Morellino di Scansano DOCG 2021 – Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte.
Most wine lovers have heard of the more famous wine zones in Tuscany, such as Chianti, Bolgheri and Montalcino, but in this review we are going to an area in the southwest of Tuscany where the Morellino di Scansano DOCG wines are produced. We are reviewing the 2021 Morellino di Scansano produced by Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte, a sister winery of Castello Romitorio and part of Chia Vini.
About the Region
Morellino di Scansano come from a lesser-known Tuscan wine area, but it’s unjustly overlooked. The entire production area covers around 65.000 hectares, with approximately 1.500 hectares of vineyards suitable for the production of Morellino. The area covered by the vineyards includes hills and foothills sloping south from the north and the east towards the plain of Albinia and westward to the Tyrrhenian coast and the plain of Grosseto. This exposure protects the area from the cold north winds and opens to the temperate sea breezes. With this mild Mediterranean climate and being surround by the rivers Ombrone and Albegna, this hilly area is perfectly suited for viticulture.
Morellino di Scansano has been a DOC classification since 1978, but received the additional ‘garantita’ as a DOCG wine in 2007. For a wine to receive this particular highest Italian wine classification, it must adhere to a number of criteria. Most importantly, the grapes must come from the historical area of production in the municipality of Scansano (and part of Campagnatico, Grosseto, Magliano, Manciano, Roccalbegna and Semproniano) and consist for at least 85% of the Sangiovese grape variety. The last 15% can be blended with other red grape varieties allowed in Tuscany. All vinification steps and bottling must be made within the area of production of the grapes.
If you want to know more about the appellation, visit the website of the Consorzio Tutela del Vino Morellino di Scansano.
About the Winery
Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte is part of Chia Vini and owned by Filippo Chia, owner and winemaker at the well-known Brunello di Montalcino estate Castello Romitorio. Ghiaccio Forte literally means ‘strong ice’. Once an Etruscan town, nowadays it is one of the finest wineries in the region. Chia purchased the Tenuta in 1999 and nowadays encompasses approximately twenty hectares of vineyards of which twelve are located in the Morellino di Scansano production area.
About the Wine
The Consorzio regulations allow for the use of maximum 15% of other Tuscan grape varieties, but since 2018 winemaker Chia has opted for a 100% Sangiovese wine. The vineyards for this wine are located just 15 miles inland from the Tyrrhennian Sea and have silt, schist and clay soils. The grapes are handpicked and carefully selected. Vinification occurs in stainless-steel tanks to retain the bright Tuscan expression of Sangiovese.
Drinking this wine, you can almost feel the fresh sea breeze on your face. This medium ruby red colored wine has a lot of brightness and aromas of cherries, red plum and blackberries. After letting the wine settle on your palate, some riper aromas show themselves, like black cherries, fig and black plum. You will also find notes of black tea, laurel and thyme. The wine has a beautiful acidity to it, which cuts nicely through the deeper notes of sun-dried fruit. It is a powerful wine with some body to it, but is very smooth to drink due to the lovely ripe tannins and remains interesting because of the wonderfully balanced acidity.
Conclusion
The body and ripe dark fruit of the Morellino di Scansano balance beautifully with the acidity in the wine. With its smooth tannins, this is a very enjoyable glass of wine. Morellino di Scansano may be a lesser-known Tuscan wine than for instance Chianti Classico or Brunello di Montalcino, but is well worth a try at great value for money!
A beautiful fresh and fruity wine, that pairs terrifically with classic Italian dishes such as pasta’s featuring tomato and cheese. We award this Morellino di Scansano with a 90-point DWA score.
More from Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte & Castello Romitorio
Are you as excited about the wines of winemaker Filippo Chia as we are? Chia Vini produces wines in two wineries, Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte along the Tuscan coast and Castello Romitorio in the hills of Montalcino. Stay tuned for reviews on more of his wines:
- Brio Toscana IGT 2021
- Romitorio Toscana IGT 2020
- Romito Toscana IGT 2019
- Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018
- Filo di Seta Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2018
Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte is part of Chia Vini and distributed and sold internationally through various retailers. This wine is reviewed by our own Chanti de Jong (@vinoconchanti).
Price: €14
Taste date: July 2023
Score: 90/100 DWA Score
Website: Tenuta Ghiaccio Forte