Casisano Colombaio was located in Località Casisano in Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy. It produced Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC, Rosso di Montalcino DOC and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. The owner was Tatiana Schwarze whose family had, in 1980, bought Colombaiao as a summer house. From 1990 it belonged to the Ciarpella family, a medical family from Rome. They renovated both vineyards and winery. In 1990 Casisano had around 6ha of vines, and reached to around 20ha. Their consultant oenologist was Paolo Vagaggini. Riccardo Ciarpella was manager. Winemaking was handled by Tatiana Schwarze’s son, Riccardo Ciarpella (advised by Paolo Vaggagini). The estate was sold in 2015 and was renamed by its new owners Casisano, which see.

Vineyards: 53ha of land of which 22ha of vines. Two distinct sites called Podere Colombaio and Casisano. Podere Colombaio (0.4ha) lies on steep terrain on the slope upon which Montalcino town centre lies, beneath the Madonna delle Grazie church. | Casisano is near the winery south east of Montalcino, on a natural terrace between the Abbey of Sant’Antimo and the Orcia river and Monte Amiata. 21ha. Cellar is here.

Organics: Organic practices from 1996.

Red wines

Rosso di Casisano: 1998 Bottled.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC, Casisano Colombaio: 6 months in Slavonian oak. | 2000 Bottled.| 2011 Broad, full, cedary nose, with ripe, almost over-ripe notes in there with some resin from the wood; lots to the entry, firm tannin from the wood supporting squishy but concentrated red cherry fruit, rewarding mouthful with plenty of youthful energy (With Ian d’Agata Tuesday 28th May 2013). | 2013 15,120 bottles. High tone jam but only moderate colour, bit sweet and sticky, dry end, OK (Anteprima 2015). | 2014 Bit of blur, sweet fruit (Anteprima 2016). |

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Casisano Colombaio: 1997 Bottled. | 2000 Rich, herby style, could be a bit overripe, also some old wood, dry tannin in palate, decent if a little Mediterranean (Anteprima 2005). | 2008 Bottled. | 2009 36,600 bottles. OK, quite old style, slightly dry and thick tannins, hard to see this going anywhere (Anteprima 2014). 2009 L 3273-1. Attractively rich ripe raspberry colour in the middle and fades evenly to the rim. Flat nose but there is depth and frank fruit, has a home-made jam style about it without descending into jammy over-ripeness. The palate shows bright fruit, savoury-sweetness and coolness, mentholated raspberry. Lots of depth and freshness. Sweet fruit finish, still youthful at the Consorzio Tues 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others. | 2010 42,300 bottles. Sweetish berries, OK, then quite savoury red fruit and perhaps a bit too much tannin but at least not too much wood = highish yields, and sensibly made  (Anteprima 2015). | 2011 Bright, soft and a bit simple (Anteprima 2016).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Vigna del Colombaio: 1997 Bottled. | 2000 The final vintage of this wine I was told on 14 Oct by Susanna Pii.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva: 2001 Exists. | 2003 Exists. | 2004 Exists. | 2008 3,513 bottles. Thickish colour with an old-style nose, thick and drying out, over-ripe and extracted  (Anteprima 2014). | 2008 L-3039-1. Attractive ruby core with a full garnet rim. Plenty of ripe red fruit on the nose–cherry and raspberry–allied to some tertiary wood (cedar, balsam) aromas. The palate shows overt richness of fruit initially then some savoury balsam. A good mix of ripeness and savoury characters in both fruit tannin and wood tannin, with attractive floral (peony) aromas in there too. Good example of controlled ripeness at the Consorzio Tues 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others.

Other activities: Olive trees. Brunello grappa. Brunello grappa reserve. Extra Virgin Olive oil. Nice winery and tasting room.

Contact

Podere Casisano

Loc. Casisano, n. 52

I-53024 Montalcino (SI), Italy