Donatella Cinelli Colombini Shop

The Brunello Riserva is practically a magical wine, because it can challenge time, and live decades, even centuries sometimes.

At Casato it has been made only 8 times during the last 11 years.

The production of Brunello Riserva depends on the climate, the rainfall and the sun, mostly during August and September. It is possible to know right from the tasting of the grapes, this is when the picking dates are chosen. If in the vineyards there are Sangiovese grapes of extraordinary quality then it is possible to produce the Brunello Riserva.

That is the reason why it is made only in certain years and the quantity differs every time, even though it is always a small production. These productions are in fact always less than the requests by collectors and wine lovers from all over the world who wish to store these bottles in their cellars for important events.

The grapes nearly always come from a vineyard called Ardita on the highest point of Casato Prime Donne. This plot where the best clusters come from is delimited with red flags, the 5-7 hl French oak barrels where the Brunello Riserva ages for about three years are also flagged with red heart. Small signs that help the grape growers and the cellar staff remember where the small masterpiece is born, this masterpiece that needs constant care and attention until bottling time.

Brunello Riserva is made for a lengthy ageing. This means that it must have a tannic and acidic structure able to preserve it in time. To balance these characteristics and make it pleasing even when young it is necessary that there be richness in fruit (polyphenols) that give aroma and balance the power. The Brunello Riserva 2012 has all these top quality characteristics.

In the 2012 vintage the total production was of only 6.600 bottles.

RATINGS

• 95 Vinous – Antonio Galloni
• 93 Wine Enthusiast
• 93 Wine Advocate – Robert Parker
• 92 Wine Spectator
• 92 James Suckling
• 17/20 Jancis Robinson

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