If you prefer organic wines, and enjoy Chianti Classico, then you should try Il Molino di Grace‘s Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018. If the name of the winery sounds familiar, it is because I posted an article about this winery visiting VanWineFest 2024. My tasting notes below will give you an idea of the quality of their wines. Plus, I happened to roast porchetta in my air fryer and tried it with the wine. Enjoy.
Gran Selezione?
Starting in 2013, the Chianti Classico Consorzio updated their DOCG wine quality pyramid, adding the “Gran Selezione“ as top tier. In 2021 they further increased the restrictions for wine to qualify for Gran Selezione. To qualify for “Gran Selezione”, a Chianti Classico must be produced exclusively with grapes from single vineyards or selected from an estate’s best-suited vineyards. There has to be at least 90% Sangiovese grapes used in the wine and no international grape varieties.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Il Molino di Grace Il Margone Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2018 (BC $57.99 on sale till Dec 30/23)
Made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. After fermentation, the wine spent 16 months in French barriques and tonneaux new and first use.
Appearance: A clear, deep garnet colour with a hint of tawny. About 70% opaque.
Nose: Medium-plus intensity aromas, a mix of ripe and dried black fruits, plums, and touches of oak and sweet spices. Also some candied cherries with swirling.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body, soft and smooth with medium roundness. Black fruit, blackberries, raspberries, plums and some tart red fruit starting on the mid-palate. A hint of chocolate as well. Medium-intensity drying tannins from the mid-palate to the finish.
Finish: Medium-plus length finishing with drying tannins, black fruit, tart red fruit and cherries, and a touch of sweet spices.
A top-quality wine. I prefer the undecanted version as it is fuller-bodied, and has more dark fruit and stronger tannins to pair with meat-based dishes.
Rating: 
Wine Pairing with Porchetta
As both the wine and porchetta come from Italy, I assumed the pairing would work well. And it did! I enjoyed the combination of the salt and fattiness of the porchetta with the fruit and acidity of the wine. I get more red fruit flavours from the wine and the tannins fade away. I accompanied the porchetta with baked potato slices and red kuri squash chunks with parmesan, garlic, salt and pepper, and olive oil.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
You can purchase this wine through the BC Liquor stores.
