very structured and long-lived wines. The very favorable relationship between the skin and the juice of the grape has produced an exceptional concentration of noble substances and above all of tannins in the wine. For this reason, the vinification was very delicate and the maceration in contact with the skins was prolonged.

THE 2022 VINTAGE OF ROSSO DI MONTALCINO FROM CASATO PRIME DONNE

The result is a powerful and sunny Rosso di Montalcino, like the heat of summer 2022, but also with a surprisingly fresh sip thanks to the perfect acid content of the grape.

WHAT IS CHIANTI SUPERIORE

The Superiore type indicates Chianti with superior quality characteristics and aging ability. It is produced from vineyards with greater vocation and lower production.…

L'articolo OFFER: TWO ORGANIC 2022 FAMILY WINE PREVIEWS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI PRESENTS A SMALL SERIES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2018 FROM THE CASATO PRIME DONNE WINERY WITH GREAT QUALITY AND AGING POTENTIAL

In each harvest the best grapes are identified in the vineyard, hand-picked with great care and vinified separately. The wine remains separated from the rest even during barrel maturation and is used to produce Brunello Riserva and Brunello Prime Donne. In 2018 a small quantity of grapes and then of wine were jealously kept separate from the rest, until they were bottled alone.
Almost an experiment to see if the similarity with the rest of Brunello would then disappear.
Instead, it increased.
The refinement in the bottle made the superior quality with respect to the rest of the 2018 “vintage” Brunello more evident and it was difficult to sell the 3000 Super bottles as if they were the same as the others.

This is why Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her daughter Violante have decided to emphasize the exceptional nature of this Brunello, born as an “experiment” and then becoming a little jewel for wine enthusiasts looking for exclusive bottles.
Determined to distinguish it from the rest, they inserted a golden stripe on the base of the label. The bottles will be numbered, wrapped one by one and marketed mainly in wooden crates. The price increase is minimal and only serves to highlight the difference.

2018 was different from the very hot vintages of recent years. The summer was cool, interrupted by storms and the best grapes were harvested last, as used to happen thirty years ago.…

L'articolo A SMALL SERIES OF 3000 NUMBERED BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Incredible! Donatella Cinelli Colombini‘s Rosso di Montalcino 2021 continues to obtain awards from the most qualified tasters and steals the show from Brunello.

The commercial success is confirmed by super experts who emphasize the drinkable and at the same time elegant character of a young wine but capable of showing the world-class virtues of Sangiovese from Montalcino.

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini it is a great satisfaction because Rosso di Montalcino is a wine made by her winemakers alone, without external consultants. Donatella’s wineries – Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda – are the first in Italy with an all-female staff and pride themselves on always seeking faithful interpretations of the terroir and vintage. A “light oenology” as Professor Luigi Moio defined it, which leaves nature a leading role and the cellar staff the task of preserving the gifts of the vineyard without changing anything.

Here a super harvest like 2021 reveals its merits in the Rosso di Montalcino which heralds a great Brunello from the same vintage.

So, let’s go and see the reviews

4 TRALCI (VINE SHOOTS) FROM THE VITAE GUIDE FOR THE 2021 ROSSO DI MONTALCINO

The VITAE guide expresses the opinion of the AIS Sommeliers, the largest association in Italy with 40,000 members including professionals and amateurs.…

L'articolo ROSSO DI MONTALCINO ACCOLADES FROM CRITICS AND CONSUMERS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Brunello of this vintage is characterized by a particular richness of aromas thanks to the cold nights of the entire maturation period and by the evident vocation for long aging.

2018 follows a year of extreme heat and therefore everyone welcomed the insistent spring rains with joy. In fact, the storms continued, making the winemakers work a lot and worrying the cellar staff because the bunches, and especially the berries, were too big. Furthermore, a disturbance of Nordic origin at the end of August had stiffened the grape skins. In September the positive turning point: sunny days made the grapes return to their optimal size, progressively softening the skins. To favour the action of the sun, the vines were stripped. The Sangiovese grapes for the 2018 Brunello Riserva were harvested on October 1st.

HARVEST AT CASATO PRIME DONNE AND THE ROLE OF THE GRAPES PICKED FOR THE RISERVA

It is worth explaining how the harvest is planned at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino. The vineyards surround the winery. They are on 4 different types of soil and with different exposure.

During maturation the grapes are analysed to follow the evolution of sugars, acids and polyphenols, i.e. the noble materials contained in the skin. Shortly before the harvest, the oenologists taste the grapes and divide the vineyards into small areas with the same level of ripeness.…

L'articolo BRUNELLO RISERVA 2018 BY DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Fattoria del Colle was very lucky in 2021: it was saved from the frost and hailstorms that hit many parts of the Italian and Tuscan vineyard.

A great fortune that the winemakers of Donatella Cinelli Colombini wineries wanted to live to the full by making a harvest with attention to every detail. The year was called the “puzzle harvest” because the vineyards were divided into small areas based on the ripeness of the grapes. The harvest calendar was built according to the maturation of each portion, ensuring that the small fermentation vats in the cellar were full every evening. A method that entailed greater costs, more staff and more time due to the constant movement from one vineyard to another. The result is greater respect for the fruit, which is always picked at the moment of its maximum potential and an increase in the quality of the wines.

WHAT IS CHIANTI SUPERIORE

The superior type indicates Chianti with superior quality characteristics and aging capacity. It is produced from vineyards with greater vocation and lower production. In this case it is a certified BIO (organic) Chianti Superiore and a “farmhouse” wine as we call it in Tuscany, that is, a “family wines” born in the property’s vineyards, and then vinified, matured and bottled by the same company.…

L'articolo CHIANTI SUPERIORE DOCG 2021 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A great Brunello born in an “old-style” harvest.

The BIO rules do not allow the use of systemic chemicals and in 2018, a very rainy year, the winemakers of Casato Prime Donne had to work hard and very promptly to defend the vines from powdery mildew and downy mildew, but they succeeded.

THE 2018 VINTAGE IN THE BRUNELLO VINEYARDS

An “old-fashioned” vintage with a cold and rainy summer, very slow ripening and harvest on the normal dates of late September.

Very rainy winter and spring (16 rainy days in January, 16 in February, 20 in March, 11 in April and 18 in May). Summer alternated with peaks of heat and thunderstorms. In September, the sunny days and cold nights allowed a slow and gradual ripening of the grapes with a progressive decrease in the size of the berries and an excellent synthesis of aromas.

HARVEST AND VINIFICATION OF THE BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2018

Faithful to its “old-fashioned” character, the 2018 vintage also had a harvest similar to those of our grandparents, with the best grapes harvested last, and we divided the vineyards into many small portions that were vinified separately in many small 50 hl vats in bare concrete. Even the vinification was “old fashioned” with higher temperatures than usual especially at the end.…

L'articolo Brunello Prime Donne 2018 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

After a very dry 2017, the first half of 2018 was very rainy and replenished the soil’s water reserves. A positive element for nature but also a challenge for those who cultivate the vineyards. 16 rainy days in January, 16 in February, 20 in March, 11 in April and 18 in May. In June the Sangiovese vines for Brunello had few bunches and a lot of grass also because we grow organically and therefore without herbicides.

THE 2018 VINTAGE IN MONTALCINO

An English summer, with an umbrella always at hand and, at the end of August an Arctic disturbance that whitened the Alps and stiffened the skin of the grapes in our vineyards. September had sunny days and almost winter nights. An anomalous climatic situation that has greatly helped the vineyards. The grapes became smaller and as they matured they softened and an amazing synthesis of aromas took place.

The aromatic richness is the characterizing element of the 2018 vintage.

HARVEST 2018

Defying the weather forecasts, which fortunately were wrong, the harvest was delayed until the end of September.

As I said, a real challenge as rain was forecast every day and instead only arrived when the harvest was almost over.

All the grapes were harvested by hand, leaving the best for last as our grandparents did.…

L'articolo Brunello di Montalcino 2018 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Montalcino’s series of extraordinary harvests does not seem to want to stop: 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Never before has the land of Brunello lined up such a dazzling sequence.

Each vintage with different characteristics to create the desire and curiosity to taste them all. Rosso di Montalcino offers this opportunity rather quickly and here is the 2021, vigorous and velvety after six months spent in cask.

The young appellation of Montalcino is experiencing a period of particular success. A growing market demand that has literally emptied the cellars, monographic tastings by Sommeliers and journalists, an event that highlights “RED Montalcino” and a number of articles never seen before. In short, it is a trendy wine that young wine lovers like for its drinkability and pleasant and understandable style.

VINTAGE 2021 IN MONTALCINO

The frost in early April drastically reduced the number and size of the bunches. Summer climate with extreme trends and peaks of heat over 40 ° C in mid-August. Some large thunderstorms mitigated the effects of the high temperatures even though the summer was dry overall with only 31mm of rain between June and the harvest. This reduced the size of the berries which reached full, healthy and homogeneous ripeness. The very strong temperature range, between night and day, in September favoured the synthesis of aromas, giving the future wine a particular aromatic richness.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino 2021 from Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The 2016 vintage is << the best vintage of an entire generation >>. This is said by Bruce Sanderson, senior editor of Wine Spectator, , a prestigious American magazine in the wine sector. According to Bruce, the Brunellos from 2016 are the most interesting wines since the 1990s.

This vintage of Brunello has also been called the year of wonders, of real masterpieces destined to make the history of the appellation, one more reason to grab and keep as many bottles of this vintage as possible, to enjoy it today as in 20 years.

3 bottles Brunello Prime Donne 2016

3 bottles Brunello Riserva 2016

2 vacuum pumps to be able to enjoy the bottle even a few days later

THE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2016

Casato Prime Donne is a property of 40 hectares of which almost half of vineyards in the Sangiovese variety. The cultivation is organic, certified since 2018. This estate belonged to Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors already in 1592. It is located in the northern area of ​​Montalcino where the climate is cooler and the soils are colder and richer in clay.

At Casato in 2016 the vegetative cycle of the vines – from bud to harvest – was longer than usual, this gave rise to grapes in perfect balance and Brunellos that are deep, satisfying, refined and more suitable than ever for long aging.…

L'articolo OFFER: A CELEBRATION OF THE 2016 VINTAGE sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

2019 the harvest of the super Sangiovese, the year in which the bunches and berries of the king of Tuscany grape variety looked like Cabernet, the king of the Bordeaux vineyard.A dream of a harvest, with abundant, perfect grapes that were harvested by hand and then vinified in small vats where the must quickly took on a very intense colour.

The bunches of Sagrantino and Merlot, which also make up the blend of Il Drago e le 8 Colombe were also of the highest quality. Each grape variety was vinified separately but, to make the most of the richness of the 2019 grapes, all made a very long post fermentation maceration. For this reason the racking was postponed for a week – ten days for all types: Sangiovese, Merlot and Sagrantino.

There was also a small variation in the aging in cask compared to usual. When the wine was ready to be moved from the vats to the barrels, the Covid epidemic caused the first lockdown, forcing the cellar work to be slowed down. Too bad because precisely because of the superior quality of the vintage, the quantity of barrels purchased was greater than usual.

IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE: A WINE DEDICATED TO MEN FROM THE ALL-FEMALE WINERY

The cellars belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini, Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle, in Trequanda, where this wine is born, are the first in Italy with an entirely female staff.…

L'articolo Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT Toscana Rosso 2019 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

We present the 2019 vintage, classified 5 stars, of this Doc Orcia that comes from a small and exclusive production born in the vineyards, vinified and aged in cask at Fattoria del Colle, in Tuscany. Born on the hills 400 meters above sea level near Montalcino, Montepulciano and Cortona.

The Leone Rosso Doc Orcia wine is a very versatile wine that can accompany the entire meal. It is also particularly suitable to match with cold cuts and young cheeses. It adapts well to intense and even spicy foods.

Exclusively for you, 3 bottles with 3 labels to customize to celebrate a dear friend or an anniversary. For example, if Francesco invites you to his birthday, you can take a bottle with a bespoke label.

12 bottles of Leone Rosso Orcia DOC 2019

3 customizable labels

3 shopping bags with logo

SANGIOVESE WITH MERLOT FOR A BLEND OF ELEGANCE AND SOFTNESS

This wine contains Sangiovese and Merlot grapes resulting in a typically Tuscan elegance and silky softness.

Much appreciated for its drinkability by wine lovers and by the wine critics of Wine Spectator, James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast who, in recent years, have given excellent ratings of 90/100 and even higher.

WHY IT IS CALLED RED LION WHEN THE LION ON THE FAMILY CREST WAS BLACK

The rampant lion is the symbol of the ancestors of Donatella Cinelli Colombini who built  Fattoria del Colle in 1592.…

L'articolo OFFER: LEONE ROSSO 2019 DOC ORCIA – 5 STARS sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A surprising result in a surprising year that asked the winemakers for  all their commitment. In spring they also worked on Sundays to keep the grapes healthy from the attacks of downy mildew triggered by the alternation between  rain and very hot days. Even the flowering was disturbed by the perturbations causing the reduction in the size and number of the clusters.

THE CRAZY CLIMATE OF 2018 A YEAR OF INCESSIVE RAIN

The number of rainy days in 2018 is impressive: 16 in January, 16 in February, 20 in March, 11 in April and 18 in May. The amount of rain was also impressive. At the end of May, the Fattoria del Colle was also hit by a “water bomb” which flooded the historic cellar where the barrels are located. After mid-August, an icy perturbation arrived that whitened the mountains and stiffened the cells of the grape skins.

2018 VINTAGE BLESSED BY THE SUN OF SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER

Meteorologists had predicted a sunny September but after a summer with an umbrella no one believed them.

Instead the sun came, giving a helping hand to the harvest. The vines were de-leafed in the “old way” and the calibre of the berries returned to normal and the accumulation of sugar gradually increased.…

L'articolo Cenerentola Orcia Doc 2018 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

WINE TOURISTS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME AND DO NOT ALL HAVE THE SAME DESIRES

Donatella Cinelli Colombini, who invented the Cantine Aperte event and teaches wine hospitality in  master courses, also knows that wine tourists are a small army made up of people with different profiles and expectations: there are those who are just intrigued, true enthusiasts and Brunello lovers , there are the insatiable eager for extraordinary exclusivity, but there is also those who want to spend their free time learning in a playful way. Wine tourists have changed compared to 2019, when no one knew about Covid, and above all they now want different things. Today, those who arrive in the wine territories are hunting  foe emotions and  want to immerse themselves in a pesticide-free countryside, cultivated by those who are passionate, traditionalists but also willing to share.

<< To this diversified multitude the vast majority of Italian wineries offer only one type of experience: visit between vats and barrels with an explanation of the production processes and tasting >> says Donatella << This is wrong>>.

FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: 4 EXPERIENCES FOR TOURISTS IN BRUNELLO

Here Cinelli Colombini moves from theory to practice and instead of just writing manuals on wine tourism, has decided to lead by example by designing 8 experiences for visitors in her wineries Casato Prime Donne in Brunello and Fattoria del Colle, in Chianti and in the Doc Orcia.…

L'articolo Donatella Cinelli Colombini, puts into practice new wine tourism sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE: THE FIRST BRUNELLO PRODUCED AND DESIGNED FOR WOMEN

In fact, the winery that produces it, Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino, is the first in Italy with an all-female staff, including winemakers, and is the first long cellaring red wine that is followed, from birth to bottling, by a panel of 4 very expert international tasters: a winemaker Astrid Schwarz, a sommelier Daniela Scrobogna, and two Masters of Wine Rosemary George and Madeleine Stenwreth. It is they who choose the wine from the different Sangiovese Brunello vineyards, decide the type of oak barrels and finally the blend of the wine from several wooden casks.

Obviously, Brunello Prime Donne is also very popular with men and has excellent ratings in the main international press. This is a gastronomic wine that should be accompanied with important dishes such as large pieces of roast meat, aged cheeses, and game.

The 2017 vintage was characterized by two climatic events: a frost at the end of April that hit almost the entire European vineyard, leaving Montalcino miraculously unharmed, and a very hot summer with 10 consecutive days in August with a temperature of 43 ° C. The latter event also touched the Brunello vineyard.

6 BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2017, DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI’S RECIPE BOOKLET AND APRON DELIVERD TO YOUR HOME

Furthermore, on this occasion, the Fattoria del Colle wants to become part of your kitchen.…

L'articolo OFFER: BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE 2017 TO TASTE, TO GIFT AND TO PAIR sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

There is a famous phrase by Winston Churchill (statesman and Nobel Prize for Literature 1874-1965) that corresponds to the feeling of the Brunello winemakers in 2017 << not always to change is equivalent to improving, but to improve you have to change>>.

MONTALCINO REIGN OF THE GREAT SANGIOVESE IN 2017

In truth, Montalcino is among the wine districts most benefited by climate change and, even in 2017, it was spared from frosts and other climatic disturbances that affected other areas.
However, summer 2017 was scorching also in Brunello land.  While the oak woods turned orange in the middle of summer, the grape growers at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino looked after the Sangiovese vineyards with the hoe helping them to overcome stress.   In the end, the organic cultivation, which made the soil softer and more alive, as well as the reduction of the bunches and the management of the canopy to shade, have borne their fruit.
Few grapes but very good.

BRUNELLO 2017 HARVEST WITH EXTREME SELECTION OF GRAPES

The harvest was a painstaking work. The grapes were harvested by hand dividing the bunches of the two sides of the espaliers. Something slow, artisanal and very demanding both from an organizational and an economic point of view.
But <<to improve you have to change>> and maybe change means going back to the grandparents’ systems and recuperating from your memory the old vineyard practices. …

L'articolo BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO DOCG 2017 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

BRUNELLO 2015, SUPERTUSCAN IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE 2018 AND OUR ORCIA DOC LEONE ROSSO 2019 AT HOME

For relaxing moments at home, for those who love to experiment with dishes from all over the world and even mix and serve them during same dinner. For those who have fun and get excited by combining foods and wines from different cultures.
To these wine lovers we offer a 6-bottle carton with three family wines from Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s vineyards and matured in her cellars at Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in southern Chianti in Tuscany. The carton will arrive directly at your home.

We propose again the Brunello di Montalcino 2015 by Casato Prime Donne, a 5-star vintage, more ready to open now, for an evening with friends or for a romantic dinner for two. An extraordinary vintage that was celebrated even before going on the market, and where the climatic trend shows the characteristics of the best Brunello vintages. The international press awarded this wine with excellent ratings:
• “TRE BICCHIERI” Vini d’Italia 2021 – Gambero Rosso
• 95 James Suckling
• 94 Wine Spectator
• 94 Wine Advocate – Robert Parker
• 93 Decanter
• 92 Wine Enthusiast
• 90+ Vinous – Antonio Galloni

Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2018 instead comes from the Fattoria del Colle where three varieties are used with creativity and produce a true IGT Toscana “signature wine”.…

L'articolo OFFER: MIX OF FLAGSHIP WINES sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Leone Rosso Doc Orcia wine is dedicated Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors who built Fattoria del Colle in 1592 and had a rampant lion in their coat of arms. The grapes for the Leone Rosso Doc Orcia are born right in the vineyards of the farm.

A RED LION, SYMBOL OF THE ANCESTORS WHO FOUNDED THE ESTATE IN 1592

This is the Socini or Sozzini family composed of jurists and philosophers. Two of them – Lelio (1525-1562) and Fausto (1539-1604) – went down in history for having played an important role among the European free thinkers who gave birth to Protestantism.
It was precisely their opposition to the Church that led the family to ruin and the Colle farm to be confiscated. The property was bought back by Donatella’s great-grandfather, the engineer Livio Socini around 1919 who almost by chance, gained it from a bankruptcy. When he visited it he realized that in the chapel and in the villa  there were his identical coats of arms and understood that fate had put back in his hands, after 400 years, the farm founded by his ancestor Claudio Socini.

A mysterious thread with the past that Donatella Cinelli Colombini also felt when her father Fausto gave her the Fattoria del Colle in 1998.

LEONE ROSSO DOC ORCIA 2019

2019 is a memorable harvest.…

L'articolo Leone Rosso 2019 Doc Orcia sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

BRUNELLO RISERVA 2016 AND BRUNELLO 2017 AT YOUR HOME

To start the New Year as every great wine lover dreams of doing.

Wine lovers from all over the world are waiting for the Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016 which is considered one of the best harvests in the last century. In 2016, in the vineyards at Casato Prime Donne the vegetative cycle of the vines – from the budding to the harvest – was longer than usual, this gave birth to well balanced grapes and deep Brunello wines, and they are satisfying, refined and suitable for long aging.

The total respect for the grapes and the search for purity that characterizes all our work – from the vineyard to the bottle – will surprise you in the 2017 vintage. It is a very hot vintage where the grape growers have shown all their talent. They understood the needs of the Sangiovese vines, cultivating them organically, and helping them to endure the sun. The clayey and cold soil of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s vineyards and a small amount of rain  have allowed the production of grapes of excellent quality from which a Brunello was born, one that will surprise you with its pleasantness, elegance and silkiness.

Casato Prime Donne is a property of 40 hectares of which almost half are of Sangiovese vineyard.…

L'articolo OFFER: BRUNELLO 2017 AND RISERVA 2016 IN PREVIEW sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Those who arrive in Montalcino have different curiosities: there are those who know little or nothing about wine and know Brunello almost only by hearsay. Then there are the wine lovers always looking for new experiences and new knowledge about Brunello. Finally, there are those who want only exclusive, exceptional experiences made especially for them.
Casato Prime Donne, in the northern part of the Brunello territory, offers 4 tailor-made experiences for these wine tourists making each of them live something exciting and different from any other winery.

CASATO PRIME DONNE A SPECIAL WINERY FOR SPECIAL CUSTOMERS

is a very special place: it is the first Italian winery with an all-female staff; it exports to 41 foreign countries and produces wines with very high ratings from the international press. But visitors find something more than a farmhouse from the late sixteenth century full of barrels and vats, there is the story of the history of Montalcino in images, there are installations by contemporary Tuscan artists, which allow you to experience wine in an unusual way. This wealth of different elements enriches the tourist route and has allowed the creation of 4 experiential visit proposals capable of exciting and surprising newcomers and very experienced Brunello enthusiasts too.

For detailed programs and to book just click on the site or call +39 3455495154

FOR TOURISTS: BRUNELLO EXPERIENCE AND NOT ONLY

Visit to the vineyard and cellar, anecdotes, itinerant tastings and photos in the artistic installations.…

L'articolo Casato Prime Donne revamps its experiences with Brunello sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Those who are tired of going to the cellars and being told about the wine production process should come to the Fattoria del Colle and will discover a wine destination with 400 years of history that makes you live exciting experiences and transfers knowledge in a fun way, for the sole fact of being in and touching them.

NEW DIVERSIFIED WINE EXPERIENCES FOR TOURISTS AND WINE LOVERS

Fattoria del Colle is in the Southern Tuscany, 18 km from the A1 Valdichiana motorway exit. It produces Chianti Superiore and Doc Orcia wines and, together with the Montalcino winery Casato Prime Donne, is owned by Donatella Cinelli Colombini.

It is therefore the great wine for cellaring that is the protagonist of 4 different tourist proposals designed for those who love the Tuscan countryside and want to discover its roots. Or, for those who are passionate about wine and want to try their hand at experiences different from those proposed by other wineries, they can create their own Supertuscan. Finally, for super wine lovers, a full immersion in the history, cultivation and specificity of Sangiovese with a two-hour lesson held by Wset teachers or professional Sommeliers together with educational visits and guided tastings.

FOR LOVERS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, WINE LOVERS AND FOR GREAT CONNOISSEURS 4 TAILOR-MADE PROPOSALS

All framed by olive groves and vineyards in the most beautiful countryside in the world and with the opportunity to meet the 3 wine makers of the all-female staff of Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s cellars.…

L'articolo 4 new experiences for visitors, wine lovers and true experts sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

<<In my experience as a wine producer, which is now very long, I remember only two other harvests like this: 2010 and 2016>> said Donatella Cinelli Colombini, commenting the 2019 vintage. A confirmation that Montalcino has had an increasing frequency of excellent vintages thanks to climate change that seems to benefit inland Tuscany.

THE ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2019 AND THE MORE AND MORE FREQUANT 5 STAR HARVESTS

There are also other changes; contrary to the past, the great harvests of the new millennium, generally, are also abundant in grapes and the vineyards are still in vegetation during the harvest days.

Another feature of 2019 and of the other great recent harvests in Montalcino is the small size of the berries and bunches. <<It seems Cabernet>> the oenologist Valérie Lavigne told Donatella, visiting the vineyards to decide the harvest calendar. A comment that does not do justice to Sangiovese, king of Tuscan oenology, but that had a touch of truth in it because, in 2019, Sangiovese di Montalcino behaved exactly like the most famous French variety by immediately giving a lot of colour to the must.

THE SAME SANGIOVESE AND THE TWO DIFFERENT WINES FROM MONTALCINO

Rosso di Montalcino comes from the same Sangiovese vineyards where Brunello is born. The grapes are chosen to become one of the two wines based on the component of alcohol, acids and polyphenols that must be more abundant for the type of wine destined for long aging.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino DOC 2019 by Donatella  sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini tells of how she climbed her mountain leaving the comfort of a family of established Brunello producers to create an estate of her own <<in 1998 my parents gave me two properties to renovate in Tuscany, but at the beginning there were no cellars and the vineyards were to be replanted. My small team asked me “if someone calls what must we say” and I replied “you say that we are Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s estates >> a starting point that took her far.

At that time she had many doubts because she remembered her grandfather Giovanni Colombini’s advice <<never give your name to a company because when it is sold it is like giving your identity away>>.

DONATELLA GRANDE DAME OF BRUNELLO BUT ALSO PASSIONATE AND VISIONARY

But Donatella wanted to make it and doubts turned into opportunities because already in 2010 she was able to harvest a great Brunello and six years later she was invited to present the Riserva version, at the most exclusive tasting in the world, the New York Wine Experience.

A dream come true and that had to be celebrated by transforming the recommendation of her grandfather into a proud statement “IOsonoDonatella” the “pasionaria”, the visionary one who focuses on women, the revolutionary one who opens the Italian cellars to tourists the Grand Dame of Brunello as Vinum has recently called her <<so this is the wine that talks about me>>.…

L'articolo IOsonoDonatella Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Brunello di Montalcino 2015 Riserva is a fine red apt for long cellaring that can be stored for decades for an important occasion but also opened now to match with the Thanksgiving roasted turkey. Its velvety, powerful and refined character transforms autumn lunches into special occasions to always be remembered.

DON’T MISS THE OCCASION TO CELEBRATE WITH A FINE WELL-RATED WINE BY THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS

The Brunello Riserva 2015 has obtained exceptional rankings from the major international wine critics:
95 Wine Spectator
94 Wine Advocate – Robert Parker
94 Vinous – Antonio Galloni

93 James Suckling
92 Wine Enthusiast

A SMALL PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE TRAVELLING BY PLANE AND WANT TO TAKE A BRUNELLO WITH THEM TO CELEBRATE

Together with the 6 bottles of this wine, we will put into the case a wineskin, a sealed bubble wrap sachet that permits travelling with the bottles in your suitcase during flights, protecting them from damage and saving your clothes in case your suitcase is really badly treated.

FOR THE MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB 6 BOTT. BRUNELLO 2015 RISERVA – WINE CELEBRATION BOX

Offer for Memebers 378,00 Euro (instead of 450,00 Euro)

For Club members who wish to double the order the deal is even better: 12 bottles of Brunello 2015 Riserva 736,00 Euro (instead of 900,00 Euro)

The price includes free shipping in Italy or 15 Euro discount for shippings abroad together with 1 wineskin

FOR ALL OTHER CLIENTS 6 BOTT.

…

L'articolo TOP WINE FOR THANKSGIVING 2021 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

For years, vinifying a “single vineyard” has been a happy memory. The search for quality in grapes has become so maniacal that the harvest has become a patchwork that brings together small quantities of clusters of the same variety but with similar or completely opposite characteristics to balance each other.

<<Take the grapes from this corner, put them together with those from the vines from the central area of the vineyard next door and then move three parcels further on to take the rest to be vinified in the same vat>>. Barbara Magnani, the senior oenologist of my cellars, has the map of the harvest plan in her mobile phone so as not to miss the complicated collage.

HARVEST 2021- THE PATCHWORK HARVEST

They are all Sangiovese grapes from our vineyards. The new thing, compared to the past, is that they come from different areas and even from different sides of the espalier. The harvest has become similar to a treasure hunt where you use your mouth to select the grapes and the scales to weigh them in order to fill the vat in a single day exactly with the most homogeneous grapes.

In the end we realized that winemaking vats over 100 hl no longer serve us and we will have to sell them to fill the fermentation hall with many small containers with a capacities of 20, 30, 50 hl but not larger.…

L'articolo 2021 grape harvest collage sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The 2019 harvest was extraordinary for Sangiovese in Tuscany. Small bunches, small berries and perfect ripening. The strong temperature range of September 2019  determined the characteristic element of the wines from this vintage which is the richness of the aromas.

To be among the first to taste the 2019 Chianti Superiore vintage will allow you to appreciate and make your friends appreciate, a small masterpiece. It is a great young wine and at the same time it is easy to drink and accompany with any dish: from the Florentine steak cooked on the grill to a brunch with cold cuts and cheeses but even with Asian dishes. In fact, the great value of Chianti is to be extraordinarily easy to match and maintain its pleasantness with all foods except with absolutely inappropriate things such as ice cream.

But we are sure that you will not do anything like that.

Indeed, to facilitate the service on the table we combine the bottles with a professional corkscrew and a vacuum stopper (it works as a plunger just put it on the bottle without a cap, raise and lower the upper part until it becomes hard) to extract the air from the half full bottles and then finish the Chianti Superiore the next day and maybe discover that you like it even more.…

L'articolo Offer: preview five-star Chianti Superiore DOCG 2019 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This estate was built in 1592 by the ancestors of the current owner Donatella Cinelli Colombini who in twenty years has restored it to its former glory. Its altitude, of 404 meters on the sea, with cool nights, allows a slow and gradual maturation of the grapes. The farm is located in the south of Tuscany on a land of neo-quaternary age with sea sands and clays. The vineyards are on top of the hills in positions well exposed to the sun with excellent ventilation.

CHIANTI SUPERIORE 2019 BIO FROM FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Chianti Superiore is a higher level type of Chianti: the grapes come from low yield vineyards and the wine is required to be of  “superior” level as the name indicates.

The climate was particularly favourable in 2019. The very rainy spring, especially in April and May hydrated the soil allowing the vines to well withstand the heat of summer .There were only two major storms (1 July and 15 September) for a total of almost 200 mm of water. They were the magic touch needed for a masterpiece harvest. The 2019 grapes were perfect with very small, healthy bunches and berries, ripened in a very balanced way.

The strong thermal excursion of September 2019 determined the characteristic element of the wines of this vintage, that is the richness of the aromas.…

L'articolo Five-star organic Chianti Superiore 2019 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) that we are proposing to you is from the vineyards at Casato Prime Donne belonging to Donatella Cinelli Colombini in the excellent 2018 harvest, rated 4 stars.
This is an important wine destined only to restaurants and demanding wine lovers. It is a refined organic family wine.
6 bottles of DOC Rosso di Montalcino will arrive directly at your home together with a professional corkscrew and a vacuum stopper that will perfectly preserve the wine still in the bottle after opening, till the next day.

ROSSO DI MONTALCINO SPECIAL PRICE FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottle case of Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) 2018 + professional corkscrew + vacuum closure:
Euro 127 (instead of Euro 154)
For those who wish to double the order buying 12 bottles the price is even more convenient
Euro 229 (instead of Euro 288)
Free shipping in Italy, 15 euro discount on shipping abroad

PRICE FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottle case of Rosso di Montalcino BIO (organic) 2018 + professional corkscrew +vacuum closure:
Euro 136 (instead of Euro 154)
For those who wish to double the order buying 12 bottles there is an ulterior advantage
Euro 256 (instead of Euro 288)
Free shipping in Italy, 15 euro discount on shipping abroad

Sangiovese grapes grown in Montalcino have something special and almost magical: they produce satisfying, harmonious and velvety wines while young, who, in the most structured types, become Brunello and are able to age for many years.…

L'articolo ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2018 CLUB OFFER sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A project that at Fattoria del Colle, begins with the Sangiovese grapes and its specificities such as the particular aroma of violets, that in the Rosa di Tetto, blends with that of apples and cherries.
The BIO (organic) vineyards are cultivated by hand with obsessive care; the grapes are picked by hand, vinified, and refined under the observant eyes of the three estate winemakers, Barbara, Sabrina and Giada. These give origin to some small series of “family wines” wines made on the estate. In this case it is a production of only 2.000 bottles, real jewels destined to wine loving clients.
At Fattoria del Colle the production of rosé began more than 30 years ago with the name “Aqua di Tetto”. When Donatella Cinelli Colombini received the farm form her father Fausto Cinelli in 1998, she decided to change it into Rosa di Tetto and to put on the label the flowers from the old climbing rose that covers the facade of the 16th century villa.

The 2019 harvest quality wise has been considered one of the best in the last 50 years. It was abundant and with grapes never seen before. For this reason it was decided to begin with this vintage a change of style for the Rosa di Tetto, aiming at a type of rosé that is more complex, important and structured and where the Sangiovese imprint is very evident.…

L'articolo ROSA DI TETTO IGT Toscana Rosato 2019 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Three TOP vintages, nearly legendary ones, for those who love Brunello and want to have some bottles for special occasions:

1997: like many great vintages it didn’t start well; there was a spring frost that reduced the number and dimension of the clusters;

2007: a year without winter and with a cool summer that produced a deep Brunello, apt for long cellaring;

2012: a hot year with a perfect September for the ripening of the grapes.

Wines that have been highly rated by the international wine critics and able to surprise and thrill. These will arrive at your home in a wooden crate apt to be cellared, together with 6 Riedel Performance glasses so as to taste them in a perfect way.

OFFER FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

3 bottles wooden crate containing:

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 1997,  Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2007 and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 + 6 Riedel Performance crystal glasses

SPECIAL PRICE FOR MEMBERS: 339 Euro (instead of 399 Euro) offer valid until April 2nd, 2021

For those who wish to double the offer, so two times a 3 bottles crate with 12 glasses, the price is even more convenient: 660 Euro

The price includes shipping in Italy, and a 15€ discount for those abroad.…

L'articolo 3 Brunello from 5 star vintages for celebrations and collections sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the vineyards 2018, began by showing the effects of a spring frost the previous year: the clusters were few and small, right from the beginning. An element that on the other hand seemed to be negative instead permitted the grapes to happily survive a very rainy month of May and a summer that alternated heat and big storms. A climate that resembled that of last century, with more clouds than sunshine. The September sunshine was decisive for the quality of the grapes: the size of each grape was smaller and the ripening took place slowly, simultaneously in the skins and in the pulp of the grapes –technological and poliphenolic ripening. Temperatures in the period before the harvest rendered the Il Drago e le 8 Colombe 2018 its distinctive catachrestic: fine, complex and deep aromas.

Finally a small but significant detail, against all weather forecasts, the rain arrived the day after the harvest ended. This is not a small detail, because, interpreting the “20^th century style” harvests the best grapes, like those for the Il Drago e le 8 Colombe, were picked for last. A stroke of luck that when drinking this Il Drago e le 8 Colombe is clearly noticeable.

THE NAME IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

The Il Drago e le 8 Colombe comes from the first all female staffed winery in Italy: our consultant Valérie Lavigne, the wine makers Barbara Sabrina and Giada, the hospitality and sales staff are all women.…

L'articolo Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT Supertuscan 2018 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Donatella and Violante Cinelli Colombini will taste the Brunello Prime Donne 2016 online. It will be an exclusive event reserved to those who choose this offer.  The date will be sent out as soon as the wine will have arrived to your home and it will take place during the weekend.

The Brunello Prime Donne 2016 went on sale on January 1st 2021 and so this is practically a preview. Some of the major wine critics have tasted it, so we have their enthusiastic ratings for you.

BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO PRIME DONNE 2016 RATINGS

• Robert Parker/Wine Advocate: 96
• Vinous Antonio Galloni: 95
• James Suckling: 96

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 Prime Donne in an exclusive wooden crate + a vacuum stopper
Price of 274 Euro (instead of 324 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

Those who wish to double the order with 2 crates for a total of 12 bottles of Brunello 2016 Prime Donne
Price of 528 Euro (instead of 648 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

6 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino 2016 Prime Donne in an exclusive wooden crate + a vacuum stopper
Price of 304 Euro (instead of 324 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

Those who wish to double the order with 2 crates for a total of 12 bottles of Brunello 2016 Prime Donne
Price of 578 Euro (instead of 648 Euro) until February 12^th, 2021

HOW TO ORDER

Order now on our online shop!…

L'articolo CLUB OFFER: Brunello Prime Donne 2016 in wooden crate sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Each of us during the Sommelier courses listened to the instructions regarding the visual inspection of the wine with a certain condescending air.

Do not deny it; it has happened to all of us.

To begin with it is the aroma and tastes that attract attention because they are a rediscovery of the senses, that for the past century we have all used very little. Our lifestyle and the structure of our brain privilege sight, while the use of the nose and tongue has progressively been reduced to a simple “I like it” or “I don’t like it”. The Sommelier course is often a way to rediscover aromas and tastes because slowly they become understandable messages.

SWIRLING THE WINE IN THE GLASS

For this reason the visual analysis is often underestimated whereas listening to people such as the World Champion Sommelier Luca Martini, it is easy to understand how important this is in understanding a wine. His first suggestion is to <<look at how the wine moves in the glass>> the slowness is typical in rich wines while the watery ones with no substance are much faster. Generally filtering worsens the situation.
The legs left on the inside of the glass once the wine has swirled tell us a lot especially the way they descend.…

L'articolo We must look at red wine with more attention sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A 5 star vintage.  Like the gestation period of a human being there is a process that brings the grapes to the day they are picked and it lasts a precise time, and varies only because of the climate, but generally made up of three 2-month phases for a total of 180 days.
In 2016 the budding of the vines took place 15 days sooner than normal and this should have brought forward the harvesting period by 15 days. Instead the biological cycles slowed down and the harvest took place at the usual time.
The ripening was perfect, like every grape grower dreams of. Sunny days, cold nights, only one storm on September 18th. Small clusters with small berries and a parallel evolution between skin and pulp that brought to the harvesting day with a perfect technical and poliphenolic ripening.

BRUNELLO 2016 AND DONATELLA RETURNS TO THE ORIGINS

For Donatella Cinelli Colombini and the Casato Prime Donne winery 2016 was a return to tradition, vinifying Brunello in concrete tanks with mechanized punching down of the cap of grape skins. Obviously these are up to the minute French tanks, as is the punch down mechanical system, but the procedure is the same as 500 years ago.…

L'articolo Brunello di Montalcino 2016 from Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In the spring of 2016 the vines budded 15 days sooner than usual, but the grape harvest took place at the beginning of October, more in line with the traditional calendar.  For the first time in the last twenty years Donatella Cinelli Colombini saw her grapes ripen in the old way. The accumulation of sugar in the grapes proceeded more slowly than the ripening of the polyphenols and everything happened very gradually thanks to the sunny days (only one storm on September 18^th) and to the cold nights. When harvest time arrived the ripening was perfect both in the skin and in the grape pulp.
Sangiovese grapes able to produce long lasting, deep and complex wines. Very elegant wines with silky tannins and a great harmony. Wines that are similar to those that Donatella learned to love as a young woman with her grandfather Giovanni Colombini and that, now in fact, are vinified like long ago; in small unlined concrete vats, using autochthonous yeasts and punching down the caps with the plunger.

BRUNELLO PRIME DONNE SYMBOL OF FEMALE TALENT IN WINE

The Brunello Prime Donne is the symbol of the first winery in Italy to be all female staffed, Casato Prime Donne on the North-West slope of Montalcino. Three female winemakers work here – Barbara, Sabrina and Giada – plus an external consultant, Valérie Lavigne.…

L'articolo Brunello Prime Donne 2016 in preview sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An exclusive “Fine wine”, a collector’s Brunello and an investment, limited to just 1000 bottles. Perfect for presents and special occasions.
Each bottle is packed in a single box upon which is reproduced the medieval Tuscan cloth called “tela di Pienza”. Opening the fan shaped box the bottle appears, decorated with a ring- shaped glitter design surrounding Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s crest in gold. This Brunello tells the story of Donatella Cinelli Colombini, descendant of a noble family from Siena in Tuscany, who before being a wine producer like her ancestors had studied the history of art. After having worked for years in the family winery, in 1998 Donatella created the estate that bears her name. Her parents gave her two properties, in Tuscany, that she has restored. In Montalcino, Casato Prime Donne has 17 hectares of vineyard and from where she produces some Brunello greatly appreciated by wine critics all over the world and exported to 39 nations. Among these the selection IOsonoDonatella is the most exclusive and precious Brunello. It was created starting with the 2010 vintage when Donatella understood that her dream of producing a great wine of international success had come true. It was later produced with the Brunello 2012 and 2013.…

L'articolo FOR DONATELLA’S CLUB MEMBERS the extraordinary Brunello IOsonoDonatella sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

Cenerentola DOC Orcia is a family wine that Donatella Cinelli Colombini produces from the vines and in the cellar at Fattoria del Colle in southern Tuscany. This is an exclusive wine produced in small amounts.

It is obtained from grapes from two Tuscan varieties: Sangiovese and Foglia Tonda, the latter of which is very rare. This variety had been abandoned about a century ago and thanks to Donatella Cinelli Colombini, who 20 years ago began to cultivate it again, it has now become fashionable. It is in fact the Foglia Tonda that gives the Cenerentola wine a powerful and spicy character, and renders it different from all other wines.

12 bottles of Cenerentola Orcia Doc, six from the 2016 harvest and six from 2017.

The first vintage has been considered a “marathon runner” apt for long cellaring, the second is a  “sprinter” that is already at its best now and for the next three years.

Cenerentola 2016 has obtained ratings from the most important international wine: 91/100 from Robert Parker Wine Advocate; 93/100 from Wine Spectator and James Suckling. It is sold out.

Cenerentola 2017 has just been released and is available as a preview for you.

OFFER OF 12 BOTTLES OF CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA

Six bottles of 2016 and six preview bottles of  2017

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

€ 285,00 instead of € 347,00 – exceptionally until November 3rd,

The discounted price includes shipping in Italy or a 20,00 euro discount on shipping abroad

FOR THOSE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

€ 315,00 instead of  € 347,00 exceptionally until November 3^rd.…

L'articolo OFFER CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA 2016 AND PREVIEW OF 2017 sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

THE 2017 CENERENTOLA DOC ORCIA HARVEST

This wine comes from the maddest vintage since the beginning of the century: at the end of April there was a spring frost that hit the whole of Europe. Our hills remained miraculously unharmed while in Spain or Sicily the young buds on the vines were burned.
But another danger was in stall: after a winter with few showers an African summer began, that at the beginning of August made the thermometers rise to 40°C. Bushes, hedges, streams without water and hoards of thirsty wild boar that ate the grapes still unripe to quench their thirst.
Those, who like us, practice an organic regime in agriculture, have had less problems of hydro stress in the vineyards because the vines, solicited to react spontaneously to the climate, have maintained an equilibrium abandoning part of the clusters that remained green and were later removed.
At the end the 2017 harvest has been the scarcest ever.
While the Sangiovese, main Tuscan variety, has suffered thirst and heat, the Foglia Tonda a local rare variety, carried out one of its best performances.

CINDERELLA FROM THE FAIRYTALE TO THE WINE

However there is a reason for this funny name, it is the similarity between the Cinderella fairytale and the Orcia Doc wine region.…

L'articolo Cenerentola Orcia Doc 2017 DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

It is always difficult to shine next to a great star: it will be difficult for those running 100 meters after Usain Bolt, it has been difficult for all mathematicians after Albert Einstein and it is difficult for all entrepreneurs comparing with Jeff Bezos from Amazon.

It will be the same for the 2020 vintage. It cannot shine after a masterpiece of a vintage like 2019 even though it is one of the best vintages picked during the last 20 years, without doubt worthy of the 5 stars given to the best vintages in Montalcino.

THE 2020 COVID GRAPE HARVEST

Let’s go in order, by telling you in detail the harvest in the Covid year. The first with facemasks and the necessity to keep at a distance however had had contact, even indirectly with those found positive. It has been terrible to say to two grape pickers to because their kids class was in quarantine <<go home and you can’t come back until you have a negative swab>> and it has been difficult to say to our consultant wine maker Valérie Lavigne << if you cannot have a swab done before leaving France you must renounce in coming>>. The risk of contagion has created as lot of worry, many problems and however a much less joyous atmosphere than usual.…

L'articolo 2020 Grape harvest is heading towards another 5-star double-win sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

I heard talk about the “humanized” approach for the first time in the  Bordeaux University, about twenty years ago, when the lesson regarding the summer pruning of the vine referred to “the vine sexuality”. In fact it did regard the intervention of man on the equilibrium between the grape grower’s project, who wants to produce grapes for wine, and that of the vine, who wants to reproduce itself.

THE AUSTRALIAN APPROACH TO THE VINEYARDS NUTRITION THROUGH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

In this case the Wine Australia and the Charles Sturt University have gone even further and have forced the National Wine and Grape Industry Center (NWGIC) researchers to create an app for Smartphone to manage the vineyard’s nutritional disorders as if it were a human being. What is curious is that for both man and the vineyard the nutritional problems come from the wrong approach by “parents”. It seems a paradox but the Australian method to the managing of the vineyard helps us to rethink, in a more general way, all of our behaviours, in life like in the wine enterprises. Often grape growers in fact over feed their vines and they mistake the vigour for wellbeing of the plants, just like some mums fill their kids with love by piling their plate until they get obese.…

L'articolo THE VINEYARD’S DIET sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

An exclusive proposal for Brunello lovers, those passionate about fine red wines apt for cellaring and of superb collector’s vintages: 2004, 2007, 2012 all in the RISERVA version and in a wooden crate. All vintages that have been rated five stars with excellent write-ups from the international specialized press.

OFFER: 6 BOTTLES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO RISERVA 2004, 2007, 2012 IN A WOODEN CRATE AND 6 RIEDEL GLASSES FROM THE PERFORMANCE COLLECTION

This offer finishes on June 16th, 2020

FOR MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 559,00 Euro (instead of 658,00€)

We offer free shipping in Italy and 15€ discount on shipping abroad.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET MEMBERS OF DONATELLA’S CLUB

Special price of 592,00 Euro (instead of 658,00€)

To this price the cost of shipping must be added, for Italy the cost is 18€, while the cost of shipping abroad varies from nation to nation and will be quoted upon receiving the order.

Payment via bank draft or via credit card Visa o MasterCard.

The offer finishes on 16th of June 2020.

TO BOOK SEND AN EMAIL TO

vino@cinellicolombini.it

——————————————–

THE RIEDEL GLASS FOR BRUNELLO

To taste Brunello, crystal glassware is necessary, a balloon shaped cup narrower at the top.…

L'articolo A vertical of Brunello Riserva together with its glasses sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

CHIANTI SUPERIORE 2018 FROM FATTORIA DEL COLLE

Chianti Superiore 2018 is a family wine, hence a wine that is born in Fattoria del Colle, that was founded in 1592 by Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s ancestors. This estate has a history more than 400 year old, in the vineyard and in the wines.

This region in Southern Tuscany, at 404 m above sea level, in a territory particularly apt for the production of red wines. It borders with the Chianti Classico, Brunello and Vino Nobile wine regions. The soils are of neo-quaternary origin composed of sand and marine clays. These vineyards were planted on the top of the hills, because well ventilated and well exposed to the sun.

The 2018 vintage was a scarce one because of the frost during the previous year and because of the rainfalls that during the spring disturbed the flowering. In the month of May the showers were particularly frequent and there was also a cloudburst that flooded the winery.

Luckily in September the climate was ideal for the production of great wines, with its cold nights and sunny days, so the grapes size was reduced, and as a result increased the synthesis of the perfumes of the grapes and finally in the cellar we received sound and ripe clusters with a good content of extractable polyphenols

The Chianti Superiore is a type of Chianti of higher level, because of the quality of the wine and because of the provenance of the grapes from vineyards that do not produce much.…

L'articolo Organic Chianti superiore 2018 from Fattoria del Colle sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

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!

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…

L'articolo Chianti Superiore and Rosato IGT 2018 organic at your home sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

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.

THE SOILS OF SANGIOVESE IN CHIANTI CLASSICO AND MONTALCINO

Understanding the soils of these two areas helps to identify the specificities of wines in their most exceptional versions. We are led by Professor Edoardo Costantini and his lectures at the Scuola di alta formazione “sanguis jovis” of the Banfi Foundation published in the book“Il Sangiovese del futuro” (2019).

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SOIL

The general concept of soil should be stressed: it is the superficial part of the earth’s crust, which varies according to climate and man’s intervention. Italian soils represent 51% of the world’s geological variability. In our country there is therefore an enormous concentration of eras: from the oldest (Gallura) to the secondary, tertiary and quaternary ones.

EFFECT OF THE SOIL ON THE VINE AND WINE

It must be said that in warm and dry vintages the effect of the soil on wine is greater, when the distinctive characteristics of the terroir are more evident.
The vine, like any plant, reacts according to the quantity of air and water of the soil in which it is planted.…

L'articolo The land of Sangiovese: Chianti Classico and Montalcino sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

The climatic trend shows the typical characteristics of the best Brunello with rainy winter and spring that have hydrated the soil, very hot July that has blocked a vegetative development determining a reduced size of the grapes, August with thunderstorms alternating with hot days, September with very strong thermal variation between night and day that have favoured the synthesis of perfumes.

A script that repeats itself for all the great vintages of Brunello and seems to show that global warming is an authentic luck for the Montalcino vineyard because it multiplies the five-star vintages and raises the quality level to highs never reached in the past.

CLIMATE OF THE YEAR 2015

2015 will be remembered for its capricious climate that in the south of Tuscany, spared Montalcino, but did huge damage all around: in Torrita on July 5, hailstones as big as oranges, destroyed roofs and cars, on August 24, the flood of the river Arbia brought water to museums, houses, shops and even the theatre, a real disaster.

MONTALCINO AND ITS EXCELLENT HARVEST 2015

Montalcino seemed to have divine protection and the grapes arrived at the harvest in perfect conditions.
In fact on September 14th when our wine consultant Valerie Lavigne arrived, the grapes were almost ready for harvesting and presented in the best way. Valerie had with her an exceptional guest, the headmaster of the Bordeaux oenology faculty Denis Dubourdieu one of the most powerful and feared men in the wine world. …

L'articolo Brunello 2015 Donatella Cinelli Colombini sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

2017 in the vineyards is explained in the words of the Divina Commedia by Dante << guarda il calor del sol che si fa vino>> (Canto 25 of Purgatory). Poetic words that describe a very hot summer where the vines suffered for the draught for month and the grape growers tilled the land to impede that the soil hardened.

A vintage, 2017, that expresses itself at its best in young wines, such as the Rosso di Montalcino, and has among its strong points the Mediterranean vigour and pleasantness. It is in other words a raring, hot, powerful and velvety Sangiovese.

MONTALCINO, TERROIR WHERE SANGIOVESE EXPRESSES ITSELF BEST

Montalcino is, in the world, the territory where Sangiovese expresses itself at its best. An extraordinary territory that makes something extremely difficult happen, in fact it makes it even seem easy: to produce with the same grapes and from the same vines, young wines that are extremely pleasant and elegant, like Rosso di Montalcino, and super premium wines apt for long ageing such as Brunello.

VINTAGE 2017 IN MONTALCINO AND IN EUROPE

In Europe, the 2017 vintage will be remembered as the scarcest and most troublesome of the last 50 years because of a frost at the end of April, and because of a dry and torrid summer, and finally because of the hailstorm in September.…

L'articolo Rosso di Montalcino 2017 by Donatella sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

first harvest with organic certification for Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wineries and first “Rosa di Tetto” rosé BIO. Our vineyards have always been cultivated with manual care but since 2014 we have begun to follow the protocols and we have begun to  be checked on by an external entity that allowed us to obtain the certification and consequently the green leaf, symbol of an organic winery, on the label.

STORY OF A NAME AND OF A FARM WINE

At Fattoria del Colle the production of rosé began more than 30 years ago with the name “Aqua di Tetto”. When Donatella Cinelli Colombini received from her father the farm she decided to change the name because the previous one led to imagine a red wine that had been watered down.

She chose Rosa di Tetto because it recalls the first name buy is also inspired by the climbing roses that grow on the facade of the 16th century villa so high that they get under the roof tiles.

ROSA DI TETTO-FAMILY WINE

The rosé Rosa di Tetto is produced in limited series of 2,500 bottles obtained through Sangiovese grapes from the vineyards at Fattoria del Colle that were picked and vinified on the estate. So this is a “family wine” or as we would say in Tuscany , “Vino di Fattoria”.…

L'articolo Rosa di Tetto IGT 2018 BIO sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

In 2016 the vegetative cycle of the vines was very very long: the vines budded 15 days sooner than usual, but the harvest took place in October, as was usual traditionally. This was because the ripening of the grapes was gradual and slow: something rare during this era of climatic changes that gave great joy to the producers. In fact the ripening of the grape skin (poliphenolic) and that of the pulp (technological) went hand in hand and this circumstance always produces extremely elegant wines.

THE NAME IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

This wine was born to celebrate the only man in Donatella Cinelli Colombini’s wineries, my husband Carlo Gardini. These wineries are the first in Italy to be all female staffed. But Carlo is however always present with his advice and his passion for great red wines, that sometimes, are completely different to those that I love.

THE STORY OF IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

“Il Drago e le 8 Colombe” was originally “Il Drago e le 7 Colombe” and was renamed with the arrival of our consultant wine maker Valérie Lavigne. On that occasion the blend too was changed, today it is a 60% Sangiovese 20% Merlot and 20% Sagrantino. Three varieties that give different characteristic to the wine: the Sangiovese gives elegance, the Merlot pleasantness, and the Sagrantino increases the structure.…

L'articolo 2016 vintage of Il Drago e le 8 Colombe Super Tuscan sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

This had already happened in the past when the 2009 bettered all expectations and so became one of the cult vintages for Brunello.

The 2013 vintage had a rainy winter and a cool summer, a typical climate for long lasting and important Brunello. Shortly after the harvest the wine did not seem so special but after the time spent in barrel it finally revealed its extraordinary elegance.

The Brunello stars

To understand what happened let me tell you how the stars get awarded to Brunello vintages. Long ago the evaluation of vintages was done by expert wine journalists but in 1992 the Consorzio del Brunello decided to do it itself, with rigorous and above all objective criteria. From that moment onwards, every year, its asks the Montalcino wineries, for a sample of the new vintage just born. It has all samples analysed and then reunites a panel of technicians made up of the best wine makers. Their opinion is expressed in stars: 1 star for a bad year, 5 stars for the excellent ones.

During the presentation of the new Brunello, half way through February, the President of the Consorzio reveals the number of stars that have been attributed to the new vintage. This rating is portrayed on a ceramic tile positioned, each year, on the facade of the Old Town Hall in Montalcino and also on our fermentation room facade at Casato Prime Donne.…

L'articolo A great Brunello 2013 riserva Casato Prime Donne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

A vintage this 2016 to be framed: depth, complexity, and finesse, and  longevity, characteristics that only a slow ripening of the grapes can give to a wine.

The Sangiovese, main variety used in Cenerentola DOC Orcia (together with Foglia Tonda), produces grapes that are meteoropathic, so can go mad and ruin if the climate is adverse. Its skin is made up of few layers of cells so it needs the help of the sun to express itself at its best. For this reason in the high hills of Southern Toscana, where the climate is dry but cool, Sangiovese has its ideal habitat and reached levels of excellence impossible elsewhere in the world.

There were surprises regarding the harvest date too: the vines had sprouted a good 15 days earlier than usual, and everyone, including us, thought that the harvest would have been precocious one. On the contrary already when the veraison happened (changing of the colour of the grapes from green to blue) the calendar of the vegetation cycle was already aligned with the traditional one, then the ripening proceeded regularly and slowly. In 2016 for the first time in a long time, the clusters reached the time of harvest at  a snail’s pace with a mass of sugar in the berries growing slower than the poliphenolic ripening, that of the noble substances in the skins. …

L'articolo Cenerentola Doc Orcia, a wine with a crown sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

 What do the words DIVERSITY, IDENTITY, TIPICALITY? In an era of globalization these seem to have become more important but can they merge with the research for high quality?

1) Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Valerie Lavigne Identity and typicality define the personality of the wine. It is through them that wine is recognizable by its taste, taste that is the specific expression of one or more grape varieties grown in a given region. Without authenticity, there can be no diversity. Therefore the search for quality in my opinion is inextricably linked from the notions of authenticity, identity and therefore diversity.

2) Donatella Cinelli Colombin autochthonous varieties like Sangiovese, Foglia Tonda and Sagrantino. What have they to offer more or less of compared to the international varieties like Cabernet or Merlot

VLV Autochtonous grape varieties, when combined with the image of a great wine produced in this region, Brunello Sangiovese for example, are always cultivated at their northern limit, ie where there is always a little more difficult than elsewhere to get a full maturity. It is in these conditions that the grape expression is the most original and most inimitable either.
The international varieties like merlot, cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay, when grown in Bordeaux and Burgundy are at their northern limit. The aromas of these varieties, in these circumstances are very unique and identifiable.…

L'articolo Donatella Cinelli Colombini interviews the wine maker Valerie Lavigne sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.

“Traveller” UK  from the “Condé Nast” editorial group, so as if to say, the queen of tourism magazines, in the May 2011 edition has published the 10 most beautiful wineries to visit in Toscana and Umbria, ours are in third position.

A bronze medal for Donatella Cinelli Colombini wineries, surpassed only by Tenuta di Capezzana and Fonterutoli.  An unexpected but very welcomed honour which projects us among the  excellent destinations of Italian wine tourism. In our wineries the tours are different to other places. At Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda the visit includes the halls of 16th century villa with the bedroom which once belonged to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the chapel, the gardens, and obviously the winery which produces Chianti and Doc Orcia wines. The tour begins in a medieval hermitage, crosses the remains of a tower and finally rises up into the loft where the Vinsanto caratelli are stored.
At Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino  the Brunello barrels are alternated with frescoes regarding Montalcino’s

 history, and the  hall for the wine tastings exhibits the most beautiful photographs of the Val d’Orcia  from the last 10 years. For those who would like to work off some of the wine tasted , before driving once again there is a path through the Sangiovese vineyards with panoramic resting spots where works of contemporary art and quotations from famous women enrich the landscape.…

L'articolo Donatella Cinelli Colombini wineries among the 10 more fantastic winery to visit sembra essere il primo su Cinelli Colombini.