Fontodi is the estate in the Conca d'Oro just south of Panzano and one of the most respected names in Chianti Classico. The Manetti family makes organic Sangiovese with real precision: the house Chianti Classico, Filetta di Lamole, the Vigna del Sorbo Gran Selezione and the celebrated Flaccianello della Pieve.
Fontodi in Panzano: the Manetti family and the Conca d'Oro
The Manetti family bought Fontodi in 1968. Today the estate is run by Giovanni Manetti, son of Dino Manetti, who has been in charge since around 1980. The family has made terracotta for centuries, a craft that still plays a part in the cellar.
The estate sits in the Conca d'Oro, the "golden shell", an amphitheatre-shaped valley south of Panzano in the heart of Chianti Classico. The soils are calcareous clay and schist, the climate is warm and dry, and there is a wide swing between day and night temperatures. That gives Sangiovese both ripeness and fresh acidity. The property covers around 130 hectares, about 70 of them under vine, and the whole estate is certified organic. The wines are made in a cellar built on several levels, so the grapes move by gravity rather than by pump.
Fontodi Chianti Classico and Gran Selezione
The heart of the range is pure Sangiovese. Fontodi Chianti Classico comes from several of the estate's vineyards, ferments with native yeasts in stainless steel and ages for at least 18 months in French oak. It comes in bottle and in magnum. Filetta di Lamole comes from terraces at around 600 metres in the village of Lamole near Greve, ferments in concrete and shows the cooler side of high-altitude Chianti Classico.
Above them sits the Gran Selezione. Vigna del Sorbo comes from a single south-west facing vineyard with vines more than half a century old and ages for 24 months in French oak. It is pure Sangiovese, and you will find it in bottle and in magnum. Fontodi also makes a second Gran Selezione, Terrazze San Leolino, in very small quantities.
Another classic Chianti Classico producer is Castello di Ama.
Flaccianello della Pieve: Fontodi's Super Tuscan
Flaccianello della Pieve is the estate's flagship and one of the best known pure Sangiovese wines in Tuscany. The first vintage was 1981. Until 2000 it came from a single vineyard, and since 2001 it has been a selection of the best Sangiovese from the estate's own vineyards. It is labelled IGT Colli della Toscana Centrale, ferments with wild yeasts for at least three weeks and ages for 24 months in French oak.
Flaccianello is built to age. Alongside the 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages you will find older vintages such as 1990 and 1994 in three-litre bottles.
Case Via, Meriggio and Vin Santo
Fontodi also grows other varieties on the same slopes in Tuscany. Case Via Syrah comes from the south-facing Case Via and Pecille vineyards and ages for 24 months in French oak. Case Via Pinot Nero is pure Pinot Noir from a west-facing vineyard, fermented in terracotta amphorae. Both appear here in recent vintages and as mature bottles from the early 1990s. The white Meriggio is 90 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 10 percent Trebbiano from the La Rota vineyard, fermented in steel, amphora and tonneaux. Finally there is Vin Santo del Chianti Classico in half bottles.
The amphorae have a story of their own. The family's terracotta works near Impruneta started making amphorae again, and Giovanni Manetti now also makes Dino, a Sangiovese fermented and aged in amphora and named after his father.
Fontodi FAQ
What is Flaccianello?
Flaccianello della Pieve is Fontodi's top wine: pure Sangiovese from Panzano, first made in 1981 and today a selection from the estate's best vineyards. It is sold as an IGT rather than as Chianti Classico.
Is Fontodi organic?
Yes. Fontodi is a certified organic estate and no chemical products are used in the vineyards.
What is the difference between Fontodi Chianti Classico and Gran Selezione?
The Chianti Classico is a blend of several vineyards. Gran Selezione is the top tier of Chianti Classico, and at Fontodi it comes from selected single vineyards such as Vigna del Sorbo. These wines age longer and have more structure.