FOCUS ON... IL MOLINO DI GRACE
01/09/2021
September always brings with it a general sense of new beginnings, and so this month we are focusing on some new wines that are due to arrive shortly with us at Brompton Wines. These wines come from Il Molino di Grace, right in the heart of the Chianti region.
Before we get to the grapes, one of our frequent language classes. 'Il Molino' refers to a windmill, still standing today, that you see as you approach the estate. 'Il Molino di Grace' therefore means Grace's Windmill, Frank Grace being the founder of the winery.
Hailing from the mid-west of the USA, Frank set up shop in 1995 after falling in love with this iconic wine producing area. The vineyards that Frank now owns had already been growing grapes for over three centuries, but before the founding of Il Molino di Grace these grapes were sold to other local producers instead of being turned into wine on site. There are still traces of this history on site - the windmill of course, an ancient Etruscan path on which you can wander throughout the vineyards, and perhaps most strikingly a tall statue depicting St Francis of Assisi holding the moon in one hand and the sun in another, seemingly blessing all of those who have worked the soils over the centuries.
Chianti is of course most known for its Sangiovese, and this is the predominant grape in the vineyard; but you can also find Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Canaiolo, which are used for blending. As an interesting aside; this last grape Canaiolo is often used in Chianti wine, and may in fact have been the main grape in this blend as late as the end of the 19th Century. Unfortunately after phylloxera caused havoc in European vineyards, Canoiolo did not graft easily onto the American rootstocks used to save the vines - and so it fell somewhat out of favour!
But back to business - Il Molino di Grace respects the historic Chianti Classico tradition and Frank Grace and winery manager Gerhard Hirmer focus their efforts on producing old world Classico and Super-Tuscan wines. The vineyard has 'Galestro' soils (a rocky, schistous clay, commonly found in Tuscany's best vineyards) and their oldest vines (55 years old) are dedicated to their flagship wine, Gratius, a varietal Sangiovese.
As with most of our favourite vineyards, Il Molino di Grace is natural where matters most. Chemical fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides are all avoided as much as possible, and once winemaking commences it is done with only minimal intervention. The majority of the wines are unfiltered, and the resulting wines are honest, rugged and intense. They can be aged, this will probably result in some sediment, but also in a complex and powerful wine experience.
We are very lucky to have them available for you, and as an introductory offer we are discounting their wines until the end of the year. The Gran Selezione and the 'Gratius' are truly outstanding wines that you will not regret getting your hands on, but the whole range is delicious. Please trust us on this - if you enjoy Chianti, this is unmissable stuff.
The wines we will be shipping are:
Il Volano’ IGT 2019 £11.50 - Sangiovese and Merlot blend, fruity, aged in stainless steel and bottle.
Chianti Classico Riserva 2016 £20.75 - 100% Sangiovese, cherry and red fruit, aged for one year between stainless steel, Slavonian oak casks, French barriques and second use barrels
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ‘Il Margone’ 2015 £27.50 - 100% Sangiovese, aged for 16 months in barriques and first and second use barrels, an intense ruby red with notes of caramelised plums and hints of dark spices and cranberries. Very structured and complex, soft and round tannins, very long lasting finish.
‘Gratius’ Toscana IGT 2016 £44.75 - A classic Chianti blend of hand-harvested Sangiovese, Canaiolo and Colorino. A heavily oak-driven wine with aromas of mesquite, cedar, spice and church incense.
