Fontodi, Vigna del Sorbo 2018

Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo 2018 is a benchmark Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, showcasing the purity and power of Sangiovese from one of Tuscany’s most prized crus. Sourced from the famed Vigna del Sorbo vineyard in Panzano’s ‘Conca d’Oro’ (Golden Basin), this wine balances depth, elegance and age‑worthiness in equal measure. Since the 1980s, Vigna del Sorbo has been one of the most acclaimed single-vineyard expressions in Chianti Classico, and in its modern, 100% Sangiovese form, it captures the region’s traditional soul with contemporary precision.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2018 Vigna del Sorbo shows a deep, vibrant ruby-red core with garnet highlights developing towards the rim, hinting at its concentration and structure. The nose is complex and layered, offering notes of ripe black cherry, wild red berries and blood orange peel, intertwined with hints of violet, dried roses, tobacco, leather, and subtle sweet spices from fine French oak. Underneath, a gentle earthiness, cedar and a touch of balsamic round out the bouquet. On the palate, this is a full-bodied yet finely poised Sangiovese, with silky but firm tannins and a linear, mouth-watering acidity that speaks of its Tuscan origins. Flavors of dark cherry, plum and redcurrant are supported by nuances of licorice, savory herbs, graphite and cocoa, with a long, persistent finish marked by mineral tension and spice. The 2018 vintage offers early approachability thanks to its ripe fruit and polished texture, but it has serious structure: with proper cellaring, it should continue to evolve beautifully for 10–15 years or more, gaining tertiary notes of leather, truffle and dried flowers.

Production
Vigna del Sorbo is a single, south/south-west facing vineyard in the Conca d’Oro of Panzano in Chianti, an amphitheatre-shaped valley renowned for its excellent exposure and well-drained galestro and alberese soils (marl and limestone). These poor, stony soils naturally limit yields and concentrate flavor, while the diurnal temperature shifts help preserve acidity and aromatic complexity. Fontodi farms the vineyard organically, with great attention to biodiversity and low-impact viticulture. Grapes are harvested by hand, parcel by parcel, at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel or concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts, followed by a long maceration to extract color, tannin and aromatic depth. The wine is then aged in French oak barriques and tonneaux (a proportion new) for around 18–24 months, and further refined in bottle before release, resulting in a wine of both precision and longevity.

Food & Serving
Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo 2018 is a superb partner for rich, savory Tuscan cuisine and refined meat dishes. It pairs beautifully with bistecca alla fiorentina, roast lamb with rosemary, braised beef, wild boar ragù, game birds, and aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or mature pecorino. It also works well with truffle dishes, mushroom risotto and hearty, herb-laced stews. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large Burgundy or Bordeaux-style glasses to allow the aromas to unfold. Decant for 1–2 hours if opened in its youth to soften the tannins and bring out the layered bouquet; older bottles may need a more delicate, shorter decant just to remove sediment.

Producer
Fontodi is a leading estate in Panzano in Chianti, at the heart of Tuscany’s Chianti Classico zone, and is widely regarded as one of the region’s top quality-driven producers. Owned by the Manetti family since the 1960s—historically known for their work in terracotta production—the estate has been instrumental in raising the reputation of Chianti Classico through meticulous vineyard work, organic farming and a focus on terroir-driven wines. Fontodi was an early champion of single-vineyard bottlings like Vigna del Sorbo and Flaccianello della Pieve, which have become reference points for modern Tuscan Sangiovese. Consistently high critical acclaim and a long track record of age-worthy, characterful wines have cemented Fontodi’s status as a flagship producer of the region.

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