2020 Fontodi Chianti Classico 'Dino'

Region: Tuscany, Italy

Grape: Sangiovese

Culinary Suggestions: Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine Steak), Lamb Chops, Rich Pasta Dishes, Charcuterie

Vineyard Practice: Organic

About

Fontodi is located in the heart of Chianti Classico precisely in the valley which lies south of the town of Panzano and is called the “Conca d’Oro” (the golden shell) because of its amphitheatre shape. A genuine and characteristc “Terroir”, famous for centuries for its tradition of quality wine cultivation, thanks to a unique combination of high altitude, calcar clayschist soil, lots of light, and a fantastic micro-climate – warm and dry with a marked difference in day and night-time temperatures.

Fontodi has belonged to the Manetti family since 1968. The family has been associated for centuries with another activity typical of the Chianti region, the production of its famous “terrecotte” tiles. And it is in the name of this strong link with the territory and a great passion for quality that the estate has moved successfully towards an ever more attentive cultivation of the vineyards and a more profound knowledge of the potential of Sangiovese in the zone of Panzano.

Fontodi is a certified organic estate which extends over 130 hectars of which about 70 are planted with vines. The type of agriculture practised is inspired by the principles of respect of nature and sustainability. Not only are no chemical products used but there is an effort to maximize the internal resources of the estate, thereby reducing the need for any external input. Respecting the environment means wines that are better, purer, and a truer expression of the grape and the territory. - Winery Website

Tasting Notes

The 2020 Chianti Classico Dino is a selection of Sangiovese from Fontodi's coolest site, fermented in terra cotta amphora. It shows all the richness of Panzano, but with more tannic drive than most of the wines in this range, likely because there is no sweetness or textural suaveness imparted by oak. Readers will find a wild, raw Chianti Classico that needs a year or two to soften.

93 points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media June 2023

Drink: 2025 - 2035