Brunello Di Montalcino DOCG 'Colombaio' Gift Set

This gift set brings together three bottles of Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 'Colombaio' from Cava d'Onice, from the 2016, 2017 and 2018 vintages. Colombaio is the estate's single-vineyard Sangiovese, grown at 450 m in Montalcino, Tuscany, in lots of about 2,000 bottles a year. Each wine is deep, brilliant ruby, balanced and solid, with smooth tannins and a long finish, and tasting them side by side shows how each year differs. Delivered across Ontario.

The producer

Cava d'Onice, in Montalcino, is named after an ancient Etruscan onyx quarry near the Abbey of Sant'Antimo. Colombaio takes its name from the family farm bought in 1983, and its first vintage, 2000, gave just 266 bottles.

The vineyards

The Colombaio vineyard covers 1.1 hectares at 450 m, facing south and south-west, on medium-textured soil rich in clay and calcium. The vines are spurred-cordon trained at 4,000 per hectare, average 28 years old, yield 40 hl/ha and are picked by hand in the last week of September.

How it's made

Fermentation runs 10 days in stainless steel below 30°C, with 28 days on the skins. The wine matures in second-use 500-litre French oak tonneaux, then rests in bottle in a temperature-controlled cellar before release.

How it tastes

Each bottle pours a deep, brilliant ruby. Expect a balanced, solid palate with tannins woven into the fruit and a long finish, with differences from one year to the next.

How to serve it

Try it with Chianina beef tartare and white truffle, or tortelli in a rich sauce. It also suits hare pappardelle, wild boar, braised meats and aged cheeses. Serve at 16 to 18°C.