FLACCIANELLO 2014
FONTODI VINEYARDS
PANZANO, ITALY
Yes, another great vintage of Flacianello. The 2014 to be exact. We had a couple bottle of Flaccianella last night. We were at Mont'es Trattoria in Greenwich Village. We had a wonderful meal from Chef Pietro Mosconi, who makes fabulous homemade pasta among other things.
We ordered the Flaccianello and some antipasti - Artichokes, Burrata & Prosciutto di Parm, with Baked Clams, and Asparagus. The wine was opened, tasted, and poured into our glasses. My first thought was "Wow! This is amazing" ! Another great vintage of standard bearer wine from my pal Giovanni Manetti, who owns Fontodi Vinetards in Panzano, Italy, in the heart of The Chianti Classico wine zone. Speaking of Chianti, Giovanno makes amazing Chianti as well.
Giovanni makes three different Chianti wines, which are all made of 100% Sangiovese. The offerings are Chianti Lamole, Fontodi Chianti Classico, and Fontodi "Vigna del Sorbo" Chianti Classic - Gran Selezione. All wonderful wines.
I met Giovani at his vineyard in 1997, and have been drinking his wonderful wines ever since. I have tasted ever single vintage of Flaccianella since the 1995 vintage, that I drank at the source - Fontodi Vineyards, with Giovanni. That 95 Flaccianell was a mind blower. And we drank Vigna del Sorbo, Vin Santo, and Giovanni's Syrah as well. All wonderful. Giovanni also produces Olive Oil on the estate, and his family has also produces high-quality Terracotta at their fattoria Cotto Manetti, in Ferrone Italy. The Manetti's have been making Terracotta since 1780. They started making wine in 1968, and are one of Tuscany's top wine produces estates, as well as the whole of Italy.
Now, let's get back to that Flaccianello 2014, one of the best wines I've had all year long. The wine is a delight to drink, being in perfect balance of fruit flavours, acidity, and wight. Yes this wine was perfect in every respect, exhibiting intense flavours of Dark Cherry and Chocolate, with some nice spice, and a hint of Almonds. This is serious Sangiovese that will take your breath away if you're lucky enough to drink some. It reminds me of another amazing vintage, the 2010 that I drank a couple of years ago. That wine really rocked, and was much like the 2014, perfect in every way, and an absolute pleasure to drink.
"Basta" !
Daniel Bellino Zwicke
September 17, 2025
New York City
POSITANO The AMALFI COAST
TRAVEL GUIDE - COOKBOOK
With COUNT SEBASTIANO CAPPONI (L)
ANd GIOVANNI MANETTI (R)
NEW YORK
100 ANNIVERSARY of The CHIANTI CONSORZIO
2024
