On Sale Now!
Fontodi is one of Tuscany’s most respected estates and produces some of the finest wines in the world. The estate’s vineyards are planted along a high elevation hill of Conca d’Oro (“the golden shell,” named for its shape) and its south-facing amphitheater. It is an utterly unique terroir. Here, the high elevation and shape of the land offer long and warm summer days and a wild diurnal temperature swing. The calcareous clay and schist soils are optimal for producing ripe yet balanced Sangiovese. The resulting wines are effortlessly delicious and harmonious, the gift of such high-quality base material.
The Manetti Family purchased their property in the village of Panzano in 1968. (Before that, they crafted terracotta tiles from the soil, so you could say they know the land intimately.) Their wines quickly brought international attention to this tiny village, home to other famous estates as Molino di Grace and Rampolla. Today, Giovanni Manetti helms the estate as well as being the president of the Consorzio Chianti Classico, the regional winegrower association.
Fontodi’s flagship bottling, the Flaccianello della Pieve, is one of the best, most sought after Sangiovese wines crafted in Tuscany. Flaccianello’s obvious class seems inevitable when you consider that each year it is made with only the finest vineyard blocks from their exquisite holdings. Built for the long haul not unlike a Brunello, this is an ideal Sangiovese for a long-term cellaring. It’s on par with any wine that comes out of Tuscany—Soldera, Biondi-Santi Riserva, Pergole Torte, Valdicava’s Madonna… you name it—though the Flaccianello tends to run far less than its peers. Heck, this would be a cult wine selling for thousands if the vineyard was in Napa or Bordeaux.
Fontodi is certified organic with 70 hectares of vines across their 130 hectares of land. The family is strongly committed to organic agriculture, writing that they believe that by “respecting the environment means wines that are better, purer, and a truer expression of the grape and the territory.” The sentiment extends into the winery where the aim is to preserve the “natural integrity of the grape, in order to exalt the character and elegance of the wines.”
These are gorgeous wines to wow lovers of bold, terroir-driven reds, now on sale until this Thursday.
“Among the many excellent estates located in Panzano is Fontodi, one of the finest wine estates in the world… Giovanni Manetti and Fontodi represent the pinnacle of quality that can be achieved in this part of Tuscany. That he has become a symbolic head of the region only brings more prestige and pedigree to an appellation that demands our highest respect and admiration.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
5% off any 3-6 bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
10% off any 7 or more bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Discount ends Thursday, February 29th at 9 am Pacific
10% off any 7 or more bottles of in-stock Fontodi wines
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Discount ends Thursday, February 29th at 9 am Pacific
In Stock and On Sale Now from Fontodi:
Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96+ points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is a dense, packed wine. It is also surprisingly, almost shockingly backward. That is probably a good thing for its long-term aging prospects. Readers hoping to get an early glimpse into the 2017 before it shuts down may have a hard time doing that, as today acids and tannin dominate. I expect the 2017 will be stellar in another 4-5 years and drink well to age 25-30 if not longer. Proprietor Giovanni Manetti gave the 2017 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask.”
Fontodi “Dino” Amphora, Tuscana IGT 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $75, that’s $71.25 at 5% off and $67.50 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Dino, Fontodi’s 100% Sangiovese done in amphora, is so intriguing. The purity of the Sangiovese fruit is just remarkable, as is the wine’s energy. Readers will have to look past a bit of spritziness (that dissipates with air) but there is so much to like in the 2018, starting with its exceptional balance and poise. With a bit of air, the 2018 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. I am really intrigued to see how the 2018 ages, as that is one of the biggest question marks for wines made in this style. Bright acids add a good deal of supporting structure that suggest the 2018 has at least another decade of fine drinking ahead of it.”
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 2009 750ml Displayed Price: $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2009 Flaccianello della Pieve is now hitting that very specific point in a wine’s evolution in which you still identity some of the fruit, but you also get a supporting chorus of evolved aromas that enhance the overall finesse and depth of the bouquet. This wine is coming along beautifully and seems right on point in terms of its forward moving aging trajectory. Dried blackberry, cherry confit and plum are rounded out by spice, toast and bitter chocolate. The bouquet fires out on multiple sides, thus increasing the perceived complexity on hand. This vintage is very open and frank, and this is another endearing quality to admire. Interestingly, this vintage saw naturally high yields. Giovanni Manetti tells me they had to work very carefully in terms of green harvest and fruit selection in order to achieve this impeccable level of balance.”
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 2017 750ml Displayed Price: $139, that’s $132.05 at 5% off and $125.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “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.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Fontodi 2017 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.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 points “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. Drink 2023–2037.”
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Kunstler Sale
5% off any 4-8 bottles of in-stock Kunstler wines
10% off any 9 or more bottles of in-stock Kunstler wines
Muller-Catoir Sale
5% off any 1-5 bottles of in-stock Muller-Catoir wines
10% off any 6 or more bottles of in-stock Muller-Catoir wines
Discounts do not combine with other sales.
Discounts will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Kunstler sale ends Wednesday, February 28th at 9 am Pacific. Muller-Catoir sale ends Friday, March 1st at 9 am Pacific.