Wine with Friends | il Molino di Grace | Chianti Classico Reserva 2017

“In this series I will be reviewing wines shared with friends”

From time to time I am the fortunate recipient of wines sent to me for review. It is especially nice to share these wines with friends. Not only does it make for lively conversation, and often diverse opinions, but it also makes for a very enjoyable occasion. So thanks to my wine loving friends who join me from time to time for a glass of wine.

“The road to a friend’s house is never long.” This is especially true when the purpose of the visit is to discover the secrets of a new wine. This is the second of four wines from il Molino di Grace that I will be reviewing.

The wine I was sharing with friends is a 100% Sangiovese grape 2017 il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico Reserva.

Chianti Classico Riserva

GRAPES
Sangiovese

POSITION
Between 300 and 400 metres above sea level

TRAINING SYSTEM
Spurred cordon with 3-5 buds per cord

HARVEST
Late, early October, by hand

VINIFICATION PROCESS
20 days of maceration at a controlled temperature of 28-30°C with soft extraction process and frequent punch-downs

AGING
12 months between Slavonian oak casks, French barriques and tonneaux of first and second use

Although this wine is from 2017 it still would benefit from more aging. The wine was lighter than I anticipated but smooth with hints of a coming richness.

The Reserva is slightly more expensive than the formerly reviewed il Molino di Grace Chianti Classico 2018 but has similar characteristics. 

Medium tannins give way to a smoother expression as the wine sits a little longer in the glass.

We paired the wine with a double cream brie, prosciutto and seedless purple grapes. Each pairing added a new dimension to the flavours and texture of the Reserva.

The wine was decanted two hours before serving and spent about 30 minutes outdoors to bring the temperature closer to 17 degrees.

il Molino di Grace

A treasured Tradition, a lasting legacy

Il Molino di Grace is steeped in the historic Chianti Classico tradition producing old world Classico and Super-Tuscan wines for the modern age.

Founded by Frank Grace in the 1990’s, the winery of Il Molino di Grace was built with a simple vision: to bottle the most authentic expression of this rocky terroir and succulent Sangiovese fruit that the picturesque Chianti hills deserve.

The vineyards that now produce Il Molino di Grace’s wine have been doing so for over three and half centuries. Harvested first by monks from the local monastery, these Chianti Classico vineyards have amazed winemakers and wine enthusiasts every harvest since. Today, an awe-inspiring 9 meter statue tall of an out-stretched, sun and moon holding San Francesco della Vigne stands proud over the rolling vines, blessing all those who have toiled and will continue to toil in this rocky Galestro soil.

The winery’s active founders, Frank Grace and his two sons Tim & Daniel, instilled and infused the science and technology of modern organic wine production with the artful tradition of old world wine making. Il Molino di Grace celebrates this delicate balance of creativity and innovation – the rocky, sloping south facing fields that bear the Sangiovese fruit, the cellar produces it, the artwork showcases it, and the wines embody it.

Wine notes courtesy of the winery. My notes (in bold italics). I received complimentary wines to facilitate this feature.