La Colombina borders on both the Ciacci and Uccelliera estates in the township of Castelnuovo dell'Abate. The vineyards have been in the Caselli family for generations, but the family, proprietors of a winemaking-equipment shop in Montalcino, had always chosen to sell the grapes rather than bottle their own wines. Husband and wife team Anna Maria and Alamiro decided to make the leap into wine production in the mid-90s, and were lucky to have 1997 as the first vintage of this estate-bottled Brunello! The superior location of the estate is immediately evident in the ripe, powerful fruit on the nose, with an underlying intensity and weight that is typical of Castelnuovo dell'Abate, making wines that, similar to Ciacci and Uccelliera, are compelling and long-lived. Close in quality to their better-known neighbors, Colombina's wines remain a great value, particularly their Rosso di Montalcino, which delivers great Montalcino Sangiovese at a fraction of the cost of other rossos. San Martino, their Tuscan IGT, is comprised of 70% Sangiovese da Brunello, with 20% Merlot and 10% Syrah. The Sangiovese ages in botti, while the Merlot and Syrah age in Barriques, both for 36 months. This is a terrific value Super Tuscan! Visit the La Colombina website.