Col D'Orcia

Col D’Orcia

For many years I’m following the winery Col D’Orcia and am a great fan of their wines.

Because I organised a wine tasting of  Brunello’s, the time was right to taste again some wines of Col D’Orcia in a separate tasting. Of course, without any doubt,  the tasting was blind.

Col D’Orcia is historically very important in Montalcino. One can find records of they’re existence back to 1890 where the Franceschi family acquired the property, then known as Fattoria di Sant’Angelo in Colle. Already in 1933 they presented their Brunello in one of the early trade fair in Siena.

Leopold and Stefano Franceschi inherited the property which was divided in 1958.

Today Franceschi’s grandchildren Leopold and Livia own the estate Il Poggione, and Stefano named the farm Col D’Orcia after the river along the property.

In 1973 Stefano sold the property to the Cinzano family, originally from Piemonte. They ware already in the spirit business and used their knowledge to extend the business.

In 1973 there were just a few Ha implanted with grapes, but Count Alberto Marone Cinzano increased this to around 70 Ha in the 1980’s.

In 1992 his son Francesco Marone Cinzano took over leadership and continued planting grapes to around 140 Ha today, of which 108 Ha are destined for Brunello.

Today Col D’Orcia makes two Brunello’s, one normal and one Riserva, Poggio Al Vento from a 7 Ha single vineyard.

The Brunelli’s from Col D’Orcia seem to age very well. The vinification is very traditional. Fermentation in steel and maturation in Slavonian oak and partly French barrels.

The Riserva spend 4 years (or more) in barrel.

Along with Francesco Marone Cinzano, his estate manager Eduardo Virano and agronomist Giuliano Dragoni are taking care of the estate and the wines.

The wines:

• Rosso di Montalcino 2010; A very nice wine full of ripe juicy red fruit and spices, very soft and easy, a good start but lacks a bit of body. Don’t hold this one to long. Enjoy it now or drink it soon.
• Nearco Sant’Antimo 2006; A merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah blend; plenty of black ripe fruit, herbs and spices and liquorice. Very well made, supple and juicy, but a wine I don’t search for in Montalcino or Italy for that matter.
• Brunello di Montalcino 2007; Although a warm vintage, the wine is very well made with enough acidity and beautiful in the nose. Ripe tanines, very silky, very expressive ripe red fruit, spices, tobacco and liquorice. Very elegant and long aftertaste. One to hold on.
• Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Poggio Al Vento 2004; A very beautiful and great wine with a nice touch of developing. Full smooth body with nice tanines, a lot of very ripe fruit, a touch of spices, long aftertaste an longing for more. This is wine!!!

I think I can say it has been a long time since I taste such a complete Brunello wine, I still remember the 1995 that today still is very young and beautiful, and I’m sure this wine has the same possibility’s for aging.

Here a picture of Mr. Giuliano Dragoni, his associate and my wife during harvest.

Later I bring you the rest of the Brunello tasting.