The Event: Celebrating Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the Lady of Brunello, presented by Le Sommelier Wine Agent

The Date and Time:  Monday, March 30, 2015  1PM to 3 PM

The Event: Celebrating Donatella Cinelli Colombini, the Lady of Brunello, presented by Le Sommelier Wine Agent

The Venue: Fine Wine Reserve

The Target Audience: private clients, wine media

The Availability/Catalogue: we taste 8 wines, all are available by Vintages, consignment, or private order.

The Quote/Background: The wines at this estate are produced by women, including Valerie Lavigne from Bordeaux. Donatella produces four levels of Montalcino: a Rosso (about $28, potential for Ontario), a Brunello classic (under $70), a Prime Donne (under $90), and a Riserva (about $100). The Prime Donne is made by a team of four women winemakers from Germany, Italy, UK, and USA. The winery also makes a series of blends (see below) using merlot, foglia tonda, sagrantino; the latter is grown on the Tuscan side of Umbria.

The Wines:

 

**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Leone Rosso Orcia DOC 2010, $20.95 consignment [60%sangiovese/40%merlot) – the bargain of the day, excellent fruit and French wood expression.

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Cenerentola DOC Orcia 2010, $42.95 consignment [65%sangiovese/35% the autochthonous foglia tonda]. Served with the award-winning Cendrillon cheese from PQ.

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Brunello di Montalcino 2007, $63.95 consignment in transit

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne 2010, $79.95 in transit – my fave of the day

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2007, $97 Vintages +107508

 

 

***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (88 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Il Drago e le 8 Colombe IGT Roscana Rosso 2010, $31.95 consignment [60%sangiovese grosso/20%merlot/20%sagrantino] – Valerie Lavigne's first vintage for Donatelle.

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Brunello di Montalcino 2008, $63.95 private order

-DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI Brunello di Montalcino 2010, $65.95 consignment

 

The Food: salamis, prosciutto, cheeses, olive bread, figs, grapes.

The Downside: I had to leave early for another engagement.

The Upside: a chance to speak with Donatella herself.

The Contact Person: bernard@lesommelier.com

The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 92.

Chimo! www.deantudor.com