Tenuta Iuzzolini Cirò Rosso Classico 2021 (Calabria) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a delicious red wine from Calabria crafted with the indigenous Gaglioppo variety that arrived at the LCBO just over a week ago as part of the recent LCBO VINTAGES Release on January 7th.

Tenuta Iuzzolini was founded in 2004 by Fortunato Iuzzolini and his wife Giovanna Colicchio, and the couple transferred their love and passion for the land to their four sons who are also now part of the Estate. Located in Cirò, a small Calabrian town with Greek roots along the Ionian coast of Crotone, they have approximately 500 hectares of land on the Estate with 100 hectares planted to vineyards, 50 hectares to secular olive groves, 100 hectares of arable land, and the remaining land consists of pastures and woods for livestock raised in the wild.

The soils at Tenuta Iuzzolini are of clayey-limestone and sandy origin, and very fertile because they are rich in natural springs. It experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and short, rainy winters, providing the ideal conditions for growing vines and olive trees. In addition to making quality wines, the goal of the Iuzzolini family is to recover and enhance native Calabrian vines, namely Greco Bianco, Gaglioppo, and Magliocco. The most widely planted of the three varieties is Gaglioppo as it has been cultivated for thousands of years in the area of Cirò and thrives because it has adapted to the dry climate and resists disease. Today, the family employs 35 workers to perform specific tasks within the company, a number which triples during the grape and olive harvest period.

While the 2017 Tenuta Iuzzolini Cirò Rosso Classico that I tasted a couple of years ago was crafted with 100% Gaglioppo, this vintage, according to the back label, is crafted with mainly Gaglioppo. The grapes were grown in the "Timpa Bianca" area, in Cirò Marina, in the central eastern part of the province of Crotone, Calabria. The vineyards are situated 50 to 100 metres above sea level and planted on white clay soils, and experience a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers. The grapes were manually harvested during the first week of October and underwent a traditional fermentation, followed by ageing in steel for 5 months with a short passage in barriques. Let's see how this 2021 Gaglioppo from Calabria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

TENUTA IUZZOLINI CIRÒ ROSSO CLASSICO 2021 - DOC, Calabria, Italy (#13034) (XD) - $19.95
Crafted mainly with the Gaglioppo variety, the medium+ intensity nose is lightly candied and fruit forward with ripe red fruits, red cherry, red plum, raspberry, plus some spices and savoury wood undertones adding interest. It's medium+ bodied and dry on the palate with delicious red berry, raspberry, red plum, and spice flavours supported by fresh, juicy acidity and supple, rounded tannins. The red berry, plum, and spice notes are joined by a touch of mineral on the finish, with very good length. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next few years. Score: 88 pts

Other delicious wines by Tenuta Iuzzolini can be ordered through their Agent - Eurovintage Wines & Spirits.

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Librandi Duca Sanfelice Cirò Riserva Rosso 2017 (Calabria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a lovely red wine made with the indigenous varietal Gaglioppo from Calabria. It arrived at the LCBO a couple of weeks ago, as part of the August 21st LCBO VINTAGES Release and is featured as part of the theme on the sunny wines of the Mediterranean.

It is produced by Librandi Winery, a family-owned producer that first bottled its own wines in 1953 in Via Tirone, Cirò Marina, with wines made using Gaglioppo and Greco Bianco grapes. The company expanded its winemaking activities in 1955 by purchasing an estate in the Ponta area, and named it 'Duca Sanfelice'. The grapes for this wine are from Duca Sanfelice, an estate which was further expanded by purchasing neighbouring plots in 1973. Librandi inaugurated their new wine production facility in 1975 within the municipality of Cirò Marina, where they are still located today.

Cultivating vines for four generations, the Librandi family have been steadfast supporters of the region's land and its riches. They are eager to spread the knowledge of Calabria's rich winemaking heritage that goes back to the 8th century BC, when a Greek colony made up of mostly winemakers settled on the Ionian shores and named the area "Enotria Tellus", or Land of Wine.

First crafted in 1983, this red wine is made with the indigenous Gaglioppo varietal that was grown on clayey and calcareous soils within the heart of the Calabrian winemaking region - the comunes of Cirò and Cirò Marina, in the province of Crotone. It was vinified in stainless steel vats, then aged in a combination of steel and concrete vats for 2 years, followed by bottle ageing for a few months prior to release, which should provide a very pure-fruit experience unobstructed by oak. I recall only trying one Gaglioppo wine prior to this and am curious to see how this compares. Let's see how this Gaglioppo red wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LIBRANDI DUCA SANFELICE CIRÒ RISERVA ROSSO 2017 - DOC, Calabria, Italy (#695874) (XD) - $17.95
100% Gaglioppo aged in steel and concrete for 2 years, the medium-high intensity nose offers complex ripe black and dark red cherries and spices joined by some funky earthy, rustic, and touch minerally aromas, along with some baking spice, plum, and candied cherry notes that arrive with time in the glass. It's medium+ bodied with attractive black cherry, spice, and plum flavours that are supported by fresh, balanced acidity. Smooth, fine tannins have a slightly grainy & chalky texture on the mid-palate. Juicy with notes of black cherry, mineral, and a touch of smoke lingering on the long, satisfying finish. Highly recommended buy. Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely, authentically Calabrian wines by Librandi can be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Tenuta Iuzzolini Cirò Rosso Classico 2017 (Calabria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice red wine made with a relatively unknown grape called Gagliappo. It is an indigenous varietal to southern Italy and grown mostly in Calabria. Wines from Calabria are rare to find at the LCBO, so I am delighted to see that this will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on February 8th.

Tenuta Iuzzolini was founded in 2004 by Fortunato Iuzzolini with his wife Giovanna Colicchio. Together, they transferred their love and passion for the land to their four sons who are also part of the Iuzzolini Estate. It is located in Cirò, a small Calabrian town with Greek roots along the Ionian coast of Crotone. With approximately 500 hectares of land on the Estate, they have planted 100 hectares to vineyards, 50 hectares to secular olive groves, 100 hectares of arable land, and the remaining part consists of pastures and woods for livestock raised in the wild.

Part of the goal of the Iuzzolini family is to recover and enhance of native Calabrian vines. In addition to planting various international varietals in their Estate vineyard, they also cultivate three varietals autochthonous to Calabria - Greco Bianco, Gaglioppo, and Magliocco. Gaglioppo is the most widely planted of the three grapes as it has been cultivated for thousands of years in the area of Cirò due to its adaptability to dryness and disease.

Tasting Note:

TENUTA IUZZOLINI CIRÒ ROSSO CLASSICO 2017 - DOC, Calabria, Italy (#13034) (D) - $17.95
100% Gagliappo from white clay soils located 50 to 100 metres above sea level. This red sees very little time in barriques and has a bouquet of bright red berry, peppery spice, rose floral, and red plum aromas with savoury touches. More red berry, spice, and plum flavours that become a bit darker on the ripe, medium-bodied palate with light, gritty tannins and fresh, juicy acidity. Wanted a bit more length on the juicy, structured finish that adds intrigue with toffee and sweet spice notes. Worthy exploration of this grape. Score: 87 pts

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