Top-end Chianti Classico with Rocca di Montegrossi – Monday 8th September

The boundaries of Chianti Classico have existed for over 300 years, and were officially demarcated from the more prosaic Chianti almost a century ago. Yet it is only in the last 20 years or so that its wines have become recognised for producing the sort of complexity and ageability to rival those of fellow Tuscan DOCG Brunello di Montalcino down the road.

Rocca di Montegrossi is a fine example of this evolution, its history a mircocosm of that of the region. The property was established as a fortress in the 8th century, and has been making wine for 37 generations. But it was a change in the family lineage – and ownership – in the mid-90s, that spurred Montegrossi to quietly re-cast itself as one of the region’s most persuasive interpreters of Sangiovese – and beyond.

Set in the subzone of Gaiole, where the higher elevation yields a bright acidity and mineral thread in the wines, the estate has embraced organic viticulture and a focus on biodiversity in recent years. In the cellar, concrete and large wooden vats have replaced smaller barrels, helping to showcase a purity of fruit and fine, grainy tannins rather than overt oak.

The core Chianti Classico is the flagship expression, with the relatively new single-vineyard wine – Vigneto San Marcellino – produced as a Gran Selezione, representing the estate’s more terroir-focused aim. IGT wines, meanwhile, spanning both Bordeaux varieties and the indigenous Pugnitello, nod both to a contemporary credibility and a harnessing of the native heritage.

We’ll taste all these and more with owner Marco Ricasoli-Firidolfi, himself a descendant of Bettino Ricasoli, who was not only responsible for defining Chianti’s focus on Sangiovese, but also managed to balance his role at the estate while serving as Italian prime minister. Fortunately, Marco has no such distractions, and we look forward to him joining us for a fascinating evening.

The wines we will be tasting:
2024 Rosato, IGT Toscana, Rocca di Montegrossi
2021 Chianti Classico DOCG, Rocca di Montegrossi
2019 Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione DOCG, Vigneto San Marcellino, Rocca di Montegrossi
2013 Chianti Classico, Gran Selezione DOCG, Vigneto San Marcellino, Rocca di Montegrossi
2019 Geremia IGT, Rocca di Montegrossi
2011 Geremia IGT, Rocca di Montegrossi
2018 Ridolfo IGT, Rocca di Montegrossi
2015 Ridolfo IGT, Rocca di Montegrossi
2014 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC, Rocca di Montegrossi

Monday 8th September
St James’s Room
18:30 – Welcome reception
19:00 – Masterclass starts
20:30 – Masterclass ends

Please note, tickets are refundable for cancellations up to 5 days before the event. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Any cancellations within 5 days of the event are non-refundable unless 67 Pall Mall resells the ticket to another Member. This is only possible when the event is sold out and there is a waiting list.

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