“Flaccianello della Pieve” Colli Toscana Centrale IGT 2021 (BIO)

Tenuta Fontodi | Tuscany
Az. Agr. Fontodi | Giovanni e Marco Manetti s.s. | IT 50022 Panzano in Chianti

09482321 · 0,75 l · 152,00 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

1981 – a year that would change the Italian wine world forever. Giovanni Manetti was barely twenty when, together with the legendary OenologistFranco Bernabei, he created a wine that broke all the rules. "Flaccianello and I grew up together," says Manetti today about that first vintage, which was supposed to be a one-off – until 1982 came along. The revolution was both simple and radical: 100 per cent Sangiovese. At a time when the Chianti Classico regulations stipulated that at least ten per cent white grapes had to be added, this was an affront to tradition. What began as a rebellious table wine became an icon of the Supertuscan movement and inspired a whole generation of winegrowers to throw off the shackles of rigid regulations. The name itself tells a story: Flaccianello della Pieve is named after the small Romanesque Pieve di San Leolino, which towers majestically over Panzano. Until 2000, the grapes came from a single vineyard of the same name. Then Manetti took the next evolutionary step: a blend from the best parcels of the entire estate, mainly three vineyards near the town, on the dense, stony soils of the Conca d'Oro.

The 2021 epitomises four decades of continuous perfection. 18 months in French barriques – 75 per cent of which are new –followed by a further six months in used barrels, create a complexity that is simultaneously powerful and graceful. A kaleidoscope of black berries, violets, lavender and mineral notes unfolds on the nose, underpinned by the smoky depth of the Galestro terroir. On the palate, the full grandeur of this Sangiovese cuvée is revealed: velvety tannins envelop a concentrated fruit centre, while the characteristic Sangiovese acidity lends the wine its unmistakable elegance. This is more than just a wine – it is the manifestation of a dream that began in 1981 and has been one of the most important red wines in the world for many years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Promising nose of wild berry jam, with a subtle hint of undergrowth and vanilla; youthful, tight-knit tannins, the acidity provides the underpinning, precise evolution, finishing on flavours of black cherries and hot stone. Timelessly elegant Sangiovese, superbly made." Vinum

"Powerful ruby colour with a slight violet hue. Very appealing and intense nose, showing notes of blackberry and mulberry, some orange peel, some milk chocolate and light tobacco in the background. Polished and precise on the palate, with plenty of fine tannins, savoury and a long finish." Falstaff

"A young red wine with aromas and flavours of black cherries, flint, matchsticks, blackberries and bark. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and chewy tannins that show a slightly angular mouthfeel on the finish. Needs three or four years to mellow." James Suckling

"With a deep well of blackberries, black cherries, violets, minerals and spice on the nose, this red is rich and dense, saturated with dark fruit flavours but with a sense of grace. A light layer of tannin frames the finish, which needs a few more years to meld with the other components. It shows the harmony, freshness and depth of the vintage." Wine Spectator

"The 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve opens with a medium-dark, inky appearance and solid flavours of black fruits and pressed blackberries. The Flaccianello is slightly more approachable than the Vigna del Sorbo at this early stage, but both wines are undoubtedly built to withstand extensive ageing in the cellar. The Flaccianello is the more powerful of the two wines, while the Vigna del Sorbo is more delicate in comparison. These contrasting characteristics are particularly evident in this classic vintage. This wine is also characterised by a more generous mouthfeel, supported by gently integrated tannins." Wine Advocate

"The 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve is another exceptional wine from Fontodi this year. Ripe, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit as the 2021 makes its presence felt from the first taste. Lush, racy and dense, it is simply magnificent. As has been the case for some time now, the Flaccianello is a blend of mostly three parcels, spread across the entire estate but closer to the town. " Vinous