Donatella Cinelli Colombini : Casato Prime Donne Rosso di Montalcino 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Casato Prime Donne Rosso di Montalcino 2022 from Donatella Cinelli Colombini

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a beautiful ruby-red color, deep and vibrant.

Nose

On the nose, the wine expresses itself generously through aromas of violet and fully ripe red fruits, supported by vinous notes. Aging in barrels brings a subtle spicy touch that enhances and balances the overall aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, this wine delights with its balance and its indulgent character. The tannins, well-structured, are silky and elegantly integrated. The whole stands out for its lovely freshness and a long, particularly enjoyable finish.

Food and wine pairings

This Casato Prime Donne Rosso di Montalcino 2023 pairs wonderfully with flavorful, low-fat dishes. It will be right at home alongside a generous brunch, a board of Italian cured meats, well-aged semi-hard cheeses, pasta with a spicy sauce, or roasted and grilled meats.

Serving and cellaring

The Casato Prime Donne Rosso di Montalcino 2023 is ideally served between 16 and 18°C. Intended to be enjoyed in its youth, it can nevertheless be cellared without difficulty until around 2028.

The elegance and richness of a Rosso di Montalcino by Donatella Cinelli Colombini

The estate

Since 1998, Donatella Cinelli Colombini has been at the helm of this Tuscan family estate, whose history dates back to 1592. Leading two properties — Casato Prime Donne in Montalcino (40 hectares, including 17 hectares of vines) and Fattoria del Colle in Chianti —, she was the very first woman in Italy to run a wine estate. Her team, entirely female from vineyard to cellar, remains to this day a rarity in Italy. Specializing in Brunello di Montalcino made from Sangiovese, she combines hand harvesting with modern tools to reveal the full authenticity of Montalcino’s terroir.

The vineyard

This Rosso di Montalcino comes from parcels planted on the northern slope of Montalcino, on the heights of the Montosoli hill. The highest areas are characterized by clay and sandy soils of Pliocene origin, while the lower sections show an alluvial profile shaped by deposits from the Suga stream.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage put the winegrowers of Toscane to the test. After a particularly wet winter and spring, the summer proved stormy and unstable. These climatic hazards, combined with the damage caused by downy mildew and hail, made the harvest challenging. Despite a 50% loss in yield compared with the previous year, the quality of the grapes hand-harvested between September 15 and 25 proved remarkable, thanks to meticulous optical sorting carried out berry by berry.

Winemaking and aging

The Casato Prime Donne Rosso di Montalcino 2023 is vinified in open-top truncated-cone stainless-steel tanks, with punching down and temperature control. Fermentation is carried out using indigenous yeasts selected directly at the Casato Prime Donne estate. After alcoholic fermentation, a 20-day maceration in closed-top tanks allows for gentle extraction of aromatic compounds. Aging is carried out in barriques and larger barrels, with a predominance of barriques, in keeping with the traditional character of this vintage.

Grape variety

100% Sangiovese.