Wine Review: Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico 2006
Posted: 20 August '09 by Niall
Wine Review: Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico 2006
Needing a mid-week pick-me-up, Kelly and I indulged in a bottle of chianti – here’s the review..
The Details
- Wine: Chianti Classico 2006
- Producer: Rocca delle Macie
- Region: Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy
- Grape: A blend of 90% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 5% Merlot
- Alcohol: 12.5%
- Cost: £11.99
Tasting Notes
The colour is a bright ruby-red, and the aromas are of deep berry-fruits, spice and oak. The flavour is full-bodied and well-balanced, with firm tannins – with more deep berry and spice to match the bouquet.
The wine does benefit from being left to breathe, and from being slightly warmer than room temperature to release all of those aromas and deepen the flavour.
Food Pairing
Chianti really does go well with most meats (especially beef and chicken) and is a must for any pasta dish.
Other Information
You’ll notice a small rooster on the label on the neck of the bottle – to have this label, and to be called “Chianti”, the wine has to follow rules about the amount of each grape used in the wine, how long it is matured, and the percentage of alcohol. So look out for the rooster when you’re buying chianti in the future!
About Chianti
Chianti is a wine-growing area within Italy that produces some fantastic red wines. Most Chianti is based on the Sangiovese grape, and while some producers used to add white grapes to the blend, this has been prohibited since 2006.
There are seven regions within the Chianti area – Chianti Rufina, Colline Pisane, Montalbano, Classico, Colli Aretini, Colli Fiorentini, and Colli Senesi. There is a great deal of difference in style of Chianti between these regions, and even within a region Chianti can vary greatly with different vineyards producing distinct wines.
The best Chianti wines come from the Chianti Classico region. Chianti Classico is also a “designated area” within the Italian wine-controlling body, the DOCG – which means that in addition to the requirements to be designated as a Chianti, wines from the Chianti Classico region must also have a slightly higher alcohol content and come from vines with a lower yield, giving the wine a fuller, stronger body.
There is a higher grade of Chianti Classico – Chianti Classico Riserva. Riserva wines must be aged more than 27 months, with at least 3 months of this being in the bottle before release, and are often the best of the Chianti variety.
Our Verdict
I prefer full-bodied reds, so this ticked the box for me – a tasty chianti, full of flavour.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Tags: italian wine, red wine, wine, Wine Reviews
Categories: Wine Reviews
