ALDI’S consistent Italian-2019 Corte Carista Chianti Superiore DOC from ALDI

A Chianti wine is any wine produced in the Chianti region of central Tuscany. It was historically associated with a squat bottle enclosed in a straw basket, called a “flask”; However, the fiasco is only used by a few makers of the wine as most Chianti is now bottled in more standard shaped wine bottles. This must surely be the best value  Italian wines in Australia. Baron Bettino Ricasoli (later Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy) created the Chianti recipe of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo and 15% Malvasia Bianca in the middle of the 19th century. Today it became legal to produce a Chianti with 100% Sangiovese. For a wine to retain the name of Chianti, it must be produced with at least 80% Sangiovese grapes.

If you are a fan of Tuscan wines and Chianti in specific,..then you really need to have a box of this “grossly underpriced” wine in your cellar. This is the perfect pasta wine but also goes well with any veal Dish e.g. Veal scallopine or Funghi,..or even a mixed grill,…if you can do an Italian style Beef steak on the grill,..so much the better!  As you may know, Chianti is made from Sangiovese grape but the denomination rules DOCG (Denominazione Origine Contalatta Guarantita) allows the addition of up to 15 % white wine as well. There is a move on to grow this fabulous grape variety in Australia,..not surprising,.. considering how many Aussie winemakers have done a season in Italy!,..but so far I prefer the Italian version.

 “The flavor profile of Chianti is ripe morello cherry with a nice smooth tannic structure it does spend up to a year in used oak barrels) on the palate and generally good length,, This is the perfect wine  to go with any Italian meat dishes but is equally good with Spaghetti  Bolognese,..especially if you use a Pork and veal mix rather then coarse tasting beef mince version that many Australians tend to use. One of Aldi’s most celebrated red drops of wine was created by Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini.”

This wine is made by revered Tuscan winemaker Alberto Antonini who has worked for the big iconic brands such as Antinori and Frescobaldi, similars in size and status to Australia’s Penfolds….so he knows how to craft a great Chianti,…in this instance, he has delivered the goods for ALDI at an amazingly low price point. ‘ Alberto is like the Marco Pierre White of the wine industry,’ sais  Aldi’s Wine and Champagne Buying Director Jason Bowyer.’

Jason comments,..‘He really is at that level in terms of winemaking and wine consulting. For me, there are two qualities that define a truly great winemaker. The first is having an immense passion for wine no matter what price point the product is. The second is remaining humble and not letting success get in the way of making amazing wine. Alberto embodies both those qualities.’

“Jason Bowyer further explains :

‘He knows we’re not just about buying affordable wine, putting a label on it and calling it Aldi wine. Alberto told me that it’s quite rare for wine buyers to form a true partnership with their suppliers and to be involved in the whole winemaking process, from label integrity right down to the vineyard. That was why he was excited about getting on board with us.”

His Corte Carista Chianti Superiore, which sells at the supermarket for $9.99, is a rich, medium-bodied Chianti created exclusively for Aldi’s Australian stores.

Tasting Notes :