I recently had the opportunity to experience wines created at Carlo Massimiliano Gritti Winery, 
Umbria, IT, by Andrea Paoletti.
The occasion was a "Meetup" of the Northern NJ Wine Meet Up Group which I joined recently.
Wino Bob who organizes these fun events with Big Bob invited Dominic Carrea of DKR Imports who showcased these great wines by Paoletti.
Held at Italianissimo in Caldwell the event was lively in the throws of activity in this busy restaurant, gastronomia and paninoteca. Read more of the restaurant here, Wino Bob February Tasting.
Andrea Paoletti, is highly regarded viticultural and wine making consultant who has dedicated his life to the wines of Tuscany. For 15 years he shepherded the Supertuscan Tignenello to greatness. In 1996, on the verge of the great 1997 vintage, he became an independent consultant and now creates fabulous wines with Carlo Massimiliano Gritti Winery and other great wine estates, including Ornellaia, Isole e Olena and, Valdicava, Moris Farms.
Recently DKR announced the launch of the wines of Carlo Massimiliano Gritti.
"This line of Umbrian wines were created by the famous enologist Andrea Paoletti, formerly of Tignanello. The vineyards are owned by the Gritti family. Gritti is one of the historic Venetian families. One of Carlo Gritti’s most illustrious ancestors was Andrea Gritti, the Doge of Venice between 1523 and 1538. As anyone who has seen the Palazzo Gritti (the 5 start Gritti Palace Hotel) on the Grand Canal in Venice will know, the Grittis have long been famous for the taste and excellence of their work, and these qualities continue today in the persons of Carlo and his family.
The estate is located in Umbertide, in the part of Umbria which is closest to Tuscany, and a few hills away from Lake Trasimeno, to the north-east. This area is favored with a gentle micro-climate that is tempered by the nearby lake. The landscape is a mixture of fertile plains and steep hills which see little fog, good breezes, and dry winters. Soils are of medium consistency, alluvial, and moderately calcareous. The estate’s vineyards have been planted on the steepest hillsides, at altitudes of around 350 meters. The rows face south and the vines are buffered from cold northern winds by hilly forests. There are currently four varietals in production: Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Canaiolo, and Merlot. "
The wines we tasted included these, descriptions are by the importer:
Carlo Massimiliano Gritti - Ca’ Andrea
Umbria Italy IGT 2003
My favorite of the group. Great with cheese and olives.
60% Sangiovese / 35-37% Canaiolo Nero / 3-5% Montepulciano
Description: The word “Ca’” (“alley”) is typically Venetian, and is also used in many of the place names in and around our estate, which is called “The Sunflowers of Saint Andrea”. It is also the name of the Gritti’s eldest son and most famous ancestor, Andrea Gritti. It was their first wine, which gives us an idea of the quality we have attained from the latest harvest.
Ruby-red, crystalline with purple red shades. Intense scent of ripe fruit on the nose with spicy tones of mint and black cherry jam. Well bodied with mouth filling elegant tannins, balanced acidity, and a final finish of warm soaked fruit and leather.
Carlo Massimiliano Gritti - Muda 
Umbria Italy IGT 2003
70% Sangiovese / 20% Montepulciano / 10% Merlot
Smooth and balanced, deeper. Needs a nice grilled steak.
Description: The “muda” was the type of ship used by the Venetians to transport their precious cargo from Venice to Constantinople. The wine which carries this name is also a “precious cargo” for Gritti’s estate because it represents the type of vintage whose characteristics are particularly difficult to obtain.
Dark ruby-red in color with clear purple red shades. It offers warm intense scents of dry prune, faded flowers, violet, dark cherry and olive. Vigorous tannins yield to a fresh acidity and good body. Final sensations on the lasting finish give up a cherry
core, almond and green fruit.
Carlo Massimiliano Gritti - Il Doge
Umbria Italy IGT 2003
90% Sangiovese / 10% Merlot
Mellow and nice, smooth.
Description: Il Doge (“The Judge”) is a tribute to the Gritti’s ancenstor, Andrea Gritti, a merchant, secret agent, militarty commander and ambassador living in Venice while it was at the height of its splendour, and flourishing at the pinacle of artistic achievement. The idea of a wine following in the footsteps of the man who inspired it is the family’s ambition.
Color is deep, limpid and ruby red. Nose has excellent persistence, elegant and mellow perfume, defined by intense floral nuances, ripe-red fruits and balsamic. The flavour is rich and rounded with soft silky tannins. It is well balanced with a long, lingering finish.
Andrea Paoletti Rancore 
Tuscany Italy 2003 IGT
80% Sangiovese / 15% Merlot / 5% Pinot Noir
Over the top intense and delicious. California/ New World style.
Description: Rancore is a dream. The dream of being able to donate something back to the land that inspires us and the passion that sees us from one year to the next. The wine seeks to express that desire within life to find harmony despite the bitterness that life, sometimes introduces to us. It searches to achieve that symbiosis between human intuition and the mysteries of nature.
The Sangiovese clone used in the Chiantigiani vineyards selects you as a winemaker and raises a challenge to fulfill its’ destiny. The merlot heightens the potential of the blend by donating an international touch while the irrational use of the pinot noir is born of the irrepressible drive to achieve a balance in life between the reward and the regret.
Vinified separately and married before resting in french rovere barriques of first passage for a period of 16 months. Control of the production, optimal maturation and long macerations are the main members of this wine. They combine to comprise a love for the earth and the fantastic adventure it is to produce wine.
Carlo Massimiliano Gritti - Rhea Vino Passito
Umbria Italy 2000 IGT
50% Trebbiano / 30% Malvasia / 20% Grechetto
An absolutely amazing dessert wine, like no other.
Wine Notes: A wine from the annual “yearbook of best Italian wines 2006”. This “raisin wine” produced with grapes typically Umbrian was awarded the wine of the vintage year for the hills of Altotevere by a panel of experts for its’ adherence to the highest quality analytical techniques. This wine has remained in bottle for over five years and until now, has been only bottled in limited series.
Tasting Notes: This incredibly concentrated wine has a deep dark yellow color. The nose is of dried figs, racines, honey, coffee, and nuts. The palate if full, round, and mellow. A wine with a good length and a fantastic aging potential.
Find these wines here Store List by County
Things to do, places to see, with food and booze
We have been at the house of the Gritti family and have tried to stay in touch. I recently heard of the death of carlo and we are trying to make contact with his wife Ursula. Can you help. We plan on making a trip to Umbertide soon.
Steve Bokser
[email protected]
917-8267460
Posted by: Stephen Bokser | 07/07/2009 at 11:14
We had the great fortune to have traveled to Umbertide last September and stayed in a villa about 2 miles from the vineyards. We enjoyed the various Carlo Massimiliano Gritti wines, with the Muda being our favorite.
Posted by: Joe P. | 06/12/2007 at 21:18
Great write up, it was nice to finally meet you. I think the group is really coming together and we appreciate your participation. See you at Berta's.
Posted by: Wino Bob | 03/04/2007 at 08:38