Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo 2020

Biodynamic red wine from the heart of Chianti, the epicenter of quality

Fontodi wines are considered some of the best in the region! Small production runs, biodynamic, and made with passion! A recipe for a top wine! The Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo 2020 comes from the heart of Tuscany, in the famous Chianti region. This region, surrounded by Florence, Siena, and Arezzo, is known for its beautiful landscape, but also for its rich culture and, of course, its exquisite wines. The Sangiovese grape, Italy's red superstar, plays the leading role here. The best wines from this grape are produced especially in the Chianti Classico region. The village of Panzano, comparable to a Grand Cru area in Burgundy, is the epicenter of quality. Here, Giovanni Manetti of Fontodi winery owns the best vineyards in the Conca d’Oro valley.

Powerful and elegant: the Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo 2020

Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo 2020 is a very elegant wine with a romantic nose of sweet cherries and spices. The spicy notes beautifully complement the concentrated fruit, giving the wine a rich and intense flavor. On the palate, the wine feels very soft yet retains its body, thanks to the blend of Sangiovese with approximately 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a beautiful tannin structure, making it both powerful and elegant. The term Riserva indicates that the wine has aged in oak barrels longer than the ‘regular’ Classico. This provides extra complexity and depth. This is certainly a powerhouse that needs some time. Those who have this patience will be richly rewarded!

In the vineyard and in the cellar

The Fontodi vineyards, situated at an altitude of 450 meters in a natural amphitheater, benefit from an excellent microclimate with high warmth and large temperature differences between day and night. This allows the grapes to ripen optimally. Winemaker Franco Bernabei adds approximately 10% Cabernet Sauvignon to the Sangiovese grapes from the Vigna del Sorbo vineyard, resulting in a softer mouthfeel and preserved body. The grapes ferment in temperature-controlled tanks with indigenous yeast for at least three weeks, followed by aging for 24 months in oak barrels, 50% new and 50% old.

Fontodi Winery

The Manetti family is famous as makers of terracotta tiles; they have been doing this for over 300 years. In 1968, the Manetti family purchased an additional winery: Fontodi, in the heart of Chianti Classico just south of Panzano. Giovanni, son of one of the brothers, has been running the winery since 1979.

The estate comprises 130 hectares, of which 70 are planted with vines, and is situated in the famous ‘Conca d’Oro’. This is a natural amphitheater south of Panzano, with predominantly Galestro and shale soil. Here, there is a significant temperature difference between day and night. No chemicals have ever been sprayed, and the company is now organically certified. Additionally, manure from their own Chianini cows is used, for example. The vineyards are located between 300 and 400 meters and were completely newly planted after purchase. Consequently, the first wines did not appear on the market until the 1970s, with Franco Bernabei as consultant from the very beginning. The winery quickly gained great international acclaim, for example for their Chianti Vigna del Sorbo and the Super Tuscan Flaccianello della Pieve. Fontodi is considered one of the forerunners of quality in Chianti Classico. They have been rated very highly by the international press on numerous occasions.