Posted By Joel on July 27, 2009

Terra d’Arcoiris Chianti 2004, DOCG

Nomads. Luck. Keepers. Poets.

During my research for this brief article of Terra D’Arcoiris and its Chianti 2004, those words became important for me because they tell a story wine, life and choice.

Paola Leonardi and Walter Loesch, self described as “partly nomads”, learned biodynamic agriculture and made cheese in Switzerland, kept bees in a southern Tuscany apiary, and today run the farm estate of Terra D’Arcoiris, located in the western hills of the Valdichiana nearby Chianciano Terme.

Luck came in 1987, when Paola and Walter found the piece of land upon which the estate Terra D’Arcoiris sits. Although they knew nothing then of vines and winemaking, they were hungry to learn. And luck came again, when a senior farm worker with expert knowledge of the land and process of wine was willing to guide the very committed Paola and Walter, transmitting to them the very knowledge to care for the vineyards.

Recognizing their role as keepers and caretakers of a blessed land, the work at Terra D’Arcoiris goes on with great respect and conscience: Fertilizer has not been used on the Terra D’Arcoiris vineyards since 1993. Natural grassing and mulching hay are used to good effect, and copper / sulpher based vine treatments are reduced both in dose and frequency. And Terra D’Arcoiris maintains an organic certification by “BioAgricert”.

In all this, Paola Leonardi and Walter Loesch stand to pass on to future generations a way of life and natural living that is both poetically expressive and creative, one that I fear may otherwise become lost in time without the contributions of such great poets of earth, culture and tradition. From the Terra D’Arcoiris website Paola and Walter write that, “It is a thin straw to hold on to, while crossing the rainbow of history.”

The Terra D’Arcoiris estate has older and younger vineyard plantings, ranging from 1968 to 2001. Grape varietals grown include Sangiovese, Canaiolo, white and black Malvasia, Trebbiano and Grechetto, as well as Mammolo, Fogliatonda and Ciliegiolo in the older vineyard; and in the younger vineyard, primarily Sangiovese along with Syrah and Merlot, Ciliegiolo, Fogliatonda, Mazzese and black Malvasia.

The Terra D’Arcoiris Chianti 2004 is made from organically grown Sangiovese (90%), Canaiolo and Black Malvasia (10%) grapes harvested by hand from vines grown in a medium clay soil at an elevation of approximately 380m. The time between grape picking and the winery is kept to 30 minutes maximum. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in barriques for 6 months.

Tasting Notes / Impressions:

A pretty ruby red color and bouquet of cherries, violets, rosemary and earth. An honest palate of luscious, dark cherry fruit with hints of balsam, strawberry and chocolate fills the mouth with full bodied chewiness. Mature, nicely integrated tannins and a wonderfully long finish.

NOTE: Decant this wine an hour or so ahead of time to enjoy its best expression.

Food Pairing Suggestions:

Meat: Beef, pork, roasted chicken or game birds, gorgeous with rosemary scented pork and roasted potatoes or chicken “alla cacciatora”; Pasta: dressed with meat or mushroom sauces; Risotto: try a mushroom risotto with smoked ham; Cured meats; Cheeses, especially Pecorino.

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*Image of Terra D’Arcoiris Chianti bottle from www.terradarcoiris.it/

Categories: $ (Under $25), Tuscany, Uncategorized, Wine
Tags: Sangiovese