Ormanni Chianti Classico (DOCG) 2019, 14.5% ABV
€25.00 Bubble Brothers
If you're looking for Chianti Classico, look no further. Elegant, powerful and beautifully balanced.
This organic Ormanni has a light bright red ruby colour. The fragrance is intense, cherry leading the way. Beautiful red fruits on
the palate, hints of liquorice, and a touch of light spice add to its amazing drinkability. The fruit factor is high but the power is balanced, and this light and elegant wine progresses smoothly to a lingering finish.A superb Classico and Very Highly Recommended. Pair with cured meats, pasta with gravy, stewed and grilled meat and Tuscan cheese (or a wedge of Durrus!). And dishes with tomato sauce!
While Sangiovese was always the basis for the Classico, it was blended with many other grapes, including international reds and white grapes over the years. The adulteration didn’t help its reputation and Chianti became just another mass-produced wine.
According to VINO, “in the last twenty years, more and more growers have been awakening to the capacity of a 100 per cent single variety Chianti Classico… others have returned to the classic combination of Sangiovese for character, Canailo for comfort, and Colorino for colour to make outstanding Chianti.”
The estate was founded by the Ormanni family in the XIII century - check it out in Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy (see quote at end). It is owned by the Brini family since 1818. Paolo Brini Batecchi together with his daughter Paola run the winery today.
This Chianti Classico is produced with Sangiovese from their vineyards in the Municipality of Barberino Tavernelle. The wine is made principally from Sangiovese grapes, with ten per cent of Canaiolo, all estate grown, and aged for twelve months in oak barrels and casks.
Geek Bits for the Sangiovese fan.
Sangiovese means blood of Jove and is called after the Roman god known for playing around with thunderbolts.
Sangiovese has high acidity and as a result, matches well with “all manner of spicy foods”, according to Wine Folly who concludes “it will not get lost when paired with tomato sauce.”
The black cockerel badge on this, and other Chianti Classico, is celebrating 100 years. In 1924, 33 vineyard owners combined to form the original consorzio for the defence of Chianti. The cockerel (Gallo Nero) is now world-famous. Source: Tuscany Fine Wine Editions.
The vast majority of Sangiovese is grown in Italy. But it has many names here including Rosso di Montalcino, Carmignano, Montefalco Rossi, Morellino di Scansano, Rosso Conero, Torgiano Rosso and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. We’ll meet some of them in this series.
- This post is part of a series of Italian wines produced by usually small or medium-sized organic wineries made from native grapes. Taking some “guidance” here from the recently published VINO. Mightn’t always net the hat trick but hope to score two from the three each time. I have quite a few lined up but I’m happy to consider any suggestions or help. #OrganicItaly
- ““so that it should not seem remarkable when I speak of the noble Florentines, whose fame is buried by time. I have seen the Ughi, seen the Catellini, the Filippi, Grechi, Ormanni and Alberichi, illustrious families already on the wane”. ”
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) – Divine Comedy, Paradise Canto XVI
1 comment:
Thanks for the review and summary, and for waving the flag for Sangiovese. Fans of Dante may be interested to know a somewhat stern portrait of the poet appears on the label of the winery's non-Classico Chianti (also a good choice).
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