Flaccianello della Pieve 2012 75cl

As it is every year, the 2012 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. <br/><br/>I happened to look up at my car clock as I drove into Fontodi's driveway in Panzano-in-Chianti. It was 9:03 am and our appointment had been fixed at 9am. Wearing a dark blue cashmere sweater, Giovanni Manetti was waiting for me in the parking lot. This is a man who radiates a sense of precision, an appreciation of aesthetics and a profound sense of respect and curiosity for anyone he meets. In my mind, he is one of the strongest and most even-keeled personalities in the world of Italian wine. And, thanks to the magic of winemaking, he successfully transmits these qualities to his beautiful products. I enjoyed a full visit to his vineyards and winery. A highlight was the cattle stables he manages down at the lower part of the celebrated Conca d'Oro vineyards that extend from the perch where his winery is built. These animals provide the fertilizers he needs to nourish his vines and he proudly tells me that his is one of the only farms in Tuscany that raise authentic Chianina breed cattle (the inspiration for the famous bistecca alla fiorentina). Giovanni Manetti sells his meat to the local celebrity butcher Dario Cecchini and is very proud of the full-cycle farming sustainability model he has achieved. Other news from the vineyard is that the Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Vigna del Sorbo have been ripped out and starting with the 2012 vintage, that wine is a pure expression of Sangiovese. We tasted his current releases and Giovanni generously offered to open some older vintages of Flaccianello delle Pieve including 2010, 1999 and 1997. He also opened a 1992 Pinot Nero that blew my mind because of the freshness of the fruit. I asked to check the vintage three times because I simply did not believe that the wine was that old.<br/>

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. Sangiovese. Best from 2017 through 2027. 4,000 cases made. –BS