Kim Uncorked: Welcome to my weekly wine recommendation.
Hi, I’m Kim, a passionate lover of wine, food, and any experience that brings the two together!
In this weekly blog post, I share my thoughts on a wine that I’ve recently purchased from one of our local independent wine merchants. If you’d like to know more about me, I’ve included a brief bio following the post.
2021 Il Grigion
Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG
Italian red wine
Everything Wine
988 Marine Drive, North Vancouver
$34.99
Also available at BCLBD
2021 Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva
Last week I recommended an IGT from Tuscany; this week, let’s celebrate a Tuscan classic. Produced by San Felice in the southern zone of Chianti Classico, the 2021 Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG is a quintessential red made from 100% Sangiovese. This enticing wine has charmed the world, ranking #24 in the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2024 and earning glowing 93-point scores from Wine Spectator and Vinous.
Aged for about 24 months in oak—including roughly 20% in small barriques—followed by an additional year in bottle, the wine develops structure and refinement. The bottle label features Titian's 16th-century painting, Man in Armor. The armored nobleman symbolizes the wine’s bond with Tuscan tradition and aristocratic heritage. His armor represents strength and structure, expressing the firm backbone and tannins typical of Sangiovese grapes. The figure, commonly
interpreted as a mature nobleman (“Il Grigio,” meaning “the grey one”), also suggests aging and maturity, mirroring how the wine gains complexity and elegance over time. Overall, the image represents nobility, strength, aging potential, and Tuscan identity—qualities the winery wants associated with the wine.
The 2021 vintage shows a balanced, medium-bodied profile. Aromas open with red cherry, ripe plum, and violet, layered with subtle earthy and spicy nuances from oak aging. On the palate, the wine delivers vibrant acidity and firm yet subtle tannins, supporting flavours of dark cherry, plum, and savoury spice. The finish is long and savoury, with lingering notes of dried herbs and mineral earthiness.
Pair the Il Grigio with roasted meats, tomato-based pasta dishes, or aged cheeses. This is a wine ready to drink now or hold for another five years.
Kim Mead is a Vancouver-based wine and food writer. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines with Merit, the French Wine Scholar designation with Honours, and Italian Wine Essentials certification. She is currently pursuing the Bordeaux Master's program with the Wine Scholar Guild. Kim serves as Cellar Master for the Vancouver chapter of the International Wine and Food Society and is a member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux. Follow her @agalandaglass