Flaccianello della Pieve 2013 (Fontodi)

Drink now or cellar for up to 30 years. Decant 2 hours before serving. Owned aby the Fontodi family since 1968, this picturesque estate to the south of the town of Panzano is today considered one of Chianti Classico’s finest. The property has been in the capable hands of Giovanni Manetti since 1980 and currently boasts 90 hectares of prime vineyards which are predominantly planted to Sangiovese. The vines are planted in Panzano’s natural amphitheatre which is known as the "conca d’oro" or "golden shell" and is considered the prime area to grow grapes with great intensity of flavour and elegance. Fontodi is best known for their majestic Flaccianello della Pieve which is made in a Super Tuscan style from the estate’s very best Sangiovese grapes. In the winery Giovanni adopts a minimal intervention approach, vinifying the wine in stainless steel tanks and then ageing it in French oak barrels for 18 months. Before bottling the wine is then transferred to larger oak casks for an additional 6 months of maturation. The result is a rich and powerful Sangiovese that will age extremely well over the next 15 years or more thanks to the firm tannins, well-developed structure and bold fruit character. On the nose there are intense dark cherry, plum and berry notes along with hints of spice, leather and dried herbs from the ageing which will continue to develop and evolve in coming years in the cellar.