Jay Kline

9.4

This is my 3000th tasting note on Delectable so I suppose I should celebrate by opening something fun. Flaccianello? Ovviamente!

While it’s labeled an IGT and colloquially considered a Super Tuscan, Flaccianello delle Pieve could legally be labeled as a Chianti Classico Riserva. However, Giovanni Manetti of Azienda Agricola Fontodi opts not to do so (despite the fact that he’s the current Chairman of the Conzorsio). The name, “Flaccianello delle Pieve” comes from the eponymous single-vineyard; the original source of grapes. However, around the turn of the millennium, Flaccianello became a blend of Fontodi’s best fruit throughout the estate. Over all the years, despite the changes in fruit source and aging regimen, Flaccianello remains 100% Sangiovese and 100% Panzano in Chianti.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2011 pours a deep, translucent garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, leather, mushrooms, cigar box, menthol, organic earth and wonderful fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and warming as the alcohol is pretty elevated. But whoa…what a beauty.

Okay, yeah…this is a modern take on Chianti Classico but my goodness, this is undeniably delicious and unabashedly Italian. Back in 2011, Flaccianello was aged in a combination of barriques from Troncais and Allier, all 100% new; an era that was arguably the most modern for this wine. Over the last 10 or so years however, there has been a shift towards less time in new barrique and large casks have now been introduced for the last six months of cellar aging. While I look forward to trying some of these more contemporary examples, I am very impressed with this 2011 and expect it will continue to show well through 2035. — 2 days ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.1

Vin Santo del Chianti Classico DOC 2004! Ending the evening with a little sweetness! Cheers🍷 — 4 years ago

Riccardo L.

9.1

No question that when the right wine is aged to the right point, there’s nothing better. What an experience it was to.. first, go to this winery in 2008 and meet the people the run it, and then drink this beauty in 2024 and relive that magic while enjoying the poetry inside the bottle. — 12 days ago

Ralph DiBiasi

9.4

The 2020 is drinking lovely. Aroma of licorice, dark fruit , slate, grapefruit on palate firm tanins , enjoyable but will age well. — 6 months ago

Samuli Jokipaltio

9.1

Dry with pronounces tannins. Two hours after decanting, it emergences much smoother and rather nice to drink now. Not quite the standard Fontodi CC, but a very enjoyable wine on its own. — 3 years ago

Marc vanholst

9.4

Great drinking moment for this 1999 Del Sorbo. Still lots of good fruit, creamy and soft. Very nice now. — 6 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Delicious. Very solid ripe cherry flavor — a month ago

Russ Kujan

9.1

2021 Sauvignon blanc from Tuscany. Categorized as a lowly IGT wine. You don’t think of Italy when you think Sauvignon Blanc. Tropical fruit on the nose — 3 months ago

Daniel Bloom

9.0

From a corner of Chianti near Siena* https://www.google.com/search?q=Barberino-Tavarnelle&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari (I believe) a family member nee Fontodi has a small bio/dynamic operation. Very old school.
N: Roses, Cherries, red fruits, dirt, green herbs, pepper…. Nice!
P: Quite umami, red fruits, slight licorice, dirt again, nimble at 13.5° Good blind choice. Shame I only bought 2.
Thanks @Garagiste — 2 years ago

Byron Hewett

8.9

Tasty, but I would like it more if it didn’t have Cabernet Sauvignon in it and if they used less oak. Pretty rich and ripe. I prefer Felsina, Fontodi, Monsanto, Castell’in Villa, Rampolla, Isole e Olena and San Giusto a Rentennano to this! — 6 years ago