Wine Advisor
Fontodi, Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Vigna del Sorbo became a Gran Selezione wine starting with the 2010 vintage, although the first vintage ever made was 1985. The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo represents the first vintage in which the wine is made with 100% Sangiovese. Past vintages saw anywhere from five to ten percent Cabernet Sauvignon, but Giovanni Manetti pulled the vines to show his "commitment to Sangiovese," he says. "There's no going back." The Sangiovese comes from 45-year-old vines planted to southeast exposures in Galestro-rich limestone calcareous soils. This vintage in particular shows drying mineral sensations of brimstone and talc powder. The root systems on these plants are deep, resulting in added finesse and complexity. Feminine notes of rose petal and wild berry also appear. This wine offers a beautiful interpretation of Sangiovese with an extra level of fresh acidity at the rear.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is stunningly beautiful. At the same time, I have to report that the window for tasting the 2012 as a young wine appears to be closing. The density of the fruit and creaminess of the tannins are still evident if somewhat less obvious than they were a year ago, while the aromatics aren't quite as explosive as they have been in the past. The wine's depth and intensity suggest the 2012 will be fabulous once it emerges from its current period of dormancy. In this tasting, the 2012 shows a more red fruit and lifted profile than the 2013, where the flavors are darker.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is one of the greatest wines I have ever tasted at Fontodi. Period. The long, sublime finish alone is enough to stop you dead in your tracks. An exceptionally beautiful and polished wine, the 2012 is incredibly finessed on the palate, with remarkable nuance for such an intense wine. Sweet rose petal, lavender and mint add brightness to the Sangiovese fruit in a stunning, vivid Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes. This is the first vintage in which Vigna del Sorbo is 100% Sangiovese. The elimination of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon has elevated the Sorbo to an even higher level than has been the norm of late. Over the last few months, the 2012 has begun to shut down in bottle, so readers will have to be patient. The 2012 Vigna del Sorbo is a must have wine. It's as simple as that.
About the Producer
Fontodi is located in the heart of Chianti Classico precisely in the valley which lies south of the town of Panzano and is called the “Conca d’Oro” (the golden shell) because of its amphitheatre shape. A genuine and characteristc “Terroir”, famous for centuries for its tradition of quality wine cultivation, thanks to a unique combination of high altitude, calcar clayschist soil, lots of light, and a fantastic micro-climate – warm and dry with a marked difference in day and night-time temperatures. All Fontodi wines are produced from grapes coming from their own vineyards, picked by hand, chosen with care and vinified in a way that exalts the character of the vines and the territory. The Fontodi Oil “Bio” is produced from its own olives which are delicately pressed the same day as the harvest in order to preserve all the freshness and the fragrance of the fruit.
