Jay Kline

9.4

This is my 3000th tasting note on Delectable so I suppose I should celebrate by opening something fun. Flaccianello? Ovviamente!

While it’s labeled an IGT and colloquially considered a Super Tuscan, Flaccianello delle Pieve could legally be labeled as a Chianti Classico Riserva. However, Giovanni Manetti of Azienda Agricola Fontodi opts not to do so (despite the fact that he’s the current Chairman of the Conzorsio). The name, “Flaccianello delle Pieve” comes from the eponymous single-vineyard; the original source of grapes. However, around the turn of the millennium, Flaccianello became a blend of Fontodi’s best fruit throughout the estate. Over all the years, despite the changes in fruit source and aging regimen, Flaccianello remains 100% Sangiovese and 100% Panzano in Chianti.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2011 pours a deep, translucent garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, leather, mushrooms, cigar box, menthol, organic earth and wonderful fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and warming as the alcohol is pretty elevated. But whoa…what a beauty.

Okay, yeah…this is a modern take on Chianti Classico but my goodness, this is undeniably delicious and unabashedly Italian. Back in 2011, Flaccianello was aged in a combination of barriques from Troncais and Allier, all 100% new; an era that was arguably the most modern for this wine. Over the last 10 or so years however, there has been a shift towards less time in new barrique and large casks have now been introduced for the last six months of cellar aging. While I look forward to trying some of these more contemporary examples, I am very impressed with this 2011 and expect it will continue to show well through 2035. — a day ago

Chris Sowick

8.9

A Modo Mio. Excellent Tuscan wine with salmon carpaccio, grilled octopus. $27.00. — 4 days ago

Manav Shah

9.2

Fantastic blend of fruit and earth. — 6 days ago

Riccardo L.

9.1

No question that when the right wine is aged to the right point, there’s nothing better. What an experience it was to.. first, go to this winery in 2008 and meet the people the run it, and then drink this beauty in 2024 and relive that magic while enjoying the poetry inside the bottle. — 12 days ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Needed more time to open up. We were through the bottle as it was starting to open. Tart bright red fruit. Good tannic structure. Still very fresh and vibrant — 3 days ago

with Barbara

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9.2

The 2022 Chianti Classico is a fine introduction to the Castellare range. Silky, aromatic and light on its feet, this is a wine of tremendous appeal. The 2022 is on the fruitier side, but its balance is impeccable. Hints of spice, leather and citrus linger on the mid-weight finish. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, July 2024)
— 15 days ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Wild Smokey cherry flavor as if we threw this wine into a cherrywood smoke. Funky but good. — 23 days ago

Garen Staglin

9.4

Perfect with Veal Milanese. Round fruit a d soft elegant finish. — 4 days ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Stunning wine. Lots of depth and earthy heft. The fruit is quite mature but in balance with the chewy tannic base. This wine is in the zone. Also the right compliment for mom’s homemade lasagna! — 19 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This 14 has a bit of a story. I opened their 2005 last weekend, which was fantastic, I also opened their 2014 as an example w/ a friend to show how important aging is in Italy reds out of Tuscany & Piemonte. Also, how long it takes for the amount of new wood use Italians put to both to soften. The Italians hold them back in bottle sometimes two to three years or longer. The 05 last weekend was a 93-94. This after an hour & half decant, 90-91. In time, add one to two points.

For those who didn’t study their ass off to pass the Court of Master Sommeliers exam, the difference between Chianti & Chianti Classico is, Classico needs to come from a specific region in Chianti and needs to have an additional 10% of Sangiovese over regular Chianti.

2014 a good but not all-star vintage like 2010.

The 2014 still young. Showing dry; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some black plum, dry cranberries & strawberry hues. Oak barrel shavings, dry; leather, cedar, & dry tobacco, limestone & sandstone power, dry twig, dry river stone, dry top soil, slight candied & withering; red, dark, purple flowers framed in violets, nice acidity and a taut structured & tensioned but balanced, elegantly polished landing on dry earth that lasts nearly 90 seconds.

It is a good pair w/ the lasagna that has a really nice dark seasoning in it. An aged Nebbiolo might have worked better. From, The Adorable French Bakery at the Santa Cruz Farmers Market. No permanent location. — 13 days ago