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Fontodi Colli Della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello Delle Pieve 2012 1.5Ltr

size
1.5Ltr
country
Italy
region
Tuscany
DC
97
VM
97
WA
94
JS
94
DC
97
Rated 97 by Decanter
Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly. Drinking Window 2021 - 2037. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Fontodi Colli Della Toscana Centrale Flaccianello Delle Pieve 2012 1.5Ltr

SKU 885225
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$293.89
/1.5Ltr bottle
$283.95
/1.5Ltr bottle
Quantity
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Professional Ratings
DC
97
VM
97
WA
94
JS
94
DC
97
Rated 97 by Decanter
Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly. Drinking Window 2021 - 2037.
VM
97
Rated 97 by Vinous Media
Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine's texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.
WA
94
Rated 94 by Wine Advocate
Whereas the 2011 vintage is overtly ripe, the 2012 Flaccianello della Pieve is slightly more evolved. Instead of sweet ripeness, you get savory ripeness with dried fruit, prune, black licorice, balsam herb, rosemary essence and scorched earth. The 2012 season produced fewer flowers, and yields in this vintage were naturally reduced as a result. Like 2011, however, this vintage saw an early harvest thanks to hot and dry conditions during the summer that increased the speed of ripening. This edition reveals more thickness and dense concentration as well, something you notice in the intensity of the mouthfeel and the firmness of the wine's tannic structure.
JS
94
Rated 94 by James Suckling
A fresh and clean wine with mineral, blackberry, blueberry and lavender character. Full body, fine and chewy tannins and a tangy finish. Refined and beautiful. Needs a year or two to soften. Organically grown grapes.
Product Details
size
1.5Ltr
country
Italy
region
Tuscany
Overview
Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly. Drinking Window 2021 - 2037.
barrel

Vintage: 2012

2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in. The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
barrel

Region: Tuscany

Tuscany is probably Italy's most important and widely respected wine region, with a history which stretches back almost three thousand years, and a set of fine grape varietals which produce some of the most delicious quality white and red wines in the world. Sangiovese and Vernaccia varietal grapes are grown all over this expansive region, and the way they are handled, aged and processed varies from town to town. The beautiful hot climate of Tuscany helps these grapes reach full ripeness, despite the fact the soil of the region is generally problematic for the vintners who work there. Despite this, there is a dedication to quality and flavor in Tuscany which is more or less unmatched anywhere else in Italy, and a great mix of strong tradition and willingness to experiment and think outside the box which has been a wonderful recipe for success in the region.
fields

Country: Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.
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Winery Fontodi
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Vintage: 2012

2012 has, so far been a positive year for wineries around the world. While it may be a little too early to speak of the wines being made in the northern hemisphere, European and North American wineries have already begun reporting that their harvesting season has been generally very good, and are predicting to continue with the kind of successes they saw in 2011. However, 2012 has been something of a late year for France, due to unpredictable weather throughout the summer, and the grapes were ripening considerably later than they did in 2011 (which was, admittedly, an exceptionally early year). French wineries are claiming, though, that this could well turn out to be advantageous, as the slow ripening will allow the resulting wines to express more flavour and features of the terroir they are grown in. The southern hemisphere has seen ideal climatic conditions in most of the key wine producing countries, and Australia and New Zealand particularly had a superb year, in particular with the Bordeaux varietal grapes that grow there and which love the humidity these countries received plenty of. Also enjoying a fantastic year for weather were wineries across Argentina and Chile, with the Mendoza region claiming that 2012 will be one of their best vintages of the past decade. Similar claims are being made across the Chilean wine regions, where Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon had an especially good year. These two grape varietals also produced characterful wines on the coastal regions of South Africa this year.
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Region: Tuscany

Tuscany is probably Italy's most important and widely respected wine region, with a history which stretches back almost three thousand years, and a set of fine grape varietals which produce some of the most delicious quality white and red wines in the world. Sangiovese and Vernaccia varietal grapes are grown all over this expansive region, and the way they are handled, aged and processed varies from town to town. The beautiful hot climate of Tuscany helps these grapes reach full ripeness, despite the fact the soil of the region is generally problematic for the vintners who work there. Despite this, there is a dedication to quality and flavor in Tuscany which is more or less unmatched anywhere else in Italy, and a great mix of strong tradition and willingness to experiment and think outside the box which has been a wonderful recipe for success in the region.
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There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.