The 2021 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve is one of Italy’s most celebrated wines and a benchmark for modern Tuscan Sangiovese. Produced by the Manetti family from the finest organically farmed vineyards in the famed Conca d’Oro of Panzano, Flaccianello was one of the original Super Tuscans to demonstrate the extraordinary potential of 100% Sangiovese. Crafted only from the estate’s best fruit and aged in French oak, it combines power, elegance and remarkable terroir expression. The exceptional 2021 vintage is already being hailed as one of the greatest releases in the wine’s history.
The nose is intensely complex, revealing black cherry, wild blackberry and plum alongside notes of violet, tobacco leaf, cedar, graphite and exotic spice. The palate is deep and beautifully structured, combining concentrated dark fruit with silky, perfectly integrated tannins and vibrant acidity. Layers of liquorice, crushed stone, Mediterranean herbs and dark chocolate unfold through a long, seamless finish of extraordinary precision and persistence. Despite its power, the wine retains a remarkable sense of freshness and elegance, hallmarks of great Sangiovese.
Ben’s Recommendation:
A world-class Tuscan icon and one of the finest expressions of Sangiovese produced anywhere in the world. Profound, complex and exceptionally age-worthy, it pairs beautifully with bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised beef, lamb, truffle dishes and aged Pecorino. Enjoy with a generous decant if drinking now, or cellar through 2050–2065 as it develops extraordinary layers of savoury complexity, finesse and nuance.
