Fontodi: Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 1985-2010

By Antonio Galloni

The takeaway from this historic tasting is obvious: the Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is Fontodi’s flagship wine. It’s as simple as that.

Although Fontodi is best known for their 100% Sangiovese Flaccianello – one of Italy’s most revered and coveted wines – over the years it is the estate’s Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo that has built the more distinguished track record. Complete verticals of both wines over the last two years confirmed what has long been an intuition; Vigna del Sorbo is a more consistent performer than Flaccianello, ages better and is a much more finessed, pedigreed wine. Readers who aren’t familiar with Vigna del Sorbo owe it to themselves to check it out what is without question one of the great reds of Italy.

Fontodi’s
1985 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo

Fontodi’s 1985 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo

Like so many nearby properties, Fontodi originally belonged to the church of San Leonino.  Over the centuries, churches had acquired huge tracts of land, most of it donated in exchange for salvation. A first wave of reforms and privatizations of land started in the late 1700s, as the church began selling acreage to local landowners.

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The takeaway from this historic tasting is obvious: the Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is Fontodi’s flagship wine. It’s as simple as that.