Norman Gennaro

9.4

I think I preferred the 2015 but ever so slightly and as much as I struggle to believe glasses make a difference they poured the 2016 in a big cab glass and I think that distracted from the flavors that were evident in the tighter 2015 glass. — a month ago

Jess

9.0

Deep purple color.
Aromas of black cherry, sweet strawberry, blackcurrant, baked blackberry,
Dry. Flavors of baked black cherry/plum, black raspberry, cinnamon, subtle vanilla. Rich, chewy tannins. Tart finish.

Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 4 months ago

Brent Clayton

9.4

On the early side of peak. Really beautiful bottle, great condition. Skews more towards red fruit but I haven’t had this in a long time and it’s darker than I remember. — 5 months ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Blinded, I thought this was a Left Bank Bordeaux. I’m useless with Bordeaux blends. Felt Cab-dominated with the obvious pyrazine notes. Vintage-wise, I was going between 2015 and 2018, so not far off. Youth and ripeness were the clues. Wine-wise, not exactly what I like but I thought it was solid. Plummy fruit, herbs, wood, earth, and some underlying minerality. — 7 months ago

Fernihoughs

9.1

Really nice — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This is my 3000th tasting note on Delectable so I suppose I should celebrate by opening something fun. Flaccianello? Ovviamente!

While it’s labeled an IGT and colloquially considered a Super Tuscan, Flaccianello delle Pieve could legally be labeled as a Chianti Classico Riserva. However, Giovanni Manetti of Azienda Agricola Fontodi opts not to do so (despite the fact that he’s the current Chairman of the Conzorsio). The name, “Flaccianello delle Pieve” comes from the eponymous single-vineyard; the original source of grapes. However, around the turn of the millennium, Flaccianello became a blend of Fontodi’s best fruit throughout the estate. Over all the years, despite the changes in fruit source and aging regimen, Flaccianello remains 100% Sangiovese and 100% Panzano in Chianti.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2011 pours a deep, translucent garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, leather, mushrooms, cigar box, menthol, organic earth and wonderful fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, delicious and warming as the alcohol is pretty elevated. But whoa…what a beauty.

Okay, yeah…this is a modern take on Chianti Classico but my goodness, this is undeniably delicious and unabashedly Italian. Back in 2011, Flaccianello was aged in a combination of barriques from Troncais and Allier, all 100% new; an era that was arguably the most modern for this wine. Over the last 10 or so years however, there has been a shift towards less time in new barrique and large casks have now been introduced for the last six months of cellar aging. While I look forward to trying some of these more contemporary examples, I am very impressed with this 2011 and expect it will continue to show well through 2035. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Previous tasting note was nearly 9 years ago in December 2015. The wine now shows menthol, mint and a little tar. Medium weight, earthy and very Tuscan in my experience. Dry fine savoury tannins. Galloni gave this 96+ points and said when first reviewed “it should be a gem in another 5 to 10 years “ and I can advise it is singing at 14 years of age but could still go on for at least another 5 years. Next night - very silty, earthy and savoury. M+ intensity. Could not be anything but Sangiovese from Tuscany. — 2 months ago

Eric Halim

9.1

Wine is full bodied, purplish. On nose its violets, black cherries, cheedar, earthy. On palate, its sweet, little spicy, i can taste the brightness from sangiovese buts its more vegal to me. The structure, merlot balanced the syrah so it does mellowed the syrah attack. Long finish, tannic, give it 1 hour decant. Best after 2028.. cheers! 🍷 — 5 months ago

Norman Gennaro

9.0

It’s still too young for me but I wanted to pull one. Medium nose where I get a bit of green-ness. The finish is light and there is a bit of green on the palate as well. Hoping the rest get better with age. — 6 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.3

Black cherries, cassis, and oak on the nose; medium plus acidity; high tannins; tastes like blackberries, and crushed gravel with a long finish. I love this wine. I can't pick out any additional flavors so my score is a little lower than I would otherwise give. Nellie doesn't like it. Jason does. — 7 months ago

with Jason and Nellie