We have been waiting for the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino to hit the market ever since we started tasting unreleased samples last spring and summer in Italy (the photo above snapped in August 2023). The poise, structure, and freshness makes this one of our favourite Brunello vintages in some time. As Eric Guido of Vinous noted in his extensive 2019 Brunello report, “In the end, 2019 provides a blending of power and elegance in a way seldom seen while maintaining a lovely balance of acidity and structure.”
We are fortunate to have 3 of our producers’ Brunello di Montalcino from 2019 release at the LCBO this month, and while one wine, Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino 2019 sold out immediately, we are still offering it by the case in consignment.
Read below for more details about two very special 2019 Brunello still available at the LCBO, along with the links to purchase.
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino 2019
From the organic Casato Prime Donne property, this Brunello comes from vineyards on the cooler northern side, around 225 m altitude, on soils rich in clay and silt. The native fermentation takes place in small stainless and bare concrete, after which it rests in older tonneaux and big barrels for at least 2 years, followed by a period of at least 6 months in bottles. From the stellar 2019 vintage, this structural wine rolls across the palate with waves of crushed florals, sultry cherry, deep plum, leather, and dark cocoa, wrapped with ample chewy tannins, and finishing with a trailing dried florals and tobacco. Very harmonious, and will reward with some time in cellar.
“Black-cherry, lavender and rosemary-flower aromas with hints of spices and stems, following through to a medium body with firm and silky tannins that show integration and presence. Slightly chewy. But it’s polished and real. From organically grown grapes. Better in 2026.” – 94 points, James Suckling.
Read more about Donatella Cinelli Colombini here.
Appellation : DOCG Brunello di Montalcino
Region : Toscana
Country : Italy
Grape(s) : Sangiovese
Price : $77.95
LCBO : 113357
Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino Prime Donne 2019
Montalcino’s Casato Prime Donne is made up of 40 organic hectares, 16 of which are planted to Sangiovese. There is also a modern, artistic, fresco-filled winery and ageing facility for the Rosso and Brunello di Montalcino wines. The entire staff is female, including the head winemaker, and Donatella has become a beacon for women in the wine industry, not only in Italy, but globally. Donatella noticed that wine critics for the Italian wine guides were all men. She decided then to unite a small group of talented women wine professionals, asking them to blind taste future Brunello from different barrels, and to select the best lots. Donatella considers this result, the Brunello Prime Donne, the flagship for her wineries.
Sangiovese from the clay-limestone Ardita Vineyard surrounding the winery at 250m, was handpicked and fermented on skins for 15 days in stainless and unlined concrete. It was then moved to 5-7hl French tonneaux, before finishing in traditional 15-40hl oak barrels from Slavonia for 2.5 years. Prior to being bottled, unfiltered, the wine rested in unlined concrete vats. Prime Donne is a powerful Brunello destined for a long ageing. Fragrant wild cherry and raspberry flows through this graceful, structural wine, layered with medicinal cassis, leather, balsam, and crushed stones. Tannins are long and finely firm, well integrated into the lifted, stony fruit, and guide this to a lingering scrubby herb finish. Quite special, and from the lauded 2019 vintage, this is drinking beautifully now, and with time ahead in your cellar.
Only 6,000 bottles produced.
“The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Progetto Prime Donne is a seductress enticing with exotic spice, rubbed sage, cedar, dusty rose, and dried strawberry aromas. Cool-toned and classic in feel, it washes across the palate with seamlessly silky textures that balance tart wild berries with vibrant acidity. Tactile minerals add grip toward the close. This finishes dramatically long and staining, leaving violet inner florals to mingle with orange as a web of fine tannins frame the experience perfectly. The 2019 is the most balanced and complex rendition of Prime Donne I’ve yet encountered.” 95+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous.
Read more about Donatella Cinelli Colombini here.
Appellation : DOCG Brunello di Montalcino
Region : Toscana
Country : Italy
Grape(s) : Sangiovese
Price : $127.00
LCBO : 39285
Most of our producers are small, independently owned and operated businesses, like ours. You can view our complete portfolio here. Thank you for letting us share these producers and wines with you.
Cheers,
Le Sommelier
416.603.7026
bernard@lesommelier.com
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