Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
Learn More About Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Through its Reviews.
2019 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2019 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is another stunning wine that sums up the character of the vintage and reflects the sun-drenched beauty of its quintessentially Tuscan surroundings. Giovanni Manetti and his team have two new important wines in the works, but Flaccianello remains an old love and a wine that hits the highest marks for quality consistency vintage after vintage. I tasted this wine next to the 100-point 2016 vintage for friendly comparison, and perhaps the main difference is that the tannins are finer and more accessible in this bottle. It offers rich concentration and layers of dark fruit that wrap thickly over the senses. Tannin management is an active pursuit. Time in barrique has been reduced over the years in favor of a final six-month resting period in larger oak casks. In fact, the barrel room was recently enlarged to give more room to these bigger vessels. The 2019 vintage recalls the balance of 2001 with the freshness of 2013. However, 2019 is more profound.”
96 Pointz James Suckling
“Blackberry, black-cherry, bark, and ink aromas follow through to a full body with tight, integrated tannins and a solid core of fruit at the same time. A little hard and tight now. From organically grown grapes. Needs time to open.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“The 2019 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is another potent wine from Fontodi in this vintage. That said, it has more than enough mid-palate heft and overall intensity to balance its equally imposing tannins. Black cherry, mocha, licorice, lavender, spice, and tobacco fill out the layers. The 2019 needs time to integrate its oak and for the imposing tannins to soften.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This smooth red is highlighted by macerated black cherry, blackberry, and oak spice flavors. Harmonious, with a kick of refined tannins on the long finish. A polished style with the structure to age. Sangiovese.”
2018 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
100 Pointz Vinous
“The 2018 Fontodi 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.”
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“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.”
96 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
“Ripe black cherry, black currant, and blackberry fruit is beautifully displayed on the harmonious structure in this red. Violet, iron, and juniper notes add depth, while the aftertaste gets lift from the lively acidity and dusty tannins.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
“This is a solid red with plenty of fruit and a dense, intense palate with hints of wood and spice. Full-bodied and very structured. Plenty of tannins here. Needs three to four years to soften and come together. From organically grown grapes. Best after 2024.”
92 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“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.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“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.”
2017 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
97 Pointz Vinous
“The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual, and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice, and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine.”
96 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2017 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is a standout wine of the dry vintage. This pure Sangiovese opens to a dark garnet color with more visible concentration and density compared to recent past editions. This is a beautiful wine with pliant tannins, dark fruit richness, balanced acidity, and a fruit-forward 15% alcohol content. The wine is big and bold when weighed on the Flaccianello scale (and even more so when weighed on the Sangiovese scale) with dark cherry, plum, spice, violet, chalk, and campfire ash. Despite that power and inner opulence, this wine adds that zesty Sangiovese character with fresh acidity and an energized approach. This Flaccianello is whole and complete with the natural firmness and structure to hold it steady during the aging process. A small part of amphorae-aged fruit is added to the blend.”
96 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“Aromas of baked plum, blue flower, French oak, and camphor are front and center on this bold, full-bodied red. Made entirely with organically grown Sangiovese, the delicious palate boasts concentration and a weightless elegance, doling out layers of ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice, cocoa, and carob framed in tightly wound, close-grained tannins. Give it a few more years to fully develop.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
Very high-toned and muscular red with crushed cherries, blackberries, and walnuts. Some dried earth. It’s full-bodied and chewy with solid tannins that form the wine. Beautiful ripe fruit in the center palate. Needs time to soften.
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectible
There's fine purity to the black cherry, black currant, and blackberry flavors in this expressive red, with refined tannins. Everything is in the right proportion as this remains vibrant and focused, with iron and oak spice accents adding depth as this builds to a lingering aftertaste.
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
94 Pointz Decanter
“A selection of the best grapes from Fontodi's highest altitude parcels in Panzano's Conca d'Oro. Manetti maintains that the spring frost helped lighten the vines' load, allowing the remaining grapes to continue ripening even during torrid conditions. Macerated cherry and blackberry compote are nuanced by dried thyme and grilled fennel. New wood adds hints of vanilla and spice box. The palate is robust and firm, though the tannins are refined, and tangy acidity brightens the whole. An excellent showing from this challenging year. Needs time.”
2016 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
100 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“2016 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is a masterpiece. This review represents a composite of notes from two separate tasting sessions, one at the winery and a second bottle tasted repeatedly over the course of 24 hours at my own pace. In the case of the second sample, it ended up in a blind flight next to the 2016 Masseto, and as beautiful as that Merlot-based wine is, this wine paints an even more beautiful portrait of a perfect Tuscan landscape, thanks to that tangy Sangiovese typicity. This vintage shows amazing depth and poise, with a sheer sense of elegance that comes from the undisputed quality of fruit achieved in this balanced vintage.
The bouquet opens to dark cherry, blue flower, and tilled earth. The tannins are taut, almost crunchy, and the wine offers profound pedigree and persistence that is driven by the evident acidity. That depth is what stands out most. Until the 2013 vintage, Flaccianello was aged in barrique for 24 months. After that vintage, six months of the total aging time is spent in botte instead. This 2016 vintage includes a small part from clay amphorae for the first time. This slight change in the relationship of wine to barrel size has resulted in a more elegant and finessed wine. That point is especially underlined in this vintage. Because of cool spring temperatures during the flowering, yields were reduced by 20% in 2016 compared to 2015.”
100 Pointz Vinous
“The 2016 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is a truly special, moving wine. There's not much more to say. The 2016 was epic when I tasted it last year. It is every bit as memorable today. Beautifully layered, the 2016 possesses remarkable finesse and power. All of the natural intensity of Panzano's Conca d'Oro comes through in a wine that dazzles from start to finish. As always, Flaccianello showcases the darker side of Sangiovese.”
97 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Ripe, with mulberry, plum, black cherry, mineral, and spice flavors, this red is both lush and firmly structured. Complex, well-defined, and persistent, courtesy of the racy acidity. Though balanced, this needs a few years to really knit together.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
“Dark cherries, blackcurrants, brambleberries, eucalyptus, vanilla, tar, sandalwood, and dried violets are the calling cards on the nose. This is certainly a very refined and delicate Flaccianello, that weaves its way through fresh dark fruit and layers of intricately wrought tannins.”
94 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Made entirely with Sangiovese, this offers aromas of wild berry, new leather, exotic spice, and eucalyptus. Full-bodied and enveloping, the firm palate doles out mature Marasca cherry, prune, licorice, and tobacco alongside youthfully assertive, fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced and lends tension. It's still young so give it time to unwind and fully develop. Drink 2026–2036.”
2015 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
99 Pointz Vinous
“The 2015 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is even more stratospheric than it was last year. Rich and ample on the palate, Flaccianello captures all of the best qualities of this radiant vintage. The blend of sites, all in higher altitude spots near the center of town, yields a gorgeous, riveting wine of the very highest level. Dense and brooding, with magnificent energy as well as nuance, the 2015 Flaccianello is positively stunning.”
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“I'm hardly surprised to report that 2015 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is one of the best wines recorded in this report of new releases from Tuscany. This wine sits as tall and as proud as the Colosseum in Rome or the Pyramids of Giza in its undeniable glory and beauty. It would be impossible to exaggerate its many lasting attributes and qualities. Perhaps the most remarkable is the smooth and seamless nature of its many complicated moving parts. It produces abundant power, intensity, and elegance as if this were the easiest accomplishment in the world. But we all know that's far from the truth. Despite the heat of the vintage, this wine is constructed with firm building blocks as if it were from a cooler year. That's the Panzano magic in a nutshell. This vintage is very young and tight, and you need to exercise patience to allow it enough time to evolve.”
97 Pointz James Suckling
“The aromas are crystal-clear here, ranging from dark cherry essence, dried herbs, and dark plums to licorice, cloves, vanilla, and paprika. Full body, very velvety yet firm tannins, and a long, grippy finish. The tension created with the interplay between the rich fruit, taut acidity and a sturdy tannin backbone is so enticing. Drink in 2022. Made from organically grown grapes.”
96 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Rich and opulent, with a sheen to the black currant and blackberry fruit flavors. Additional notes of thyme, leather, mineral, and tar add depth, while the burly tannins still ride roughshod on the finish. Nonetheless, all the components are there and this shows fine length. A more muscular style for this wine, reflecting the vintage.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“2015 was a relief after 2014. Manetti describes it as an almost perfect vintage: the summer was warmer than usual with lots of sunshine, but it was never too hot and rain fell at the right moments. It's surprisingly open on the nose, where sweet earth, dark cherry, grilled thyme, and baking spice aromas unfold. The palate is full and voluptuous, with succulent fruits coated by firm tannins. This just needs time to take shape and it will reveal its more subtle complexities after a few years in the cellar.”
2014 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
96 Pointz Vinous
“The 2014 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve will probably drink well a bit earlier than the Vigna del Sorbo, as it has more midpalate creaminess, softer contours, and a slightly more immediate personality. Even so, the translucent finesse of the vintage is very much in evidence. A rush of black cherry, plum, tobacco, licorice, chocolate, and spice infuses the sweet, creamy finish. The 2014 spent 18 months in oak (less than was once the norm), 80% of it new.”
95 Pointz Wine Advocate
“Like the Vigna del Sorbo, the 2014 Flaccianello della Pieve spends a few additional months in botte grande than usual. The wine still breathes in large oak cask, but the environment is slightly more reductive (oxygen-free) compared to smaller barrique, thus allowing for a more complete and slower integration that is necessary in a cool vintage like this. The result is a beautifully complete wine that takes a few minutes to spread its wings.
The bouquet starts off with a timid personality, but soon reaches a full regime of red fruit and spice that is so specific to this celebrated selection of Sangiovese from Panzano in Chianti. The September heat (following a gray, soggy summer) helped to eventually achieve fully ripened tannins. There is no greenness or astringency to disturb the soft and velvety mouthfeel. Thanks to severe fruit selection, production of the 2014 Flaccianello della Pieve is one-third less than average.
Giovanni Manetti calls 2014 'a vintage of opportunity.' Although Panzano saw less average rainfall in 2014 compared to neighboring villages, Fontodi vineyards required double the work that year. This is an impressive achievement.”
95 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
Cellar Selection
“Balancing structure and finesse, this full-bodied red delivers aromas and flavors of black-skinned berry, licorice, exotic spice, and raspberry compote. Tightly knit, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity provide the ageworthy backbone. Drink 2020–2024.”
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Well-marked by toasty, vanilla-scented oak, this red boasts a core of cherry, floral, tobacco, and graphite flavors. Pure and intense, with fine harmony and an aftertaste that echoes fruit and a smoky, minerally element. Terrific length. Sangiovese. Best from 2021 through 2040.”
93 Pointz James Suckling
“This is an excellent 2014 with beautiful linear fruit and silky, firm tannins. Full body, tight and bright. A lot of new wood showing now but should come around nicely. Drink in 2019.”
2013 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2013 Flaccianello della Pieve is a commanding wine and a strong protagonist of both the vintage and its territory. Connoisseurs of Sangiovese will be hard pressed to find a wine more authentic, elegant, complex, and pristine than this. I am a huge fan of the 2013 vintage in Chianti Classico and the Flaccianello della Pieva is one big reason for this love affair. The bouquet is gorgeous and delineated with wild berry, tangy spice, crushed mineral, and forest flower. Yet, the wine's color is dark, brooding, and austere.
The wine offers exuberance and energy in the mouth, thanks to its balanced acidity and seemingly never-ending finish. It should age forward for twenty years or more. Congratulations Fontodi. It is impossible to exaggerate my enthusiasm for this set of new releases from Giovanni Manetti's venerable Fontodi. I'll start with the 2013 Flaccianello della Pieve that left me speechless. This is the wine that taught me to love the 2013 vintage in Central Tuscany.”
97 Pointz James Suckling
“Very precise and focused with blueberry, blackberry, and currant character. Chewy tannins and tight. Full body, fabulous density, and length. A classic. Needs five or six years to completely open but so beautiful in its youth. Real deal. From organically grown grapes. Pure Sangiovese.”
97 Pointz Vinous
“The 2013 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is a powerhouse. In this vintage, Flaccianello has all of its typical richness but also a good deal of freshness that will help it age. Interestingly, the stylistic difference between Flaccianello and Vigna del Sorbo is more accentuated in 2013 than in 2012. Deep, layered, and unctuous, the 2013 offers plenty of blue and purplish-hued fruits, clove, lavender, and new leather nuances, all supported by big, searing tannins that will require the better part of a decade to settle down. The 2013 is a magnificent Flaccianello with a bright, bright future.”
93 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This powerful red is polished, with toasty oak framing the black cherry, blackberry, plum, mint, vanilla, and earth flavors, backed by a firm structure that shows refined tannins. Fruit and tobacco elements linger on the long aftertaste. Sangiovese. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
2012 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
97 Pointz Vinous
“Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper, and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice, and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine's texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.”
94 Pointz James Suckling
“A fresh and clean wine with mineral, blackberry, blueberry, and lavender character. Full body, fine and chewy tannins, and a tangy finish. Refined and beautiful. Needs a year or two to soften. Organically grown grapes.”
94 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“As it is every year, the 2012 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve represents a selection of the best fruit from the best vineyards (excluding, of course, Vigna del Sorbo that is dedicated to its own wine). The five parcels span various soils types and exposures, and the youngest vines are 20 years old. Because the fruit selection process is so detailed, the darkest and smallest clusters are carefully chosen. As a result, the fruit is rich in polyphenols, thick extract, and extra aromatic intensity. The 2012 vintage saw yields reduced by as much as 20%, meaning that fruit selection was even more severe in this vintage. This beautiful wine shows abundant richness and generosity with toned mineral nuances that are wrapped within bold flavors of dark fruit and spice. The wine is rich and velvety in texture.”
90 Pointz Wine Spectator
“A supple, fluid texture sets the pace for the black currant and blackberry flavors in this concentrated red. Earth, tobacco, and leather notes add interest as the tannins frame the finish. Best from 2017 through 2027.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
17.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“Aromas here are more savoury and refined than on the Felsina Fontalloro 2011. More perfumed too. Chewy but very finely textured tannins. Packed with dark fruit and spice. Long and too young to broach now, unless you have a chunk of protein to hand.”
2011 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
96 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Rich and opulent, with a sheen to the black currant and blackberry fruit flavors. Additional notes of thyme, leather, mineral, and tar add depth, while the burly tannins still ride roughshod on the finish. Nonetheless, all the components are there and this shows fine length. A more muscular style for this wine, reflecting the vintage. Sangiovese.”
95 Pointz James Suckling
“The blackberry, currant, nutmeg, and chocolate aromas follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and lots of savory fruit. Some balsamic and citrus fruit underneath it all. Needs a little time to soften. Pure Sangiovese. From organically grown grapes. Better in 2016.”
94 Pointz Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
“The 2011 and 2012 vintages are close cousins, with the 2011 Flaccianello della Pieve appearing a bit softer and plumper around the midsection. This was a notoriously warm vintage that saw sugar and phenolic ripeness shoot up very quickly at the end of the growing season. Indeed, this wine produces a noticeable level of sweetness on the finish, all surrounded by jammy flavors of cherry confit and blackberry marmalade. My observation is that this 2011 vintage feels more overtly ripe, whereas the 2012 vintage is able to hide some of its ripeness within the general fleshiness and succulence of the fruit. Giovanni Manetti says that 2011 resulted in some dried berries on the clusters that had to be removed by hand on the sorting table. This problem did not occur in 2012.”
94 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s
International Wine Cellar
“(100% Sangiovese): Good deep, bright red. Knockout nose combines liqueur-like red fruits, minerals, aromatic herbs, and spicy oak. Sappy and suave, with extremely deep red and dark berry, mineral, and Oriental spice flavors framed by harmonious acidity. Still a bit youthfully aggressive today, finishing with firm, building tannins and outstanding length. An exceptionally successful Flaccianello; in fact, I predict it will turn out to be one of the top three Chianti-area wines of the 2011 vintage.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“The 2011 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve has come along quite nicely over the last year. The signatures of the unusually warm, dry vintage are very much in evidence in the wine's profile and overall weight. At the same time, the richness and overall unctuousness suggest the 2011 will drink well earlier than some of the surrounding vintages - once it sheds some baby fat.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
93 Pointz Decanter
“A precocious year from bud break all the way through to harvest in mid-September. Towards the end of August, a heat spike caused some shrivelling of berries, making careful sorting necessary. The wine is fruity rather than graceful in character, the generous ripeness showing through with macerated cherry and currant flavours offset by balsamic and tobacco nuances. This is already starting to demonstrate some evolution though the palate, but has serious structure and density for at least another seven to eight years of ageing. In this vintage, Manetti started reducing the percentage of new wood.”
17.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson,
Master of Wine
“24 months in French barriques. Dark crimson. Rich and sweet on the front palate with all the kick of ripe Sangiovese behind. Dramatic. Long. Fiery. Concentrated. A very different style to Isola e Olena’s.”
2010 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Reviews
96 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“From an iconic vintage that gave generously to all grape varieties across almost all of Tuscany, this wine ranks high on the Fontodi billboard of greatest hits. The 2010 Flaccianello della Pieve is a rock solid wine that sits firm and begins to peel slowly, each delicate layer at a time. It puts on quite a show with a solid core of dark fruit followed by smoke, spice, tar, licorice, and delicate blue flower.
On previous tastings of this vintage, I had scored it 97 and 97+ points, respectively. I'm going down one point at this sitting because the wine's fiber has unraveled, ever so slightly, at the edges. It still maintains that solid core, but the wine has taken an important jump forward in its evolution these past three years. Evidently, it is currently in a phase of relaxation and unwinding. Beautifully polished notes of Mediterranean herb and dried mint appear on the long, glossy finish. Giovanni Manetti compares the 2010 vintage to 2006 but considers this vintage slightly more approachable overall.”
96 Pointz Vinous
“A rush of intense blue and black stone fruits, tobacco, smoke, licorice, spices, and new leather hits the palate in the 2010 Flaccianello. A wine of considerable immediacy and intensity, the 2010 captivates all the senses with its magnificent richness and pure texture. There is so much to like here.”
96 Pointz Wine Spectator
“A linear, taut version, somewhat austere in profile, with racy acidity driving the black cherry, black currant, and violet flavors. Intense and persistent, it's long and more mineral than the '11 at this stage.”
94 Pointz James Suckling
“This shows plums and currants with blackberries. Full body with soft tannins and a fruity finish. Very fruity and delicious. Made from 100% organically grown Sangiovese grape.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
95 Pointz Decanter
“After a chilly, wet start, the weather finally became dry and hot in July. Following mid-August showers, the temperatures cooled down, particularly at night. These conditions lasted through September, slowing down ripening. Manetti compares 2010 to 2006 but feels the latter is more approachable. Of the line-up, it comes across as the most darkly-fruited and brooding, with a smouldering, smoky vanilla edge. There's plenty of intensity and power to keep the wine going, but it needs more time to lighten up.”