Community Tasting Note

• NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 97 points

  October 15, 2016 - Just took delivery of my 2013 Vigna del Sorbo a few days ago and I thought it might be the last chance to get a preview before it's going into hibernation for a few years.
  PnP. Darker garnet color with a touch of purple. Youthful and already a little closed but fascinating notes of plum, blackberries, lots of graphite, also some flowery notes in the back, sweet spices, menthol, some dark chocolate, leather and also some cigar and cedar wood. It's pretty full-bodied and dense but has this amazing weightlessness at the same time, with very high but excellent tannin and high acidity cutting through the richness. Fantastic finish with some mineral notes again. An incredibly impressive Vigna del Sorbo and probably one of the best young wines I have ever tasted at Fontodi (and I have been a big fan for many years). I am very glad I tasted one of my bottles, but I will try to keep the rest for at least 5-7 years before approaching them again. Once again probably one of the best wines of Tuscany. This will need some time though... (96-98)
  
  Still very young on day 2, but didn't shut down completely. Impressive texture and richness but without any heaviness.

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5 Comments

• Justin S commented:

  11/7/17, 11:50 AM - Very helpful. I am just starting to collect wine, so cannot buy everything. Was thinking to go with the 2010 vintage of this wine as I may get to try it sooner. Does the '13 have better potential? Also, how does this differ stylistically to the Flaccianello?

• NostraBacchus commented:

  11/7/17, 1:53 PM - You are in for a treat with both the 2013 or the 2010 (or most of the other recent vintages too by the way).
  The main difference between the Vigna del Sorbo and the Flaccianello is that the VdS is a single vineyard that is south-west facing, while the Flaccianello is a top selection of several different vineyards. Stylistically I always find the Flaccianello a little more open, radiant, "modern" in feel and riper while the Vigna del Sorbo is a little more austere in its youth, but has a lot of tension, structure and ages probably even better than the Flaccianello. My personal favorite is usually the VdS, but whenever I taste Flaccianello I like them too... hope that helps? Both the 2010 and 2013 VdS are fantastic wines but they will require some patience... If you can find 2007 or 2009, they are a little more approachable but from my perspective not exactly on the same level.

• Justin S commented:

  11/7/17, 2:04 PM - Thanks so much, this helps a lot.

• Justin S commented:

  11/9/17, 11:44 AM - Totally forgot that I also picked up the '10 and '13 vintages of Percarlo. How does this compare stylistically to the VdS and Flaccianello? Thanks for answering my questions!

• NostraBacchus commented:

  11/10/17, 12:28 AM - Percarlo is another one of my absolute favorite wines in Tuscany and the 2010 and 2013 are probably two of the very best wines ever produced at this great winery. While I think that Percarlo can be a little more approachable young than Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo, I don't think that the 2010 and 2013 will be... they will need time. The wines are also more powerful, extracted expressions of Sangiovese compared to some other producers (like Castellare or Montevertine). You picked some really great wines!
  If you want to familiarize yourself with the house styles, I think the regular Chianti Classicos are great and also approachable a little earlier. My favorite wines there would be Fontodi, San Giusto a Rentennano, Castellare-their 2015 is fantastic, Rocca di Montegrossi, Felsina, Querciabella, Rampolla, Castello di Ama and a few more).

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