Fontodi Chianti Classico 2018

JS 95 / VM 94 / Decanter 92 pts

“A perfumed nose of red currants, sour cherries, bay leaves and spices. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins. Dusty texture in the mouth with structure and a bright core of red fruit. Flavourful, ample and tannic finish with length. So serious. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable but better in 2023.” 95 points, JamesSuckling.com, Aug 2021

“The 2018 Chianti Classico Fontodi marries the natural concentration of Panzano with the greater vibrancy and energy that are such signatures here in recent years. Dark cherry, plum, graphite, leather, licorice and mocha build effortlessly in the glass. Deep and pliant, with superb integrity and purity, the 2018 is a Rockstar wine and a real standout in its peer group, which is not that of all Chianti Classicos, but of the best wines in the entire appellation. 2024-2038. 94 points, Antoni Galloni. vinous.com, Sept 2021

“Fontodi’s 2018 is one of the vintage’s denser annata. Besides lower rainfall in the area of Panzano, owner Giovanni Manetti also points to a sudden drop in nighttime temperatures just before the harvest – close to 0°C – which dried the grapes slightly, giving extra concentration. A deeply coloured, dark fruited, full-bodied Chianti Classico with polished oak nuances, it offers up aromas of leather, tobacco, black plum and spice. It flexes its muscles on the palate with layers of ripe tannins but allows space for the pure blackcurrant to ring out. You could forget about this in the cellar for a couple of years. Drinking Window 2023 – 2030” 92 points, Decanter magazine, March 2021