Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2008

The pureness of fruit is so intense here. It’s also so clean and beautiful. The wine shows fabulous aromas of flowers, blueberries, and raspberries. It’s full-bodied, with chocolate, licorice, and plums. The texture is very velvety. This is a wine in near perfect proportions.

Here's a vintage that came out of left field and knocked me flat with delight. The 2008 Flaccianello della Pieve is just my kind of Sangiovese with a gorgeous level of silkiness and smoothness, all followed by tangy menthol freshness and balsam herb that give so much momentum to the vertical lift and drive of the bouquet. The wine's complexity is enhanced by drying mineral notes with barbecue smoke and mesquite. There is a slight hint of ripeness here that you taste in the sweetness of the tannins and the satiny nature of the finish. I love the balance between the wine's natural acidity and the softer side of its fruit. This vintage is drinking beautifully at the moment. Don't miss this exciting window.Rating: 96+

The 2008 Flaccianello della Pieve is quite pretty, even if it is a bit buttoned up. It possesses lovely perfume and sweet Pinot-like fruit backed by acidity and structure that are unquestionably those of Sangiovese. Today the 2008 impresses for its energy and verve. It should be a fabulous wine to drink in another few years, once the tannins settle down a bit. This is yet another 2008 that has grown considerably in stature over the last year. (AG) (6/2012)

The raspberry, cherry, floral and spice aromas and flavors in this classy red show harmony even at this early stage. Fresh and focused, with a vibrant finish. Sweet fruit, mineral and spice notes resonate on the aftertaste. Sangiovese. Best from 2014 through 2025.