Margaret Swaine’s Wine Picks: Italian Reds

Vintages’ recent release of northern Italian reds has landed us some lovely selections.

Canonica a Cerreto Chianti Classico Riserva 2007
$17 (91 Points)
This medium bodied wine from a Tuscan property in the heart of the Chianti hills is largely sangiovese with some cabernet sauvignon and merlot aged in French oak barrels. There’s a nice perfume of violets in the bouquet with lots of ripe red berry, oak and cedar in the taste. Well structured and value priced.

Monte del Frá Tenuta Lena di Mezzo Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2008
$15.95 (89 Points)
Lena di Mezzo is an entirely terraced estate of 17.8 hectares that lies in the heart of hilly Fumane zone.  Aged 12 months in oak, this Veneto red is mainly corvina veronese and corvinone with 20% rondinella. It has a spiced cherry bouquet that carries through on the palate. Elegant and layered, it has a good intensity.

Tedeschi Capitel Nicalò Appassimento Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2009
$15.95 (90 Points)
This value-priced deep purplish Veneto red is made in the appassimento style wherein fully ripe grapes are dried for about a month before pressing. The result is a rich, spiced wine with raisiny, prune fruit flavours with balsamic and cherry overtones. Chewy in texture and concentrated, it has a long finish.