Fontodi Flaccianello by all standards could be classified as a Chianti; however, the Manetti Family that produces the wine still classifies it as a Super Tuscan and thus, it’s still how people perceive it. This week I had the opportunity to try the 2012 Fontodi Flaccianello and got to see firsthand how this wine compares to some Chiantis and some Super Tuscans.
Fontodi has belonged to the Manetti Family since 1968, but the estate itself dates back to the 16th century. Today the winery, which is in the heart of Chianti, produces seven different wines, one of them being the Flaccianello Della Pieve that originally got its name from the vineyard where the grapes came from. It is one of the first mono-varietal Sangiovese Super Tuscans that started production 1981. Since 2001 though, Flaccianello gets its grapes from a few different sources, but only the best grapes go into it. With the aging and varietal of this wine, it could be considered a Chianti, yet Flaccianello stays true to its roots, farms organically and is still considered a Super Tuscan.
Of course these wines only get better with age. I recently had the 1999 vintage of this wine, and it was showing beautifully with still a lot of time to go. The 2012 vintage only got better as the night went on, but it was amazing even right after pulling the cork. The aromas that shot of out the glass were cassis, blueberry, plum and some minerality. This is one of those wines that you try, and you just don’t want it to end. The 97-point 2012 Fontodi Flaccianello at $84.95 is a steal! This is a serious wine to have in your wine collection that will age for a long time.
“The 2012 Flaccianello della Pieve, a selection of the estate's best fruit, presents a darker, more virile expression of Sangiovese. Here, too, the purity of the flavors is truly striking. Cinnamon, cloves, new leather, licorice and plums are some of the notes that soar from the glass. The 2012 is full-bodied and voluptuous, in classic Flaccianello style, but the new French oak is much better integrated than it often is at this stage, the result of a move to lower toast levels over the last few years. This is one of the finest young Flaccianellos I can remember. Simply put, the 2012 Flaccianello is a real stunner. Wow!” – 97 Antonio Galloni