In the glass
Aroma: sour cherry, rose petal, wild herbs, graphite
Palate: red plum, iron, balsamic, tobacco
Riecine's flagship pure Sangiovese IGT from Gaiole, vegan-vinified and ICEA-organic, with rose-and-iron precision.
What it pairs with
-
Pheasant with wild herbs
Herbal lift in the wine echoes the dish. -
Roast venison
Game classic for Riecine's mid-weight tannin. -
Aged Pecorino Toscano
Crystalline cheese sharpens the wine's red-fruit acid.
How to serve Riecine La Gioia
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Pheasant with wild herbs, Roast venison, Aged Pecorino Toscano. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Englishman John Dunkley created La Gioia in 1982 as Riecine's pure Sangiovese Super Tuscan from Gaiole. Estate now owned by Lana Frank with vegan vinification and ICEA-organic farming.
- 1982 — First vintage of La Gioia
- 2014 — Estate certified organic by ICEA
Facts
- Producer
- Riecine
- Grapes
- Sangiovese (100%)
- Classification
- Toscana IGT
- Oak
- 18 months in French oak tonneaux
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 80 to 120 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1982
Scores
- Wine Advocate 96 (2018 vintage, reviewed 2021)
- Vinous 95 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Riecine La Gioia
What does Riecine La Gioia taste like?
On the nose, sour cherry, rose petal, wild herbs, graphite. On the palate, red plum, iron, balsamic, tobacco. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Riecine's flagship pure Sangiovese IGT from Gaiole, vegan-vinified and ICEA-organic, with rose-and-iron precision.
When should I drink Riecine La Gioia?
Drink 5 to 20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Riecine La Gioia?
Pheasant with wild herbs is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Roast venison and Aged Pecorino Toscano. Herbal lift in the wine echoes the dish.
What grapes are in Riecine La Gioia?
The blend is Sangiovese (100%). The wine is classified as Toscana IGT.