Wine with Friends | il Molino di Grace | il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013

“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 il Molino di Grace il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013. This is the third in a series of four Wine with Friends features with il Molino di Grace. Here you can read the other previously posted features.

Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2013

GRAPES
Sangiovese

POSITION
Between 350 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
16 months in French barriques and tonneaux new and first use

At first the wine is dominated with scents of rich, ripe blackberry. A little savoury and herbaceous on the nose. Dark burgundy in colour and with first sip it was slightly lighter than its appearance would suggest. 

A bit of leather and red currant combine with a plum tarte aroma prevailing. As the wine sits in the glass the scents become softer.

This was an interesting wine that was embraced by two of the four tasters. Those that enjoyed the bolder composition and predominate tannins found the wine very pleasing, whereas those with a more delicate palate found it a bit brawny and aggressive.

We paired the wine with a double cream brie, salami, tapenade and assorted olives, crackers and baguette and with a nod to Pride Month a rainbow of Purdys Chocolatier Salted Caramels.

Given its age I expected a smoother, more full body experience. On day two the wine was definitely tamer and met most expectations.

The wine was decanted three hours before serving and spent an hour in the refrigerator, then to a cool room because outside the temperature was high 20’s, this brought the temperature closer to 17 degrees. Always a bit challenging on such a hot afternoon but it allowed for the first outdoor Wine with Friends.

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.