winedestination Tag

SUPERTUSCAN WINES AND MONICA LARNER’S TUSCAN DISCOVERIES

THE EDITOR OF WINE ADVOCATE – ROBERT PARKER PRESENTS US 110 IGT WINES AND MINOR TUSCAN DENOMINATIONS INCLUDING OUR CENERENTOLA AND IL DRAGO E LE 8 COLOMBE

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

Monica Larner editor of Wine Advocate – Robert Parker amazes us once again with the report of 110 wines including Supertuscans and wines from small Tuscan denominations. In her presentation article she specifies that she has included the “usual suspects” i.e. Tignanello, Solaia, Saffredi, Galatrona and Redigaffi and <<some fun discoveries made on the Tuscan wine route relating to smaller or little-known names>>.

MONICA LARNER AND THE BORDEAUX STYLE SUPERTUSCANS

In her explanation of the “super Tuscan” category there is another surprise. Monica Larner clarifies that the highest quality type of Tuscan IGT is linked to a specific period in the modern history of Italian wine, dating back to a period between 10 and 30 years ago << which was heavily influenced by Bordeaux. This catch-all category has always frustrated me because it goes against everything achieved to underline territorial identity, authenticity and varietal typicity in wine>>

16 May 2024

Brunello 2018 according to canadian tasters

DAVID LAWRASON, JOHN SZABO MS, MICHAEL GODEL, SARA D’AMATO, MEGHA JANDHYALA, S.J.D. AND JANET DOROZYNSKI, DIPWSET, PHD, JASON SOLANKI TASTE BRUNELLO 2018

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

Wine Align is a rating agency like Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. These evaluate the banks while Wine Align judges the wines.

Obviously the experts are highly competent and completely independent: David Lawrason, John Szabo MS, Michael Godel, Sara d’Amato, Megha Jandhyala, S.J.D. and Janet Dorozynski, DipWSET, PhD who are the new entries in the group joined by Jason Solanki. Next to the profile of each taster there are the numbers of wines passed or failed which, roughly speaking, are a third of the total. So sending your bottles to Wine Align is a risk because criticism is very frequent but, when the opinion is positive, it has a tonic effect on the Canadian market and specifically in Ontario where Wine Align is based.

In this case I propose the 5 tasting results published on my Brunello di Montalcino 2018. All the critics gave similar scores, three of them 94/100 and two 93/100. The descriptions, however, are different and denote a certain difficulty in framing an “old style” harvest played more on elegance than on power. A vintage which, in my opinion, will be very long-lived but which many find extremely satisfying even now.

19 October 2023

FOLIAGE, AUTUMN HOLIDAYS IN THE TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE

VIEWS, NEW OLIVE OIL, TRUFFLES, GREAT RED WINES… THE SLOWER RHYTHMS OF AUTUMN AND THE MILD TEMPERATURES INVITE YOU TO REGENERATE IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PART OF TUSCANY

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

Every season has something special. Something that makes it more attractive and fascinating than the others and makes it be chosen for a regenerating trip. In spring there are very long days suitable for art tourism while the countryside is covered with a green velvet of buds. In summer it is the desire to escape from the suffocating atmosphere of the cities that pushes travellers where they can enjoy the sun, nature and dinners under the stars, distant from traffic. In autumn there are the most beautiful views and the possibility of enjoying them slowly, on walking or cycling itineraries, at the right temperature. In autumn there are the most refined joys of the palate such as white truffles, extra virgin olive oil just arrived from the mill and the preview of the Brunello which will come out of the cellar on January 1st…

At Fattoria del Colle we offer you truffle weekends to savour these little pleasures.

14 September 2023

DONATELLA TALKS ABOUT HER TWO WINERIES

Two wineries with a single Tuscan soul and the feminine dream of qualitative excellence. Casato Prime Donne winery in Montalcino and Fattoria del Colle in Trequanda

by Donatella Cinelli Colombini #winedestination

Fattoria del Colle Trequanda

The Casato farm already belonged to my ancestors in 1592. Over the centuries they used it for hunting and for honeymoons. Today the property seems close to the town of Montalcino in a northerly direction, towards Siena, but at that time it appeared remote and in the middle of the woods suitable for solitary intimacy. More recently the Casato belonged to my grandmother Giuliana Tamanti Colombini, then to my mother Francesca and in the future, it will go to my daughter Violante. All women for a winery which is the first in Italy with an entirely female staff and has been renamed “Casato Prime Donne”.

CASATO PRIME DONNE IN MONTALCINO

In 1998, when my mother gave it to me, Casato was almost a ruin. In 25 years, it has changed into an estate capable of exporting to 44 countries around the world with around 17 hectares (out of a total area of 40) of organic Sangiovese vineyards cultivated with obsessive care. I am a traditionalist, a nature lover but also a non-conformist and rather rebellious. For this reason, in my first years alone, I looked for new and different solutions, then I returned to being the paladin of everything ancient and manual with roots proudly in the earth. My Brunellos stand out for their harmonious and certainly feminine elegance.

13 July 2023

FARM HOLIDAYS IN TUSCANY

To rest, get a tan but also to discover masterpieces of art, play sports in the midst of breathtaking views, see where Brunello and extra virgin olive oil are born...

6 July 2023