The women of wine are an association founded in 1988 to promote the culture of wine and the role of women in wine production and in society. Approximately 1,058 women producers, restaurateurs, wine shop owners, sommeliers, journalists and wine experts throughout Italy are part of this association. The president of this association for the years 2023/2025 is Daniela Mastoberardino. The previous president was Donatella Cinelli Colombini who gave impetus to important initiatives. Donatella at the end of last year with the help of the good PR. Maddalena Mazzeschi organized a tasting of 12 sweet wines from Tuscany at her company.
Journalist Gianni Fabrizio conducted the tasting which was very interesting.
For the occasion, Donatella presented her Passito B10 wine from Traminer grapes, 2018 vintage, designed and created by her husband Carlo Gardini.
During this tasting each producer presented their own sweet wine. After this very pleasant and interesting tasting, a delicious lunch followed, again inside the company, accompanied by Donatella’s wines.
My tasting notes for the sweet wines follow.
FATTORIA ALDOBRANDESCA
Aleatico Sovana Doc Superiore, 2022 vintage
(grape: 100% Aleatico)
Bottles produced n. 8,592
It has a ruby red and light purple appearance.
From the glass rise aromas of dried dates, cooked cherries, mint, eucalyptus, starch from cotton fabric, dried plum, natural tea, red rose, jute, black pepper, hints of nutmeg to finish with whiffs of almond shell.
On the palate it feels a little fizzy, it has a medium, sufficient body and a good balance between alcohol and freshness.
The tannins are sweet, not broad (4/6++) and velvety.
Wine with a pleasant sweetness but lacking a bit of concentration.
Its taste persistence is long. (89/100)
FATTORIA LE PUPILLE
SOLALTO IGT TUSCANY
White passito, 2019 vintage
(grape variety: 34% Sémillon, 33% Traminer and 33% Sauvignon)
Bottles produced n. 2,100
Amber yellow colour.
The typical scent of wood immediately stands out on the nose, personified by the “After eight” chocolate (chocolate and concentrated mint), hints of dried apricot and ending with the note of mint which reminds me of hard mint (sugar cane soaked in mint). .
On the palate it has a medium balanced body, there is a hint of malolactic fermentation and acetic acid. Rich freshness that completely covers the alcoholic mass, making the wine well balanced. Its taste persistence is long.
I was told by a person who works in this company that this wine does not make wood but only steel. How is it possible that it has these woody scents?. I was very skeptical. (88/100)
BANFI
LORUS MOSCADELLO DI MONTALCINO D.O.C.
Late harvest, 2019 vintage
(grape variety: 100% Moscadello)
1,900 bottles produced
Shines full golden yellow light.
Olfactory mix made of scents of fresh celery and fennel, acacia honey, dried apricot, saffron, LPG gas, finishing with caresses of chamomile.
Upon tasting it shows a medium body and an imperfect balance of taste, in fact there is a very slight swing between alcohol and freshness and you can feel the upper gum burning slightly.
Sweet wine but in a well-measured way.
Its taste persistence is long and not concentrated.
Better on the nose than on the taste. (90–/100)
DONATELLA CINELLI COLOMBINI
Organic Passito from Traminer Aromatico grapes
IGT Toscana, 2018 vintage
(grape variety: 100% aromatic Traminer)
Bottles produced n. 364 of 0.375 lit.
Light brick colour.
Articulated on the nose in intense tones of dried date, dried fig, jute, amber, rose water (Roberts), chamomile, almond shell, licorice and milk toffee.
On the palate it reveals an intense, mellow sweetness and a good balance between alcohol and freshness. The body is medium plus.
Its intense aromatic persistence is long. This wine has a concentration reminiscent of Partridge’s Eye, in my opinion it would have needed more acidity which would have positively contrasted the concentration. (94/100)
DEI
VIN SANTO DI MONTEPULCIANO D.O.C., 2016 vintage
(grape variety: aromatic Malvasia, Trebbiano and Grechetto)
Bottles produced n. 1000
Transparent ancient pink, intense copper.
It is proposed with aromas of the alcohol of cherries in alcohol, zabaglione, medicinal herbs, almond shell, honey, light chinotto, light boisè to end with whispers of almond.
The body is medium plus and the wine has an intense almond flavour, followed by honey, chinotto and dried apricot.
Freshness dominates the alcoholic mass and the upper gum burns slightly. Very concentrated wine that could have needed a little more acidity. Its intense aromatic persistence is long. (92/100)
CASTELLO QUERCETO
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
D.O.C., 2018 vintage
(grape variety: Trebbiano, Malvasia and San Colombano)
Bottles produced n. 2000
It wears a mix of amber and copper colors.
Olfactory system with aromas of light tannery leather at the end of processing, medicinal herbs, boiled rice starch, chinotto, rust to finish with hints of dried apricot.
Intense alcohol flavor of the cherry in alcohol.
The body is medium and the wine seems to be balanced in terms of alcohol and freshness, although the upper gums feel a bit burning. Its taste persistence is long.
Dry and non-fatty wine. (89/100)
BADIA A COLTIBUONO
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico
D.O.C., 2013 vintage
(grape variety: Malvasia and Trebbiano)
Bottles produced n. 5,300
Intense amber color.
Olfactory expression with aromas of pecorino, dried date, dried fig, mint, eucalyptus, caramel and almond shell.
Medium intense body and flavors of dried fig, dried date and almond.
Slight swing between alcohol and freshness.
You can taste the pepper on your tongue. Wine with an important structure, not thin.
Its taste persistence is long with a slightly acidic finish. (93/100)
TENUTA IL CORNO
Vin Santo del Chianti
D.O.C., in them 2004
(grape variety: Trebbiano, Malvasia, San Colombano and Colorino)
Bottles produced n. 4000 from 0.500 litres.
Brick color with fine green edge.
The note of rhubarb emerges on the nose followed by graphite, medicinal herbs and white pepper.
On the palate it has a medium body, it is initially sweet and shifts to acidity.
Well balanced wine between alcohol and freshness. Its intense aromatic persistence is long with a finish that recalls a light acetic acid which however balances the sweetness. (91/100)
CASTELLO SONNINO
Red Label Vin Santo del Chianti
D.O.C., 2015 vintage
(grape variety: 100% Trebbiano)
Bottles produced n. 3000
Slightly coppery amber yellow coat.
It sequentially features aromas of pecorino, medicinal herbs, mint, eucalyptus, light rhubarb, black olive, modest dried fig, dried date and denatured alcohol. The olfactory journey continues with notes of almond shell and chamomile.
Mouth with good freshness which completely silences the alcoholic mass.
The body is medium and the wine has flavors of dried fig, dried date and caramel.
In its long persistence the flavors already felt immediately remain. Nice wine, pleasant! (95+/100)
CAPEZZANA CONTI CONTINI BONACOSSI
Vin Santo di Carmignano D.O.C. reserve, 2016 vintage
(grape variety: 90% Trebbiano and 10% San Colombano)
Bottles produced n. 5000 of 0.375 lit.
Dark amber dress.
Aromatic breadth with aromas of eggnog, paint glaze, pastry, dried white fig, almond, milk toffee, chamomile and acacia honey.
It reveals a medium body and a not excessive sweetness which lies between being a dry wine and a very concentrated wine, coming closer to the latter. Well balanced wine, in fact the alcoholic mass is completely tamed by freshness.
Its flavor persistence is long with a finish of dried white fig and chamomile. (98/100)
TENUTA DI ARTIMINO
Vin Santo di Carmignano D.O.C.
EYE OF PARNICE, 2012 vintage
(grape variety: Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Aleatico, Trebbiano Toscano, Malvasia Bianca Lunga, and San Colombano)
Bottles produced n. 1700.
Amber yellow dress.
The nose features intense aromas of peanuts, when the shell is broken, dry white fig and light denatured alcohol.
The mouth reveals a medium, non-concentrated body with a slight flavor of acetic acid which dampens its sweetness.
Well balanced wine with freshness and acidity which neutralize the alcoholic mass. Its taste persistence is long with a slight burning sensation on the upper gum.
Rather dry wine. (91/100)
VILLA DI VETRICE
Vin Santo del Chianti Rufina D.O.C., 2005 vintage
(grape variety: 70% Trebbiano and Malvasia and 30% Sangiovese)
Bottles produced from 0.500 litres.
Amber yellow colour.
Aromas of rubber, intense parsley, medicinal herbs, light rhubarb, eggnog, pastry and dried white fig.
The body is medium and the wine has an almond flavour.
A rather balanced wine between alcohol and freshness even if it burns the upper gum and tongue slightly.
Its taste persistence is long with an almond finish and light alcohol from the cherry in alcohol.
Rather dry wine. (91/100)
