Rocca di Montegrossi Verticals Tasting at 67 Pall Mall, St. James, London
…By very gracious invitation extended to me by Marco Ricasoli Firidolfi of Rocca Di Montegrossi, as I visited London last week. Marco was presenting two Rocca di Montegrossi verticals exclusively to a group of wine journalists and long term clients.
The wines:
San Marcellino, a superbly crafted Chianti Classico, which originally was a Riserva 1995-1999 and since 2010 has become a Gran Selezione. An in-depth review of this estate can be found on this (my) website posted 3rd September 2018.
The other a vertical was of Geremia, (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon) its first vintage was made in 2001 but it really started to excel from 2006. This is a powerful, intense, balanced and an exceptional example of a wine of its terroir.
Tasting Notes
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino 2006
Deep Ruby red in colour. Delicate bouquet showing white floral tones, black fruit, soft plum, liquorice, wet leather. Great structure and texture, vigorous, not yet on its plateau,.
First vintage using Pugnitello in its blend. (See details in my Rocca di Montegrossi review 3rd September 2018)
Points 95 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino 2007
Full bodied. Showing fresh cherry and black stone fruit. Inviting, deep and rich. Glorious!
Points 96 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino 2008
Ruby red in colour with slight purple undertones. Aromatic, black fruit, plum, orange peel, smoke. Integrated tannins, more forward than 2006/7. Long finish.
Points 95 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico San Marcellino 2009
Ruby red in colour. Blue flower bouquet . Concentrated, black fruit, liquorice, Mediterranean herbs, sweet tobacco. Fresh and powerful.
Points 94 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino 2010
Deep ruby red. Fruit quality “off the charts”. Bouquet of spring flowers, liquorice, spiced orange peel, undertone of minerality. Vigorous, formidable, complex. Still needs a couple of years in bottle. What a wine! 2021-2040.
Points 96 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino 2011
This vintage shows the quality and sustainability of the vines, in a difficult year when dry/ hot weather prevailed and yet this wine shows great freshness and texture, held together with bold acidity. Showing so well. 2018-2033.
Points 95 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino 2012
Ruby red in colour. Warm fruit quality, not so intense as other vintages, missing the potent qualities usually to the forefront of this wine. Don’t misunderstand me this is still impressive, but not of the exalted heights reached by other offerings.
Points 92 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino 2013
Bright ruby red in colour. Intense bouquet. Focused. Great depth. Meticulous fruit quality. Ash. Savoury, line of pure clean minerality underpinning this joyous wine. Elegant. Do not miss this wine!
Points 97 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Marcellino 2014
Ruby red in colour. Red fruits, licorice, savoury notes, dried herbs. In arguably the most difficult vintage since 2002 a triumph for the winemaker. Bravo!
Points 93 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2006
Garnet in colour. Slight notes of blue flower then a fruit explosion containing blackberries and blackcurrant, tar, smoke, mocha and vanilla. The journey continues in a wondrous flow of finesse and balance, the varietal making way for the terroir to prove its dominance. What a wine!
Points 96 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2007
Intense garnet red in colour. Blueberry, blackcurrant, leather, liquorice, spice. Integrated. Balanced. Harmonious.
Points 93 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2010
Dark garnet red in colour. Intense bouquet of lavender and blue floral notes, blueberry and raspberry fruit. Fresh tannins seamlessly engaged with clean acidity (Ph 3.45). Long finish.
Points 94 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2011
Dark garnet in colour. Black fruit, savoury and meat notes. Rich, slight showing of spice at the end. A wine of its terroir.
Points 93 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2012
Intense garnet with light purple undertones. Full bodied. Structured. Ripe black fruit, cedar. Made to last. (2020- 2038)
Points 92 TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2013
Intense garnet in colour. Aromatic with ascendancy of blue floral notes, lavender, liquorice, vanilla. Soft tannins. Juicy. Needs bottle time.
Points 93+ TW
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2014
See my review 3rd September 2018
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia 2015
Garnet red in colour. Fresh flower bouquet, ultra fresh red fruit. Clean and youthful.
A little tight (as you would expect), only bottled 9 months prior. Signs of a great future.
Points 94-96 TW
The quality of the wines at this tasting were undeniable proof that this estate is at the forefront of the revival of the Chianti Classico denomination.
© Tony Wood
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