“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 the il Molino di Grace il IGT Gratius. This is the fourth in a series of four Wine with Friends features with il Molino di Grace. Here you can read the other previously posted features.
IGT Gratius 2012
GRAPES
Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Colorino
POSITION
Single vineyard at steep hillside
at 580 meters above sea level
TRAINING SYSTEM
Guyot
HARVEST
Late, after October 10th, by hand
VINIFICATION PROCESS
After a second grape quality control, 20 days of maceration at a controlled temperature of 28-30°C with soft extraction process and frequent punch-downs
AGING
12 months in French barriques and tonneaux new and first use
PRODUCTION
22 hl/ha
Pure Sangiovese aromatics, wild cherry and sweet plum nose, united with classic balance on the palate, straightforward yet yielding, soft yet concentrated and finishing with a real sense of place. The 2012 Il Molino di Grace “Gratius” is a powerhouse, not an exploding fruit laden blockbuster, this wine is focused yet supple on the palate, chocolaty, toasted almonds, ripe and potent with a long lasting finish. 93 Points Wine Spectator
Notes courtesy of the wine shop.
For me the wait to try this fourth and final in the series of il Molino di Grace wines was so worth it. This wine can be described as no less than outstanding.
Rich with ripe fruit that lingers on the senses and also follows on the palate. A deep wine that you can get lost in, superb, smooth and deeply complex. Is it fair to call a wine gorgeous? I think so, this is wine that you will love and enjoy again and again.
Paired this time with a Standing Prime Rib Roast done medium rare with bones intact to extract the most flavourful of meat and juices, I can think of no other wine that could possibly rival this one. Of the three il Molino di Grace wines this is surely the winner, standing head and shoulders above the other two.
I think this wine would be perfect anytime, anywhere, but there is something that little bit more special when a wine is served with great food and good 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 wine shop. My notes (in bold italics). Images: MyVanCity. I received complimentary wines to facilitate this feature.
