Flaccianello della Pieve Colli Toscana Centrale Sangiovese

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.

Outstanding! Drinking extremely well right now. Great complexity, texture, and length. An incredibly regal wine from every angle.
Thanks for sharing, Vince!

Needed a full 2 hr decant from dbl Mag but boy-oh-boy was this awesome. Sour cherry and iodine, saddle leather on the nose, classic Sangiovese palate turned smooth as silk. Many years to go but 🔥🔥🔥 right now.

Superb, opened 5 750s. Saw big bottle variation, 3 spectacular, 1 off and one really off bottle. Some cork seepage on the lesser btls. Shame…this was worth cellaring, the best on par with the finest super Ts anywhere and aging with light sour cherry, sweet tobacco and old leather notes that were so nice.

Always loved this wine. Pure Sangiovese with extremely fine tannins in a super year

Leather, stewed plum, fig and slight lift from VA maraschino cherries. Over the hill, but still enjoyable.

Gorgeous color of deep purple, without variation, earthy nose of mushroom-loam, grilled duck breast, black cherry both dried and ripe, crushed violets, brown sugar and brown bread. Round and supple mouthfeel of red cherry and bing cherry, shows ample cedar and cigar notes, oak and tart raspberry, cracked black pepper, rose petal and finally winds into a smoky graphite point that will undoubtedly blossom over the next decade.


#fontodi #aziendaagricolafontodi #estatebottled #flaccianellodellapieve #flacianello #collitoscanacentrale #supertuscan #igt #italianorosso #2019

Molto scuro. Ottimo

Opened about two hours prior to service and allowed to breathe. Two bottles were opened tonight from the same cellar and both corks showed some saturation but only through the first 1/3. No formal notes. The 1999 Flaccianello pours a youthful ruby color with a slightly garnet rim and some signs of sediment though nothing I would describe as unusual. This is an absolutely delightful Flaccianello that I would still describe as “developing”. A mix of red and dark fruits with dried herbs, black tea, espresso, leathe and dried earth. The tannins are still firm and the acid is zippy yet everything is in perfect balance and well integrated. This was paired with a deconstructed BLT highlighting the produce from local area farms and salmon rillettes with turnips, fennel and orange. I don’t have a lot of experience with Flaccianello (or Fontodi for that matter) but this is a wonderful representation of Chianti Classico (although not designated such) and if the two bottles opened tonight are representative, this vintage has a lot left in the tank! Drink now with a little air to stretch its legs and over the next 10-15 years, no cap.

Decanted one hour. Delicious! If I tasted thing blind I would say it could be nothing other than beautifully aged bordeaux, which is crazy considering it’s entirely Sangiovese. This is a real beauty. It is fully mature but will continue to age gracefully for at least a few more years. Bravo!