WEEKEND WINE PICKS
Rapitalà Grillo Organic 2021, Sicily, Italy
$16.99 I 89/100
UPC: 8002010675423
Grillo, a native Italian grape variety, has grown at Rapitalà since the early 1970s. The organically certified white gets a brief classic ferment in stainless steel before aging on its lees in the tank for a short time to keep it fresh and lively. How good is this wine? My colleague Geoffrey Moss says it is a compelling expression of Grillo at an even more compelling price. Look for a ripe mix of melons, peaches, and lime blossoms with a dusting of seaside salinity. It tastes like summer, and it tastes like more. Bring on the bites. On sale until March 2.
Frind Estate Big Red 2021, B.C. $23.99 I 88/100
UPC: 626990415299 Behold a B.C. red that is fun to drink, well-made, and affordable. I love complex wines, but there are days, many more than you think, when a well-made wine with soft tannins, florals, and ripe red plum with a dash of dried spice is exactly what's needed. Merlot dominates the 62/29/4/3/2 Merlot/cabernet Franc/cabernet Sauvignon/ Syrah/grenache that spends a year in French and American oak barrels. Beef tacos, hamburgers, meaty pizza, and grilled winter vegetables would all be good pairings.
Rocca di Montegrossi Chianti Classico Organic 2021, Tuscany, Italy
$35.99 I 92/100
UPC: 8032956630040
The Rocca di Montegrossi estate is in Monti in Chianti, part of Gaiole in Chianti. The high-altitude plateau, with its stony, calcareous soils, is known for its elegant and harmonious Chianti Classico. Experts have recognized the 2021s as among the very best ever made in the region. At Montegrosso, they blend minor amounts of local varieties like Colorino and Canaiolo with 90 per cent of Sangiovese. This wine has a beautiful depth, a testament to the vintage and the rising star of Chianti Classico. Harmonious and long, it is simply impressive for the money. Mushroom pasta continues to be a brilliant match. Wonderful value.
Fontanafredda Barolo 2019, Serralunga, Cuneo, Piedmont, Italy $42.99 I 89/100
UPC: 8000174200024 Fontanafredda is known to be the largest volume producer in Barolo. Still, in reality, they produce much less wine if only because it is Barolo, and Barolo is a small region with minimal production. That said, Fontanafredda is a well-known name in Canada with a long sales history. The 2019 platinum label sticks to the program, delivering well-made, authentic Barolo that is easy on the pocketbook. It's a bit brighter and more aromatic than 2018, pitching red fruits (cherries and currants) mixed with earthy floral undertones streaked with classic leather and tar with firm but non-invasive tannins. Perfect for raw beef, pick your favourite recipe — or maybe a rack of lamb.
Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2018, Tuscany, Italy
$60.99 I 92/100
UPC: 8002366089264 Castelgiocondo has long been an elegant expression of Brunello, and in 2018, a cool vintage heightened that aspect of its regal history. For some reason, this wine is always comparatively cheap for Brunello, but I will take it. A mix of blueberries and red berries joins a sweet floral to open. Look for spicy licorice up front on the palate, with more red fruit, sweet tannins, adequate structure, and a refined mineral back end. A mushroom ragu is the ticket here. Castelgiocondo sits over varied terrain with many expositions on its galestro, clay, and Pliocene sands. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks and is then aged in wood for five years plus another 9-12 months in a bottle.