Another Great Flaccianello

 

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

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With COUNT SEBASTIANO CAPPONI (L)

ANd GIOVANNI MANETTI (R)

NEW YORK

100 ANNIVERSARY of The CHIANTI CONSORZIO

2024

 

 

Tre Bicchieri New York 2025

 

ITALIAN WINE EVENT of The YEAR

NEW YORK CITY

2025

ITALY'S BEST WINES

ESTATES

"Can't wait to see all My Friends. From Italy, and New York Italian Wine People

as well. My Favourite day of the Year. Seeing Friends and Drink Italy's Best Wine."

"Who Could ask For More" ?

I am looking forward most to seeing some of my good friends : The Rallo's from Donnafugata (Marsala, Sicily), the Columbini's from Fattoria Barbi who make my most favorite Brunello, Nadia Zenato of Zenato and her family's awesome Amarone,  Lamberto Frescobaldi of Frescobaldi - makers of wonderful Chianti Rufina and Brunello di Montalcino.

Always look forward to tasting the wonderful Prosecco from Villa Sandi, San Leonardo (and Enselmo), Brunello from Poggio Antico, any Barolo at all, as well as Barbaresco, great Italian White Wines, any Chianti, and Duca Enrico as well. It should be another great day in New York. Especially for New York Italian Wine Lovers and "Big Dogs of Italian Wine" in New York.

"Today is the Day. The Tre Bicchieri Tasting in New York City. Gonna see all my Italian friends from Italy (Wine Producers). Hoping Tony Rallo of Donnafugata (Sicily) will be there. Haven't seen him in a while. I saw his sister Jose at The James Suckling tasting a few months ago. Not such a good tasting. I couldn't believe it when I walked through the door of the Suckling Tasting. They had some DJ with "Bad Taste in Music" playing Horrible Loud Music. What? I don't get it? Why would you do that? Have some DJ playing crappy loud music. Whose idea was that? Never saw that at a Wine Tasting ever in my life, and I hope I'll never see (hear) that again. Please?

Anyway, to a much better tasting than that "Shitty Suckling Tasting" Gambero Rosso's Tre Bicchieri and the Top Italian Wines of The Year. Much better. Yes, going to Tate some nice Barolo's, Brunello, Chianti and more. Going to see Irminia D'Angelo of Donato D'Angelo, whose family makes one of the best Aglianico's in the World, and without question one of the Best in Basilicata, and for me, they are the best.

Well folks. That's it for now. Getting ready to go up to the Metropolitan Pavillion on West 17th Street where Tre Bicchieri New York has been held for almost 20 years now. It used to be held at The Puck Building which was wonderful. Miss that space. It's a stupid sporting goods store now. What? How do you take a beautiful event space in one of the coolest old buildings in New York and make it into a dumb ass store? I don't get it.

Off to Tre Bicchieri. "Yeah" !!!

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

I will report back, as always after the Tasting, to give you my impressions and 

talk about my Favorite Wines.

I will post pictures of the Event and write my experience, Tuesday night and on Wednesday. 

"Stay Tuned" !!!

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

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Daniel Bellino 

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