2004 Fontodi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico

Ending on a sweet note, both figuratively and literally, the 2004 Vinsanto del Chianti Classico is a pure incarnation of vinous opulence and beauty. The wine is absolutely stunning, from start to finish. It shows bright amber highlights against the same shade of dark brown you see on a polished chestnut shell. Its thick, viscous consistency glides over the smooth surfaces of the glass with the soft, slow motion movements of maple syrup. The bouquet is impossible to forget as it leaves notes of honey, brown sugar, roasted nut, rum cake, vanilla, white truffle, candied apricot and moist pipe tobacco firmly etched in your memory. The blend is 50-50 Sangiovese and Malvasia. You don’t drink this wine. You slurp it down instead, savoring each tiny drop. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040. Fontodi’s Giovanni Manetti has released one of the top Italian wines of 2010. His Flaccianello della Pieve (assembled from the best parcels of Sangiovese) is an expression of profound beauty and elegance. I tasted this wine early in my work for this issue and found myself returning to my note over and over again, comparing the other great wines of 2010 to Flaccianello. It became my benchmark for the vintage. Importer: Vinifera Imports; www.viniferaimports.com