March Wine Club – Chianti

This month for Wine Club we looked at two Chiantis which hail from the Tuscan region of Italy. I really do not know much about Italian wine so this month was a treat for me to learn a little more about this ancient bastion of wine making. I didn’t know that Chianti is mainly made from the Sangiovese grape and was traditionally made in rounded bottles with a straw weave covering. The two Chiantis we looked at were a 2007 Cigliano Chianti Classico (which was the take home bottle for Wine Club members) and a 2007 Rocca Delle Macìe Chianti Classico as the comparison bottle.

"Greetings Clarice"

Here is the LCBO Information on the wines -


CIGLIANO CHIANTI CLASSICO 2007

VINTAGES 189803
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine
13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Tuscany, Italy
By: Villa Del Cigliano
Release Date: Jan 8, 2011

Tasting Note - The Chianti Classico '07 is very natural in its expression and precision of flavour. It's classy, land-focused and shows the winery is on its way. Score - 2 Glasses (out of 3). (Gambero Rosso Italian Wines, 2010)

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CHIANTI CLASSICO (V)

VINTAGES 741769
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 18.95
Wine, Red Wine
13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content : XD
Made in: Tuscany, Italy
By: Rocca Delle Macie S.P.A.
Release Date: May 15, 2010

Description - Italo Zingarelli, the late film producer and founder of Rocca delle Macìe, passed on his love for winemaking to members of his family. They are masters of Chianti. This delicious, medium-bodied, and well-structured wine exhibits complex aromas of plum, sweet tobacco, mushroom and a touch of oak. Uncompromising quality and value. Pairs beautifully with antipasti, bistecca or veal scallopini.

What was interesting about the two wines was the number of things they had in common – both are Chianti, both are $19, both have 13% alcohol and both were from 2007. Pouring out the wines another commonality showed up as they were identical in colour (a soft red-brown) and in colour depth both were thin like you usually see with a Pinot Noir.

Nosing the wines I found green pepper aromas in both. The Cigliano also had aromas of licorice, chocolate and some dark berry. The Rocca on the other hand had aromas of leather and cherry. Tasting the wine I found the structure similar for both; good lively acidity with weak/soft tannin. The Cigliano had a raspberry and menthol flavour to it whereas the Rocca had a solid cherry like flavour to it. Neither of these wines really lit me up on their own but with the food they were both very good.

Speaking of food, Kim (of our Wine Club members) was nice enough to provide homemade cheese ravioli to go with the wine. These were awesome and as I mentioned above work very well with the wines.

It was fun to try a couple of new wines and I could see myself picking up another bottle or two of Chianti depending on what food I was making.

Next month we are doing a blind tasting of 3 red wines which should be fun.

Cheers!

Mark