Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico 2019 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

After enjoying the delicious 2017 Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico nearly three years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest edition (and from a very good vintage!) to arrive recently at the LCBO as part of last month's June 24 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Rocca delle Macìe, a family-owned winery that was established in 1973 by Italian film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill a lifelong dream. Italo Zingarelli acquired the 85 hectare "Le Macìe" estate, of which only 2 hectares were planted to vine, and quickly grew the estate into one of the most popular names in Italian winemaking. Rocca della Macìe is located in the heart of Tuscany, near the town of Castellina in Chianti, with the estate having grown to an expansive area of approximately 600 hectares, with approximately 200 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The vineyards are situated at various altitudes, allowing for the cultivation of various grape varieties, but mainly Sangiovese, that thrive in the region's diverse micro-climates and terroirs.

Today, Rocca della Macìe is run by Italo's son, Sergio, and has become one of the most prominent wine producers in the Chianti region by creating wines that not only respect the terroir, but also through a deep commitment to improving wine quality through innovation while remaining rooted in tradition. The wines are crafted to reflect the unique characteristics of the terroir, while showcasing the aromas and flavours of the Tuscan countryside. The winery also follows sustainable agricultural practices and places a strong emphasis on preserving the natural balance of the environment.

Like the previous vintage, this edition is also composed of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. Bearing the Zingarelli family name, this red wine is the flagship wine of the zone and represents the greatest expression of the zone's particular features while highlighting the strong link that the family has to the area of Chianti Classico. It is proudly crafted using the best grapes from the four estates of Rocca delle Macìe in the area of Castellina in Chianti, representing the synthesis of four distinctive terroirs. The grapes were carefully selected and vinified according to traditional Chianti Classico methods. It was aged in French oak barrels for two years, and further refined in bottle for at least three months.

Although it is somewhat difficult to generalize a growing season in Chianti Classico, the 2019 vintage was, by many accounts, a very good-to-excellent vintage. The growing season was fairly even throughout, as it was quite dry with no humidity. The grape quantity and quality is very high, with many producers enjoying a very late harvest that is typically preferred for Sangiovese. The resulting wines this year tend to have well-balanced acidity and tannins, as well as a nicely balanced texture and excellent aromas. Let's see how this 2019 Riserva Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2019 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $25.95
Blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. The rich, complex, medium-high intensity nose has perfumed and spicy aromas layered over dark berry, cherry, blackberry, and forest floor with hints of plum, dried herb, dried cherry, and floral adding complexity. It's medium-full bodied and slightly chewy on the palate with elegant, gently grippy tannins and juicy, well-balanced acidity. Lovely dark red cherry, clove, forest floor, and cedary wood spice flavours, plus some tangy notes on the mid-palate. Nicely balanced throughout with savoury forest floor and cocoa notes, plus a touch of mineral lingering on the long, succulent finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 90+ pts

Many other lovely wines by Rocca delle Macìe are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Rocca delle Macìe Single Vineyard Riserva di Fizzano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico 2015 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this excellent Gran Selezione Chianti Classico from Tuscany that arrives in LCBO VINTAGES on October 31st.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 by by Italian film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill a life-long dream to have his own winery when he acquired the "Le Macìe" estate in the heart of Chianti Classico. Today, Rocca delle Macìe has four estates within the southwest area of Chianti Classico, more specifically in the Municipality of Castellina in Chianti. This area is particularly suited to the cultivation of vines and is characterized by very heterogeneous soils that guarantee a variety of aromas and unique organoleptic characteristics.

I've enjoyed many wines from Rocca delle Macìe over the years, including tasting this Gran Selezione that is made with grapes exclusively from Tenuta Riserva di Fizzano, one of Rocca delle Macìe's four estates in Chianti Classico. Tenuta Riserva di Fizzano was purchased in 1984 and is locally renowned for its excellent exposure of its primarily south-facing vineyards. Just over half of the 61 hectares of the estate are devoted to vineyards growing Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Colorino at an altitude between 623 to 985 feet above sea level, on soils with Miocene deposits with a sandy-loamy texture that is deep and calcareous. This site also has over 4 hectares of olive groves, along with an oil mill that produces all of Rocca delle Macìe's olive oil, as well as the company's hospitality hub - a place I would love to visit one day.

Even though the Gran Selezione classification only became official with the 2010 vintage, this winery's historic cru already had the characteristics of producing very special wines. Like all Gran Selezione which must use only estate grown fruit, this Riserva di Fizzano is also a single vineyard wine grown on sandy and pebbly soils that are ideal for Sangiovese. Every vintage, this wine is made with a minimum 90% Sangiovese, and the balance Colorino. After fermentation, most of the wine matures in 35 hL French oak barrels, while the rest is aged in 225 L barriques. After the two batches are blended, the wine rests in the bottle for another year prior to release. Let's see how this Gran Selezione Chianti Classico is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE SINGLE VINEYARD RISERVA DI FIZZANO GRAN SELEZIONE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#699454) (XD) - $34.95
The 2015 is a blend of 93% Sangiovese and 7% Colorino and offers a complex and elegant mix of savoury earth, spice, black and red cherry with a touch of dried floral aromas. It's medium-full bodied on the palate with lovely dried cherry and floral notes, plus sweet baking spice, forest floor, tobacco, leathery. and cherry liqueur flavours. Acids are juicy and well-balanced while tannins are smooth and refined with a touch of grip on the back palate. Forest floor with some dried cherry and floral notes linger on the savoury finish, with excellent length. An elegant wine to enjoy throughout the decade. Score: 91+ pts

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Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico 2017 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this nice Chianti Classico that arrived as a "Smart Buy" at the LCBO over the long weekend as part of the September 5 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 by Italian film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill a lifelong dream to have his own winery. He acquired the 85 hectare "Le Macìe" estate, of which only 2 hectares were planted to vine, and quickly grew the estate into one of the most popular names in Italian winemaking. This was achieved by creating wines that not only respect the terroir, but also having a consistent commitment to improving wine quality through innovation.

The Chianti Classico Riserva Famiglia Zingarelli is the flagship wine of the zone and represents the greatest expression of the zone's particular features, proudly bearing the Zingarelli family name in order to highlight the strong link that the family has to the area of Chianti Classico. It is made using the best grapes from the four estates of Rocca delle Macìe in the area of Castellina in Chianti, resulting in a blend of four terroirs. Following careful selection, the grapes (90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot) are vinified according to traditional Chianti Classico methods, then aged in French oak barrels for two years, followed by further refinement in bottle for a minimum of three months.

This red wine is a regular visitor to VINTAGES, and I have tasted previous vintages of this wine on numerous occasions over the years. I last enjoyed the 2015 Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico at home nearly two years ago and am pleased to have the opportunity to try the 2017 tonight.

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot. The medium+ intensity nose offers bright sour red cherries surrounded by wood spice, earthy, and savoury aromas. It's medium+ bodied on the palate with pleasing blackberry notes joining the woody, savoury aroma replays. It has juicy, balanced acidity, and fine, textured tannins with a pleasing touch of grip. The savoury, wood spice tones continue through to the finish, with very good length. Enjoy over the next 4-5 years. Score: 89 pts

There are quite a few wines from Rocca delle Macìe available at the LCBO, but other wines from this producer can also be ordered via their agent's brand new website - Profile Wine Group.

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Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Riserva 2016 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a nice follow-up to the delicious 2018 Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico that I enjoyed a couple of weekends ago. Like the Chianti Classico, this Chianti is a VINTAGES Essentials product at the LCBO and widely available for purchase in-store across Ontario.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 by film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill his life-long dream. It was established on a solid base of ethical values constructed by Italo and today is run by his children Sergio, Fabio, and Sandra, to become one of the largest wine producers in Italy.

Sustainability is a key pillar of Rocca delle Macìe as they continue to implement agronomic techniques that are geared not only towards constantly improving the products, but also towards respecting the environment. Some of these practices include integrated pest management, streamlining the consumption of non-renewable resources, avoiding non-essential waste of natural resources, and limiting human activity on the equilibrium of the ecosystem. By using high-precision viticulture, Rocca delle Macìe is able to make winemaking rational and sustainable, while at the same time enhancing the land. With this in mind, Rocca delle Macìe still aims to express the very best of the vine and terroir, and achieve products of the highest quality.

In addition to producing wines from the Chianti Classico and Maremma zones, Rocca delle Macìe also produces wines thanks in part to collaboration with old and new Tuscany producers in other zones such as Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Bolgheri, San Gimignano, and Orvieto. This particular red wine is from the Chianti DOCG from carefully selected and ripened Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot grapes. It is vinified with the latest controlled fermentation techniques and undergoes maturation in oak for a period of two years prior to being released.

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CHIANTI RISERVA 2016 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#111641) (XD) - $15.95
A blend of 90% Sangiovese with equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot completing the blend, and aged for 24 months is large oak barrels. Medium+ intensity nose is savoury with currant, plum, red cherry, and earth aromas. It's ripe fruited on the palate with currant, sour cherry, oak spice, and leathery flavours on the medium-bodied palate. Light tannins have just enough texture to keep things interesting, while lemony acids are food-friendly. Savoury, currant, and chocolate notes linger on the finish, with very good length. A fine, simple Chianti for mid-week drinking. Score: 88 pts

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Rocca delle Macìe Chianti Classico 2018 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is a nice Chianti Classico that is part of the VINTAGES Essentials collection and widely available at LCBO outlets across Ontario for purchase in-store and online for either delivery or pick-up.

It is produced by Rocca delle Macìe, a relative newcomer to winegrowing in Italy as it was established in the Chianti Classico zone only in 1973. It was founded by film producer Italo Zingarelli to fulfill his life-long dream when he acquired the 93 hectare "Le Macìe" estate - of which only 2 hectares were planted to vine. The passion and love for the Tuscan land was passed along to his sons Sergio and Fabio in the mid-to-late 1980's, with Sergio becoming President in 1989. In collaboration with his sister Sandra, they set out to make quality wines and the company became quite popular and recognized worldwide. Today, Rocca delle Macìe has more than 500 hectares, 200 ha of which are planted to vines and 22 ha to olive groves, across its six estates which span the areas of Chianti Classico and Maremma in Tuscany.

This Chianti Classico was born along with the winery when the first vintage was bottled at least as far back as 1978, and growing to become the ambassador that represents Rocca delle Macìe. In fact, the history of Rocca delle Macìe is doubly intertwined with this Chianti Classico as the wine has evolved over the years both through the changes imposed upon it by updates to local wine regulations and through enhancements made in the vineyards thanks to replanting, soil analysis, and the clonal selection of Sangiovese.

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE CHIANTI CLASSICO 2018 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#741769) (XD) - $18.95
A blend of mainly Sangiovese (and 5% Merlot), that was selected and picked by hand, and aged for 6-10 months in Slavonian/French oak barrels. The medium intensity nose has a savoury, dark red cherry, and sweet spiced core flecked with dried herbal aromas. It's medium-bodied with fresh, lively acidity that lifts the savoury, red cherry, currant, and oak spice flavours. Soft, grainy tannins are a touch drying on the savoury, earthy finish, with very good length. Score: 88 pts

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Rocca delle Macìe Famiglia Zingarelli Riserva Chianti Classico 2015 (Tuscany) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a nice Riserva Chianti Classico that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on November 24.

It is produced by Rocca delle Macìe, a name that I'm sure you have come across at some point while perusing the aisles at your local LCBO. Rocca delle Macìe was founded by film producer Italo Zingarelli in the Chianti Classico area in 1973 when he purchased the 93 hectare estate to fulfill a life long dream. At the time, only 2 hectares were planted to vines, but along with help from his sons Sergio and Fabio, and his daughter Sandra, the estate now covers more than 500 hectares, 200 hectares of which are used as vineyards. The four estates Rocca delle Macìe owns in the Chianti Classico area all reside within the Municipality of Castellina in Chianti, in the southwest with very heterogeneous soils.

This red wine is one of Rocca delle Macìe's flagship wines from the Chianti Classico zone as only the best grapes from each of the four estates in Castellina make it into the blend that consists of mostly Sangiovese, and small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The label proudly bears the Zingarelli name in order to highlight the strong link that the family has with the Chianti Classico area.

Tasting Note:

ROCCA DELLE MACÌE FAMIGLIA ZINGARELLI RISERVA CHIANTI CLASSICO 2015 - DOCG, Tuscany, Italy (#930966) (XD) - $24.95
A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot that was aged in French oak barrels for 2 years. Fine aromas of oak spice, blackberry, wet earth, and dark cherry with a nice savoury component stream from the glass. It is medium-full bodied with fine-grained tannins and juicy acids supporting the dark berry, savoury, vanillin oak, earth, and cherry flavours. A touch warming on the mid-palate. Nicely savoury and earthy with some chalkiness on the long finish that ends with a nice red cherry note. Enjoy over the next 5 years. Score: 89 pts

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