Reds of Central Italy Wine Recommendations

Il Molino di Grace – Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013

Tenuta Argicole Il Molino di Grace is a 62 hectare property is just south of Panzano half way between Florence and Sienna. Here grapes are carefully selected from organic vineyards that rise to elevations 350-400 metres on hilly slopes. Elevation and exposure ensure perfection for late ripening Sangiovese. In the winery, the wine is blended and aged for 16 months in new and used French barriques and tonneaux followed by three years of bottle age.

Tasting Notes
The deep ruby colour is followed by rich aromas of black cherries, earthy spice and toasted oak that jump out of the glass. On the palate the wine is dry, with refreshing acidity and flavours of baked red and black fruit (plums and cherries), notes of earthiness followed by gentle textured tannins to the end. This wine is well-balanced and worthy of more contemplation. This bottle can age another 3 to 5 years and still show up beautifully.

Perfect Pairing
The perfect pairing is braised lamb shank with roasted vegetables, veal & eggplant parmigiana or wild mushroom pappardelle. Available at Everything Wine & BC Liquor Stores. Thank to Patagonia Imports for providing the bottle.

Recommendations for Red Wines of Central Italy
Central Italy is perhaps the most visited and most famous wine region in Italy. In Tuscany, Chianti Classico sits to the north and Brunello and Montepulciano to the south. However, let’s not forget Umbria, a land locked region producing great value wines, the Marche that features coastline and rugged inland mountainous vineyard areas; the Marche and Abruzzo famous for the Montepulciano grape and finally Lazio home of the Vatican known as a region of few red exports (they drink it all), yet good quality to price ration for those wines that land on our shores.

Lazio
Cesanese  – Casale del Giglio 2017                                                      $24.99

Umbria
Torgiano Rosso – Lungarotti – Rubesco 2018                                   $23.49
Sagrantino Montefalco – Antonelli – Rosso 2016                             $35.57|Marquis
Sagrantino Montefalco – Antonelli - Chiusa di Pannone 2010/12 $86.86 |Marquis

Marche
Lacrima Di Morro D'alba - Umani Ronchi Fonte Del Re 2018      $26.99

Abruzzo
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo – Marina Cvetic – Iskra 2014               $47.99
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Tiberio 2016                                         $25.99

Tuscany
Chianti Classico – Isole e Olena 2017                                                38.99
Chianti Classico Riserva – Felsina Berardenga 2017                     $63.99
Toscana – Sette Ponti Crognolo 2017                                               $39.99
Vino Nobile di Montepulcino Riserva – Carpineto                        $41.70 |Legacy
Bolgheri – Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia                                        $74.99 |Marquis
Brunello di Montalcino – Il Poggione 2018 Rosso di Montalcino $42.54|Marquis
Brunello di Montalcino – Altesino – Montosoli 2013                     $59.99

Perfect Cheese Pairings
Pecorino Toscano – Aged semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese from Tuscany.
Caciocavallo – semi hard cow’s milk cheese from across Southern Italy (the Grana Padano of the South).
Boschetto al Tartufo – semi-soft cheese made from a combination of a cow's and sheep's milk with black truffles from Tuscany & Umbria

Check out Les Amis du Fromage, Bosa Foods, or Oyama Sausage on Granville Island for supply.