2013 Flaccianello della Pieve

The gorgeous 2013 Flaccianello della Pieve is going through a closed phase at the moment. Let's give the wine a few more years to sort itself out. This window of momentary shyness is a very encouraging sign when you consider how far this wine will travel to complete its evolutionary path. This vintage saw a cool spring that got the season off to a late start. Mild summer temperatures meant that the harvest also came later, with fruit picked the first week of October. The natural characteristics of this vintage include higher total acidity, increased tannic structure and slightly lower alcohol content. The 2013 Flaccianello hits the trifecta of positive potential aging attributes. Indeed, the wine is almost rigid and nervous at this early stage in its adolescence. Like proud parents, we will wait and watch this bottle blossom over time.

A warm rather than hot vintage with cool periods throughout. Harvest was relatively late, commencing at the beginning of October. Manetti tells me he reduced the time in barriques to 18 months, with the remaining six months spent in large casks - for this and subsequent vintages. This is so elegantly proportioned and refined, with ethereal fragrances of wild flowers and forest berries. The buoyant palate almost belies its depth and the finish resonates with minerality. A pure expression of Sangiovese and proof that a wine does not need to be large and brawny to be excellent or ageworthy.

Made from 1981 from 100% selected Sangiovese, mainly at 500 m elevation. Aged for 24 months in French barriques where malo takes place. Average production 60,000 bottles. So light and pure! Much more approachable than the Vigna del Sorbo. Really racy, this sings loudly. Spicy and glorious. Wonderful purity.