The 2021 Chianti Classico is classic wine from the estate, done in the more restrained style that has become the norm here of late. There's plenty of Panzano richness, but more energy and less heaviness than what was common just a few years ago. Giovanni Manetti and his team have given the Chianti Classico gorgeous refinement. Spice, flowers, mocha and blue fruits linger, all wrapped together by ultra-finessed tannins. The 2021 spent 20-22 months in barrel-65% cask and 35% neutral French oak barriques. 94 points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
'Fontodi's 2021 is a symbol of the exceptional quality of Chianti Classico at the Annata level. It exudes the wild, rugged and dry Tuscan landscape against a backdrop of dark, multi-layered fruit. Hints of coffee and liquorice mingle with concentrated black cherry and blackberry. With ripe, gravelly tannins, this wine shows the power of the vintage without being overbearing, retaining its charismatic energy. It's worth waiting a few more months before drinking, but if cellared properly, it can easily impress for a decade.' 94 points Decanter
Producer: Fontodi
Region: Tuscany
Grape: Sangiovese
Alcohol: 14.5%
Size: 750ml
Producer Info: Purchased by Dino Manetti in 1968, the Fontodi estate contains vineyards that have been in production since the time of the Roman Empire. It is located in the heart of Chianti Classico in the Conca d'Oro, or "Golden Shell", a valley directly south of the town of Panzano. This remarkable amphitheatre-shaped landscape combines a high-altitude location with calcareous clay-schist soil and a truly remarkable micro-climate; generally, it is warm and dry with a marked difference between day and night-time temperatures.
In 1979, Giovanni Manetti, Dino's young son, joined the family business. Esteemed winemaker Franco Barnabei was hired as a consultant. Together they have transformed Fontodi, modifying and improving the estate and the portfolio of wines, some of Tuscany's best.
Fontodi is a Certified Organic estate that extends over 130 hectares. Only 70 acres are planted to vines. Giovanni is a fierce proponent of the integrity of the Sangiovese grape, earnestly increasing the proportion of Sangiovese to Cabernet Sauvignon in his wines as his vines age. Since 1981, his Flaccianello has been made entirely of Sangiovese. The agricultural practices respect nature and are mindful of vineyard sustainability. In this healthy vineyard, grapes produce wines that are better, purer and a more true expression of terroir.
