UCC PARENT SOCIAL - SANGIOVESE TUSCAN TOUR
I and the UCC Parent Social Committee organized a fun and adventurous series of wine tastings. A zoom social gathering to catch up and see each other in this Covid Lockdown #3. It was an engaging way to dream and imagine travel in the comfort of our homes. Tasting, I would say, some elegant and fine wines based on the Sangiovese grape. We started with a great expression of Chianti Classico from Tenuta Bibbiano’s 2018 vintage in Castellina in Chianti. Castellina a south lying commune, with a slightly warmer climate. This ‘first’ wine from Tommaso Marchesi Marzi, is a combination of fruit coming from his two single vineyards that hug the historic cantina. These vineyards are of two different exposure and from vines planted in the 1950’s and from some vines most recently planted in 2000 and 2005. This is a head and shoulders above the rest expression of Chianti Classico from one of Italy’s oldest wine making regions!
Tommaso of Tenuta Bibbiano, from a 2017 visit to his winery.
We then cruised down, virtually and in our minds, to the town of Montalcino for a Rosso di Montalcino from Canalicchio di Sopra. Francesco Ripaccioli and his siblings currently are at the helm of this winery. They are the grand children to Primo Pacenti - an OG of Brunello history. The new generation of wine makers are making waves in a manner that upholds ‘family tradition and the values of Sangiovese in Montalcino’ and have also evolved with the times. Embracing a positive and future vision of how the wines of this region, need to be better! This Rosso di Montalcino is a brilliant example of the hidden beauty of Sangiovese presenting a dusty rose, and cherry scented wine, with a certain lift and medium body weight, that on the palate, hits you with acid and fine tannin and gently brings you in with sweet black cherry, red currant and a touch of light tobacco leaf.
Francesco in the winery from a trip with the Brunello Consorzio in 2019.
It was with great pleasure that I was able to introduce the final wine. Brunello di Montalcino from Donatella Cinelli Colombini! The Grand Dame of Montalcino. She was the first woman in wine in Montalcino, from an era when it was unheard of a woman to work the vineyards and make wine. She changed the game and is consistently making great wines all across the board. We tasted her 2015 Brunello di Montalcino. A wine I believe is ready to drink now, and may offer more finesse with 5-7 years more ageing. This wine was deeper and richer, from a warm vintage, with plum and blue-ish fruit flavour - black black cherry with the finest drops of vanilla, minted chocolate and underbrush to mushroom. Tannin and Acid were pronounced, though in my recent observation of Brunello, recent history has presented winemaking and wines that allow for approachable and ready to drink energy in their youth with supple fruit, yet with enough structure to hold for several years. You much choose your producer wisely, as there are many that are tightly wound. This 2015 is a worthy addition to your cellar and is also only the ‘first’ Brunello from Donatella. Her upper tier wines offer some serious flavour and energy!
Donatella at her Fattoria delle Colle Winery and Restaurant. A visit in 2017
