Returning to a Tuscan Classic – Rocca delle Macìe Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione

What is the true essence of Tuscan red wines? Over the last few decades, the best wines are often almost New World in style and reminiscent of Bordeaux and the Napa Valley. Rocca delle Macie Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione shows a way back to how it used to be

Sergio Zingarelli, President- Rocca delle Macìe

The outstanding and exquisite 2015 Rocca delle Macìe Sergio Zingarelli

For decades, Chiantis and its pure, Old-World reverence ruled. By the 1970s, Super Tuscans took center stage, and wines like Sassicaia, Redigaffi, Ornellaia, Solaia, Tignanello, and others took over and became the attention grabbers. Other Tuscan reds seeing the world’s appetite for more powerful wines fashioned their wines to be heavier, richer, and more satisfying on the palate.

This new wine would be the antithesis of what modern wine drinkers were drinking

With the 2010 vintage, Macie delle Macìe introduced Sergio Zingarelli. “A winemaking project that began in 2000 with the replanting of almost all of the Sangiovese vineyards on the company’s Le Macìe estate in Castellina in Chianti.” This new wine would be the antithesis of what modern wine drinkers were drinking. In a recent vertical covering every vintage made, I found myself concentrating as I tasted the wines. Below are my impressions:

·         2010 Showing lots of earth and dried leaves; impeccable balance and delicious savory spices in the finish. My Score: 92 Points (Release Price: $130)

·         2011 Perplexing at first, lively on the palate, high acidity, bright red fruit; this is perfect for lighter meat dishes with delicate sauces. My Score: 90 Points (Release Price: $120)

·         2012 I thought this wine was too soft initially, but as I imbibed more of it, I grew to like it. Very pretty berry fruit, with a background of savory spices. This wine shows one must not be hasty in judging wines. Smooth finish. My Score: 92 Points (Release Price: $130)

·         2013 Sergio Zingarelli calls exclaims, “2013 was a fantastic vintage.” Vivid with effusive red fruits from start to end, lovely balance, persistent, firm, yet stylish finish. My Score: 93 Points (Release Price: $120)

·         2014 From a difficult vintage, it was a vigneron harvest. Brooding, black fruits, some dustiness, authentic, tight-knit on the palate; sturdy finish. My Score: 93 Points (Release Price: $130)

·         2015 Sergio Zingarelli proclaims, “A perfect vintage!” A bold statement! This was my favorite wine of the group. Red fruit, mineral notes; tangy, energetic palate; mouthcoating flavors; long finish. My Score: 94 Points (Release Price: $100)

·         2016 Right in the middle of the pack of these excellent wines, savory, ripe fruit and brisk minerality in the finish. My Score: 93 Points (Release Price: $100)

·         2017 Lovely, almost precocious, yet firm with excellent staying power; ripe fruit, a shading of earthiness; slight elevation in the finish. My Score: 92 Points (Release Price: $100)

·         2018 Youthful and full of bite; earthy and red fruit; packed on the palate; time will yield a beautiful wine. My Score: 92 Points (Release Price: $100)

The most memorable takeaway from this vertical tasting is that elegance, persistence, and brightness need a place in our wine vernacular

The most memorable takeaway from this vertical tasting is that elegance, persistence, and brightness need a place in our wine vernacular. Power often impresses, and style gets overlooked. While one cannot help but marvel at the super Tuscans, the Rocca delle Macìe Sergio Zingarelli Gran Selezione is proof that the core of great wines begins in the vineyards and this winey has the site to pure excellence to the fore.

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973 when Italo Zingarelli—producer of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”)—acquire the Le Macìe estate. This led to the completion of this dream to “create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.” Since 1985, his sons Sergio and Fabio and his daughter Sandra. In 1989 Sergio, Italo’s youngest son was named President, and with his wife, Daniela travel worldwide taking care of the winery’s business.

For me, this tasting was an eye-opener. When I first went through the wines, I swirled, sniffed, and tasted them. The wine seemed so similar, with subtle differences. As I continued and went back and forth, the intricacies of each wine emerged as if each wine wanted attention. I recommend you give these wines a try and don’t rush through them. I gave them my love, and they returned the favor. copy Intro paragraph

https://www.palmbay.com/producers/Rocca-delle-Macie/portfolio/chianti-classico-docg

A vertical (2010-2018 Sergio Zingarelli

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