Friday, March 28, 2014

Going Italian At Whole Foods: Monrosso Chianti

Attention Whole Foods shoppers, this month and next, Whole Foods Market shines the WFM spotlight on Italian wines at great prices.  The grocery chain is also hosting a pair of virtual tasting events to help spread the word about their great Italian value wines.  Get the details on the wines and the April 10th virtual tasting event on Twitter here.

You can search the hashtag #WFMWine on Twitter to see how much fun we all had on the previous virtual wine tasting on March 13th.  We hope you can join us on Twitter in April.

Today we sample one of the wines to be featured on the April tasting event.


Twitter Tastings

Thursday March 13, 5:00-6:00 p.m. PT:
Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi
Ruffino Orvieto Classico
Gran Passione Rosso
Donnafugata Sedàra

Thursday April 10, 5:00-6:00 p.m. PT:
Presto Prosecco
Caposaldo Pinot Grigio
Monrosso Chianti
Verrazzano Rosso


Monrosso Chianti  $13.99

The Castello di Monsanto website tells the story of Aldo Bianchi, who swooned over the views available on the Tuscan property he bought in 1960.  His son, Fabrizio, swooned over what was in the cellar - bottles of Chianti.  He and his wife worked to build the winery and plant new vineyards, and through the years the company has brought their winemaking techniques into modern times.

Their Monrosso Chianti is made of 80% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 5% Merlot grapes.  It carries an alcohol number of 13.5% abv and is bottled under natural cork.  The grapes come from the Chianti Colli Senesi region, south of Chianti Classico in the Siena hills.  Produced in stainless steel tanks, the wine is then aged a year in Slavonian oak barrels which, according to the winery, gives sweeter and less aggressive tannins.

Medium dark in color, Monrosso Chianti has dark fruit aromas on the nose with separate floral and savory angles running through it.  A slight funkiness really offers an attractive note, while oak spices are in plentiful supply.  The palate shows blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with a nice level of acidity and gentle tannins.  On the finish, the plums come forward to take their place in the spotlight.  Possessed of a rustic character, it's an "everyday red" you can pair perfectly with pasta or pizza.


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