Vigna del Sorbo

An Under The Radar Jewel.. Readers who want to epxlore the best Tuscany has to offer will want to spend some time getting to know the Vigna del Sorbo.  - Antonio Galloni

Fontodi's Vigna del Sorbo is a joy to drink.  A few notches above the Chianti Classico, this Gran Selezione will drink with ease a few years after harvest (decant, ideally double decant, or drink over a few days) but will also improve over a decade and has enormous potential. 

• A single vineyard of 10 hectares from vines that average over 40 years of age
• planted at 400 metres elevation on classic Galestro soil
• fully organic & biodynamic.  
• There are few producers as uniquely dedicated to quality Sangiovese as Fontodi.

Bursting with perfumed fruit (cherries, smoke, balsamic, roses, violets, vanilla), the palate is packed with layers of cherries & vanilla fruit and tense acidity.  Tannins are ripe and dry, finishing long, vibrant and textured. 

2019 Vigna del Sorbo, Fontodi

"This iconic wine has all new energy, as it is now part of an exciting set of potential Gran Selezione wines made at Fontodi. Two new portfolio additions (Pastrolo from cool climate Lamole and Terrazze San Leonlino from Panzano) help to give greater context to the organic 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo. This wine of course benefits from many years of experience, and the Vigna del Sorbo identity is well established. But soil geeks will absolutely enjoy comparing Vigna del Sorbo from schistous galestro soils to the limestone alternative found in Terrazze San Leonlino. I tend to lean toward Vigna del Sorbo thanks to those etched mineral notes of pencil shaving and iron ore that I find so appealing. Those dusty notes are amply rounded off by sweet cherry fruit, plum and spice."   2024-2050

97 - Monica Larner

2018 Vigna del Sorbo, Fontodi

"The 2018 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is quite possibly the most elegant, refined version of this wine I have ever tasted. It does not offer the immediacy or impact of either the 2015 or 2016, but, instead, impresses with its elegance, persistence and total class. Bright floral and spice notes add perfume to a core of red-toned fruit. The 2018 represents another move towards greater finesse at Fontodi. It spent a year in French oak barrel and a second year in cask."   2026-2048

98 - Antonio Galloni

2017 Vigna del Sorbo, Fontodi

The Fontodi 2017 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is expressive, dark and thickly concentrated. I received my samples early and found that this wine was a little shy or slow to open in this early phase. If given extra time, the bouquet warms up to dark fruit, plum, rum cake and dried violet. I came back to the wine about two hours later and discovered a pretty note of crushed aspirin or carbon, with more crushed flower. The oak adds sweet spice and scorched earth, but these too will integrate with time. From a hot and dry vintage, I'd easily give this edition of Vigna del Sorbo a 15- or 20-year drinking window."   2022-2040

94 - Monica Larner

About the Producer 

The Fontodi estate is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico region in Panzano, also famous for its prime beautiful south-facing amphitheatre of vines.  Grapes ripen fully while the high elevations ensure cool nights, resulting in good acidity retention and lovely aromatics.

Giovanni Manetti makes brilliant wines here at all levels, from their flagship Chianti Classico to the long-lived & intense Vigna del Sorbo from old vines, and the famous Flaccianello (100% Sangiovese).

They are committed to certified organic viticulture, & moving towards biodynamics. In the cellar, they try to ensure the quality of fruit is preserved in the wine by using very low toast oak,

A leader in Chianti Classico, Manetti was recently re-elected to a second term as President of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico, championing the idea of "zonazione" or naming the village or district on Chianti Classico labels.  Manetti was also knighted as Cavaliere del Lavoro, one of Italy’s most prestigious and rare civilian awards.

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