Flaccianello della Pieve is one of Italy’s most sought-after wines. It is made from a selection of Sangiovese from the estate’s best parcels (20 hectares), located just below Tenute Picelle, lying immediately across the natural amphitheatre below Panzano. After fermentation, 98% of the wine was racked into French oak barriques, of which 40% was new, for 18 months before being blended and moved to a combination of large oak casks for another six months prior to bottling. Two per cent of the wine was fermented and aged in Mannetti amphora.
First produced in 1981, Flaccianello della Pieve fell outside the DOC regulations for Chianti Classico as it did not contain white grapes varieties and was made entirely from Sangiovese. Along with a couple Fontodi’s other iconic wines, Flaccianello della Pieve is still labelled Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT to this day.
97 points – James Suckling, August 2023, JamesSuckling.com
Extremely floral with sage and licorice to the berry and dark cherry aromas that follow through to a medium body, with fine and silky tannins that run the length of the wine. Very crunchy for Flaccianello. Vivid on the palate.
96 points – Monica Larner, September 2023, WineAdvocate.com
The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is the full package. This point is clear when you taste all the other wines in the Fontodi portfolio and conclude with this bottle. This organic Sangiovese shows beautiful intensity and remains balanced throughout with dark fruit, crushed stone, spice and wild rose. It borrows themes of elegance, depth and ripeness played across this vintage. The wine wraps smoothly over the palate with substantial fruit weight and sweet tannins. This warm-vintage expression can be aged or enjoyed straight out of the gate. Production is 60,000 bottles.
96 points – Antonio Galloni, June 2023, Vinous.com
The 2020 Flaccianello della Pieve is a blend of Fontodi's vineyards, mostly three main vineyards planted on sites with very dense, heavy rocks. Dark, pliant and inviting, the 2020 is so expressive today. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender, licorice and mocha are seamless in the glass. The 2020 is a fine Flaccianello with a bright future. Most of this blend is sourced from three parcels in upper hillside vineyards close to town centre. The 2020 spent a year and a half in barrique (40% new) and six months in cask.