FONTODI Flaccianello della Pieve -Colli Toscana Centrale IGT 2018 Bottle ORG

Description

Flaccianello, crafted from the estate’s finest Sangiovese grapes, has quickly become one of Italy’s most sought-after wines. This powerful and fleshy red originates from vineyards situated in a high-altitude area with classic 'galestro' soils, enhancing its complexity. Following meticulous selection, the grapes undergo fermentation for at least 21 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks before maturing for 18 months in 80% new French oak barriques.

The 2018 vintage has achieved remarkable acclaim, receiving 100 points from Vinous for its richness and vibrant character. The Wine Advocate awarded it 98 points for its brooding profile with savoury notes, while James Suckling rated it 97-98 points for its incredible depth. Decanter noted its 96 points for its elegant Mediterranean character, making it perfect for aging.

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Fontodi is a prestigious winery located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany, Italy. Established in the early 1960s by the Manetti family, Fontodi is dedicated to producing high-quality wines that embody the essence of the terroir. The estate encompasses approximately 130 hectares of vineyards, with a significant portion dedicated to Sangiovese, the hallmark grape of the Chianti region.

The winery is known for its commitment to organic farming and sustainable practices, prioritising the health of the vines and biodiversity in the vineyard environment. Fontodi's vineyards are situated at higher altitudes, which allows for cooler temperatures and greater temperature variations, resulting in grapes that develop excellent balance and complexity.

Fontodi's flagship wine, Flaccianello della Pieve, is a highly acclaimed 100% Sangiovese that has garnered numerous awards and high scores from wine critics globally. The estate also produces a range of Chianti Classico wines, characterised by rich fruit flavours, robust structure, and a distinctive earthy minerality.

With a focus on traditional winemaking techniques combined with modern innovation, Fontodi has established itself as a leading producer in Chianti, appealing to both collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the elegance and authenticity of Tuscan wines.

‘Flaccianello’, made from a selection of the estate’s best Sangiovese, is fast becoming one of Italy’s most sought-after wines. It is powerful, fleshy and ages beautifully. ‘Flaccianello’ is produced from the best grapes from the best parts of the Fontodi vineyards, located on the top of a hill at 480 metres of altitude. The soil here is classic 'galestro', the schistous clay on which the Sangiovese grape produces its best results.

After picking, the grapes were carried to the Fontodi winery and carefully selected on sorting tables. Fermentation and maceration lasted for at least 21 days in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. The cap was punched down twice a day during fermentation, which reached a maximum temperature of 30ºC. The wine was then racked into 80% new French oak barriques for 18 months before being blended and moved to 25,37 and 50-hectolitre oak casks for another six months prior to bottling.

VINOUS 100 points !!!
Drinking Window 2025 - 2048
From: Chianti Classico and Beyond – 2018 & 2019 (Sep 2021)
The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve is another stellar wine from Fontodi. It is the richest Flaccianello ever made (in terms of dry extract), with elevated acidity that trails the 2016 by just a touch, but it does not taste like that at all. Dark cherry, violet, lavender, spice, mocha and graphite build with a bit of time in the glass. Like the Sorbo, the 2018 Flaccianello is not a wine of size, as in most previous years, but rather a wine that exudes vibrancy, energy and class from start to finish. I absolutely loved it. - By Antonio Galloni on September 2021

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98 points
Drink Date: 2023 - 2050
Generally speaking, I have reservations concerning the 2018 vintage that saw intermittent periods of hot and cold with some rain thrown in at the end of the growing cycle. The 2018 Flaccianello della Pieve blasted straight through any lingering doubt and is the result of a deft winemaking hand. This is a phenomenal and proudly confident vintage of the estate's top Sangiovese, which represents a blend of organic fruit from the best parcels. The wine's personality reveals brooding darkness and austerity, and these impressions are reinforced by savory tones of cigar smoke and earthy leather. The core of the wine is tight and richly concentrated with generous blackberry and plum. The velvety tannins are integrated but still youthful and grippy. You'll definitely need to give this elegant wine more time in the bottle. Production is an ample 60,000 bottles. - Monica Larner, 7th Oct 2021

JAMES SUCKLING 97-98 points
Incredible depth and power to this with a solid core of ripe fruit and chewy tannins. Greatness in the making.

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Aldo Fiordelli
(at Monza, 03 Nov 2021)
Part of SuperTuscans at 50
Drinking Window: 2021 - 2045
Produced since 1981, Flaccianello was a single-vineyard wine up to 2003, then a selection of the best grapes of the estate. Guyot-trained Sangiovese is fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts for at least three weeks, then racked in barrels for the malolactic fermentation. It ages for 24 months in barrels. An enticing aroma unfolds its Mediterranean character in the glass with liquorice stick, bergamot, helichrysum, raspberry and cherry in depth. On the palate it shows extremely good volume for the 2018 vintage. Firm and youthful with refined tannins and crisp acidity, this is a wine of straight elegance.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 92 points
Aromas of French oak mingle with ripe plum and balsamic whiffs of camphor on this 100% Sangiovese. Full-bodied and firmly structured, the palate exhibits dried cherry, prune, licorice and tobacco alongside the warmth of evident alcohol and hints of mint. Assertive, close-grained tannins leave a drying close. — Kerin O’Keefe