The 45th Vancouver International Wine Festival over 8 days has just concluded. Canada’s premier wine show was a great success with an amazing 147 wineries from 12 countries showing 1150 wines – showcasing the theme country of Italy with 71 wineries. So many educational highlights including a special 8 vintage (2012-2019) library vertical seminar from Rocca Delle Macie in Tuscany led by Italian wine expert Filippo Bartolotta and President Sergio Zingarelli showing his top Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG. This highest classification started in 2014 requiring the use of only estate grown grapes and bottling with at least 30 months aging. Interesting Rules on product characteristics at time of consumption for GS:
Colour: Lively ruby-red tending to garnet with aging Odour: Spicy and persistent
Flavour: Dry, persistent, balanced
Minimum abv: 13. – CC 12 & CCRiserva 12.5
Minimum total acidity: 4.5 g/l – CC & CCR the same
Minimum non-reducing extract: 26 g/l – CC 24 & CCR 25
Your scribe as been concerned with the differing quantities of GS by producers with some restricting it only to their best vineyards like SZ by RDM while others using almost all their grapes to trade off the GS hierarchy. This needs tweaking but thankfully all the grapes seem to be ripening better in CC as a result of global warming to the consumer’s advantage in the wines. A few brief notes on this exciting vertical served in 4 flights pairs:
2012 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Started in 2010-2013 using 90% Sangiovese with 10% Colorino (subsequently 100% Sangiovese). 2012 was a very HOT year showing rustic forest floor notes with porcini as Filippo describes the wine as “orange brick rim with black fruits ginger spicy Christmas pudding sweetness.”
2013 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Served blind last pair with the 2018. Another HOT year, dark opaque look and different higher extract & pH from the others. Filippo called it “blue flowers, blue bells”.
2014 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Served in opening pair with the 2012. First time 100% Sangiovese plus using larger size wood barrels and less barriques. Less pale orange at the edge and more floral from this COOL year. Filippo: “red fruits floral sage & violets.”
2015 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE
2016 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Discussed 2015 & 2016 together both with better acidity and minerality than the 3 earlier years. Filippo:”2105 juicy dried violets and flowers” and “2016 celebrated year earthy tannic structure fininishes with more balanced layered textures”. Your scribe’s 2nd favourite!
2017 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Similar to 2012 as a very HOT year with sour cherries aromas and typical tobacco. Filippo: “Sweet but strongest tannins so far”
2018 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Served as blind last pairing with HOT 2013 representing again the COOL 2018 year style in comparison. Lighter look of less colour & palate with less body but still has characteristic cherries, floral and touch of tobacco seen in them all.
2019 SERGIO ZINGARELLI CHIANTI CLASSICO GRAN SELEZIONE: Their 10th harvest of GS and clearly the best! Wonderful wild strawberries with energy plus classy elegance. Filippo: “ripe rhubarb with juicy complexity which will last 30-40 years without a problem”.
Great learning experience on CC GS with smart comparison of the hotter and cooler vintages. Plan to visit the 46th #VIWF @VanWineFest from February 22 to March 2, 2025 featuring USA wines.
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