2019 Fontodi Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione Chianti Classico

Type of Wine | Red |
---|---|
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Appellation | Chianti (Classico) |
Winery | |
Vintage | 2019 |
Grape | |
Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (15%) |
Drink window | 2024 - 2045 |
Low Stock
Only 4 left
Description
Fontodi's brand new Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione is a stunner. San Leolino was recognized locally as a cru site 200 years ago. The recently renovated terraces are located at an altitude of 450 meters in Panzano but - unlike Fontodi's Vigna del Sorbo, which is characterized by Galestro - the soil here is calcareous. Although recently bottled, it is already very accessible with its earthy, stony, mineral-like aromas. Elegant yet deep, the palate shows rose, red cherry and present but very fine grained tannins, ending with a spicy saltiness. It can certainly use some bottle aging, although from the 3 icons (Flaccianello, Vigna del Sorbo) it is most accessible in its younger years.
Specifications
Type of Wine | Red |
---|---|
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Appellation | Chianti (Classico) |
Winery | Fontodi |
Grape | Sangiovese |
Biological certified | Yes |
Natural wine | No |
Vegan | No |
Vintage | 2019 |
Drinking as of | 2024 |
Drinking till | 2045 |
Alcohol % | 15 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 95 |
James Suckling rating | 95 |
Vinous rating | 98 |
Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Romantisch |
Professional Reviews
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2024 - 2040
Here is yet another surprise from Fontodi born during the pandemic. A second new addition to the portfolio, the 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino is made with organic fruit from a parcel near the little chapel of the same name in the Conca d'Oro of Panzano. The winey team had noticed a difference in quality from this 4.5-hectare site with limestone alberese soils at a cool 450 to 500 meters in elevation. The best fruit from 15-year-old vines was put aside to make this 5,000-bottle inaugural release. The celebrated Vigna del Sorbo is not too far away, but compared to the wine made from that site, Terrazze San Leonlino is sharper, more focused and offers streamlined fruit weight. The bouquet veers toward wild roses and Mediterranean herb, giving more vertical push to the aromas. The tannins are silky and polished. This new brand will grow slowly over the coming years.
Call it a "lockdown illumination," the COVID-19 pandemic years were especially fruitful for Fontodi's Giovanni Manetti. Given time to reflect and walk through his vineyard rows in the amphitheater of postcard-perfect vines known as the Conca d'Oro in Panzano in Chianti, Manetti decided it was time to enlarge his portfolio. Specifically, he sought an opportunity to better articulate the concept of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which is in essence a perfect vehicle for a grand cru winemaking philosophy. His existing Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is a flagship for this highest category of the appellation, but alas, it represents just one vineyard site. Fruit is sourced from an area with a greater presence of schistous galestro for dark fruit, etched mineral notes and pencil shavings. Now, that wine can be seen in context. Two new wines, the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino and the Chianti Classico Pastrolo, are now in production. They come from radically different sites and soils. "We now have three wines to match three soils," says Giovanni Manetti from his spacious tasting room while morning sun streams in from the windows. The Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino comes from a site in Panzano not too far from Vigna del Sorbo. However, this little parcel near the San Leonlino country chapel is characterized by limestone alberese that makes fresh wines that are not as dark in character. Equally exciting is the Chianti Classico Pastrolo from old vines in terraced vineyards in high-elevation Lamole. This areas tends to have Macigno Toscano, or sandstone. The Conca d'Oro vineyard in Panzano in Chianti has both galestro and alberese with pietraforte (the same hard stone used to build Palazzo Pitti in nearby Florence) at the higher rim of the vineyard. Flaccianello della Pieve is a selection of fruit from various sites, with much of it coming from the areas with pietraforte. Giovanni Manetti is pushing the boundaries of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, and he is interested in capturing the freshness and transparency of wines identified by their soils. These efforts are timed to the announcement of the new Chianti Classico UGAs, or subzones. I also think this post–COVID era represents an exciting new start for Lamole, one of the most remote and untouched villages in the wider Chianti Classico appellation. Cooler growing sites are ideal for wineries looking for alternatives in a warmer climate. If a powerhouse estate such as Fontodi continues to invest in Lamole, we will certainly see more interest in the area in the years to come.
Published: Feb 09, 2023
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Wine Spectator
Falstaff
2019
Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
Review
95
Points
Tasting : Wein Guide Italien 2023 ; Tasted by : Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Published on 17.10.2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2028 - 2046
From: Chianti Classico: The Magnificent 2021s (Jul 2024)
The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino is another highlight in this range from Fontodi. It's a huge step up from the 2020. Red cherry, iron, spice, leather, licorice, crushed rocks and herbs make a strong first impression. Bright acids, the result of elevation and a year with wide diurnal swings, yielded a Gran Selezione of stunning elegance, complexity and finesse. The 2021 spent 14-15 months in barrique (25% new) followed by 7-8 months in cask. The San Leolino is one of the newer wines in the Fontodi range. The 2021 suggests it could be one of the new flagships here.
- By Antonio Galloni on June 2024
Proprietor Giovanni Manetti and his son Bernardo presented a stunning set of 2021s on my most recent visit. The wines embody the essence of site but in the more refined, nuanced style that is such a signature here today. Picking a bit earlier while also reducing French oak imprint has made a huge difference. I can’t recommend these new releases highly enough.
As for Giovanni Manetti, he continues to lead the way in Chianti Classico by making brilliant wines while also uniting producers around a vision for the region in his role as two-term President of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico. These are exceptionally rare qualities in any individual, but to see them in one person is impressive.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
96
Fontodi’s brand spanking new Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione is a stunner. San Leolino was recognised locally as a cru site 200 years ago. The recently renewed terraces sit at 450 metres in Panzano but – unlike Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo, which is characterised by Galestro – the soil here is calcareous Alberese. Though recently bottled, this is forthright in its earthy, stony, mineral-like aromas. Elegant yet profound, the palate demonstrates decisive rose, red cherry and long-chained, enveloping tannins, finishing with a tangy salinity. It is still very buttoned up but has so much promise. [01/10/2022]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
In search of the great wines of Fontodi from Tocane / Chianti. At Grandcruwijnen we have an exclusive range of Fontodi wines. If you want to buy a wine from Fontodi, the following applies: Order by the bottle, 24 hour delivery and save for a discount!
The Azienda Agricola Fontodi is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico area, south of the town of Panzano. This region has been famous for viticulture for centuries, thanks to the unique combination of elevated cultivation areas, lime and loam soil, lots of sun hours and the fantastic microclimate: warm and dry and with a big difference between day and night temperature.
Fontodi has been in the possession of the Manetti family since 1968, who is advised by the renowned oenologist Franco Bernabei. The Fontodi winery now has an organic certificate and is 130 ha. large, of which about 70 are planted with grapes. In the center of the winery grows the Sangiovese, which Giovanni and Marco Manetti have developed to breathtaking perfection. There are also French grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Just like so many big names at the top of wine growing, Fontodi has applied the fruitful combination between organic cultivation and the most modern cellar technology and has therefore become one of the most sustainable wineries in Tuscany. To date, Fontodi wines have brought in 19 times the coveted three glasses of the Italian wine bible Gambero Rosso. Fontodi is undisputedly one of the 10 best wineries in Tuscany! In the last 17 editions of the Gambero Rosso it has received a score of 'Tre Bicchieri' no less than 13 times. The highest possible.
Fontodi's brand new Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione is a stunner. San Leolino was recognized locally as a cru site 200 years ago. The recently renovated terraces are located at an altitude of 450 meters in Panzano but - unlike Fontodi's Vigna del Sorbo, which is characterized by Galestro - the soil here is calcareous. Although recently bottled, it is already very accessible with its earthy, stony, mineral-like aromas. Elegant yet deep, the palate shows rose, red cherry and present but very fine grained tannins, ending with a spicy saltiness. It can certainly use some bottle aging, although from the 3 icons (Flaccianello, Vigna del Sorbo) it is most accessible in its younger years.
Type of Wine | Red |
---|---|
Country | Italy |
Region | Tuscany |
Appellation | Chianti (Classico) |
Winery | Fontodi |
Grape | Sangiovese |
Biological certified | Yes |
Natural wine | No |
Vegan | No |
Vintage | 2019 |
Drinking as of | 2024 |
Drinking till | 2045 |
Alcohol % | 15 |
Alcohol free/low | No |
Content | 0.75 ltr |
Oak aging | Yes |
Sparkling | No |
Dessert wine | No |
Closure | Cork |
Parker rating | 95 |
James Suckling rating | 95 |
Vinous rating | 98 |
Tasting Profiles | Aards, Complex, Droog, Houtgerijpt, Krachtig, Mineraal, Rood fruit, Tannines, Vol |
Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Romantisch |
Parker
The Wine Advocate
RP 95
Reviewed by:
Monica Larner
Release Price:
$100
Drink Date:
2024 - 2040
Here is yet another surprise from Fontodi born during the pandemic. A second new addition to the portfolio, the 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino is made with organic fruit from a parcel near the little chapel of the same name in the Conca d'Oro of Panzano. The winey team had noticed a difference in quality from this 4.5-hectare site with limestone alberese soils at a cool 450 to 500 meters in elevation. The best fruit from 15-year-old vines was put aside to make this 5,000-bottle inaugural release. The celebrated Vigna del Sorbo is not too far away, but compared to the wine made from that site, Terrazze San Leonlino is sharper, more focused and offers streamlined fruit weight. The bouquet veers toward wild roses and Mediterranean herb, giving more vertical push to the aromas. The tannins are silky and polished. This new brand will grow slowly over the coming years.
Call it a "lockdown illumination," the COVID-19 pandemic years were especially fruitful for Fontodi's Giovanni Manetti. Given time to reflect and walk through his vineyard rows in the amphitheater of postcard-perfect vines known as the Conca d'Oro in Panzano in Chianti, Manetti decided it was time to enlarge his portfolio. Specifically, he sought an opportunity to better articulate the concept of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which is in essence a perfect vehicle for a grand cru winemaking philosophy. His existing Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is a flagship for this highest category of the appellation, but alas, it represents just one vineyard site. Fruit is sourced from an area with a greater presence of schistous galestro for dark fruit, etched mineral notes and pencil shavings. Now, that wine can be seen in context. Two new wines, the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino and the Chianti Classico Pastrolo, are now in production. They come from radically different sites and soils. "We now have three wines to match three soils," says Giovanni Manetti from his spacious tasting room while morning sun streams in from the windows. The Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leonlino comes from a site in Panzano not too far from Vigna del Sorbo. However, this little parcel near the San Leonlino country chapel is characterized by limestone alberese that makes fresh wines that are not as dark in character. Equally exciting is the Chianti Classico Pastrolo from old vines in terraced vineyards in high-elevation Lamole. This areas tends to have Macigno Toscano, or sandstone. The Conca d'Oro vineyard in Panzano in Chianti has both galestro and alberese with pietraforte (the same hard stone used to build Palazzo Pitti in nearby Florence) at the higher rim of the vineyard. Flaccianello della Pieve is a selection of fruit from various sites, with much of it coming from the areas with pietraforte. Giovanni Manetti is pushing the boundaries of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, and he is interested in capturing the freshness and transparency of wines identified by their soils. These efforts are timed to the announcement of the new Chianti Classico UGAs, or subzones. I also think this post–COVID era represents an exciting new start for Lamole, one of the most remote and untouched villages in the wider Chianti Classico appellation. Cooler growing sites are ideal for wineries looking for alternatives in a warmer climate. If a powerhouse estate such as Fontodi continues to invest in Lamole, we will certainly see more interest in the area in the years to come.
Published: Feb 09, 2023
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
James Suckling
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Wine Spectator
Falstaff
2019
Terrazze San Leolino Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
Review
95
Points
Tasting : Wein Guide Italien 2023 ; Tasted by : Othmar Kiem, Simon Staffler
Published on 17.10.2022
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Vinous
98
Drinking Window
2028 - 2046
From: Chianti Classico: The Magnificent 2021s (Jul 2024)
The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino is another highlight in this range from Fontodi. It's a huge step up from the 2020. Red cherry, iron, spice, leather, licorice, crushed rocks and herbs make a strong first impression. Bright acids, the result of elevation and a year with wide diurnal swings, yielded a Gran Selezione of stunning elegance, complexity and finesse. The 2021 spent 14-15 months in barrique (25% new) followed by 7-8 months in cask. The San Leolino is one of the newer wines in the Fontodi range. The 2021 suggests it could be one of the new flagships here.
- By Antonio Galloni on June 2024
Proprietor Giovanni Manetti and his son Bernardo presented a stunning set of 2021s on my most recent visit. The wines embody the essence of site but in the more refined, nuanced style that is such a signature here today. Picking a bit earlier while also reducing French oak imprint has made a huge difference. I can’t recommend these new releases highly enough.
As for Giovanni Manetti, he continues to lead the way in Chianti Classico by making brilliant wines while also uniting producers around a vision for the region in his role as two-term President of the Consorzio del Chianti Classico. These are exceptionally rare qualities in any individual, but to see them in one person is impressive.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
96
Fontodi’s brand spanking new Terrazze San Leolino Gran Selezione is a stunner. San Leolino was recognised locally as a cru site 200 years ago. The recently renewed terraces sit at 450 metres in Panzano but – unlike Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo, which is characterised by Galestro – the soil here is calcareous Alberese. Though recently bottled, this is forthright in its earthy, stony, mineral-like aromas. Elegant yet profound, the palate demonstrates decisive rose, red cherry and long-chained, enveloping tannins, finishing with a tangy salinity. It is still very buttoned up but has so much promise. [01/10/2022]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
In search of the great wines of Fontodi from Tocane / Chianti. At Grandcruwijnen we have an exclusive range of Fontodi wines. If you want to buy a wine from Fontodi, the following applies: Order by the bottle, 24 hour delivery and save for a discount!
The Azienda Agricola Fontodi is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico area, south of the town of Panzano. This region has been famous for viticulture for centuries, thanks to the unique combination of elevated cultivation areas, lime and loam soil, lots of sun hours and the fantastic microclimate: warm and dry and with a big difference between day and night temperature.
Fontodi has been in the possession of the Manetti family since 1968, who is advised by the renowned oenologist Franco Bernabei. The Fontodi winery now has an organic certificate and is 130 ha. large, of which about 70 are planted with grapes. In the center of the winery grows the Sangiovese, which Giovanni and Marco Manetti have developed to breathtaking perfection. There are also French grape varieties such as Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Just like so many big names at the top of wine growing, Fontodi has applied the fruitful combination between organic cultivation and the most modern cellar technology and has therefore become one of the most sustainable wineries in Tuscany. To date, Fontodi wines have brought in 19 times the coveted three glasses of the Italian wine bible Gambero Rosso. Fontodi is undisputedly one of the 10 best wineries in Tuscany! In the last 17 editions of the Gambero Rosso it has received a score of 'Tre Bicchieri' no less than 13 times. The highest possible.