2016 - Flaccianello delle Pieve, Fontodi, Colli della Toscana Centrale

The 2016 Flaccianello della Pieve is a truly special, moving wine. There's not much more to say. The 2016 was epic when I tasted it last year. It is every bit as memorable today. Beautifully layered, the 2016 possesses remarkable finesse and power. All of the natural intensity of Panzano's Conca d'Oro comes through in a wine that dazzles from start to finish. As always, Flaccianello showcases the darker side of Sangiovese.

In this 2016 Fontodi Flaccinello della Pieve the fruit is delightfully more dominant than the oak with very sweet black cherry interwoven with subtle cedar, and exotic spice notes like sandalwood. For many producers in Tuscany 2016 was the vintage of the decade if not the vintage of the last 20 years. This is a seductively beautiful wine with ripe black fruits and violet aromas and flavors. On the palate it combines round, smoothness of texture with vibrant acidity and firm upright tannins. There is a lovely, lingering, salty finesse to the tannins on the finish.