3/30/2024 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Will make it to 20 easily. Reminds me why Fontalloro is one of my favorites year to year - the nose knows. Sangio personality, well rounded acidity, with plenty of tannin.

3/19/2024 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Extremely solid

3/1/2024 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

A good bottle for sure, but hardly something that makes you scream. Very black fruit forward.

2/10/2024 - weinmatt Does not like this wine:

Possibly flawed, but otherwise just not great

1/21/2024 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Decent bottle, but an off year, from what I read about this wine in better ones. Was a bit short on fruit. $40 from Garagiste as a mystery bottle.

12/9/2023 - weinmatt wrote:

Really nicely balanced, fontalloro is really my favorite wine.

10/21/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

9 years young - cassis, red fruit, leather, dark chocolate, smooth tannins

10/13/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

A very solid value. Last of my 6 bottles. Super earthy, mushrooms, ripe berry, cola nut.

10/8/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Easily the best bottle of wine I’ve consumed in some time. Very intense palate of cherry, plum, pepper and lovely floral nose, in quite good balance.

10/7/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Last of my splits that all displayed a slight nose of oxidation at open. This quickly blew off though - the result was a wine with plenty of life in it. Definitely a more rustic / hard edged vintage of Rancia.

9/15/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

I agree with most. Good bottle, meh vintage. Structure is there but if you have more (I do) it’s probably a 5-10 year ceiling at best

9/9/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Hot, ripe ish…

8/16/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Big win for a supermarket special!

8/14/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

This score may suffer from some distortion due to environment (Napa), presentation (in perfectly shaped stemware and at perfect temp), and food pairing…

6/25/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Two night experience. A warmer year and it shows in the bouquet, but pretty balanced, just verging on mature. Night 2 much more expressive.

4/29/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

The nose on this one is top notch. Some of that fruit has faded for a more mature palate with bits of tomato leaf, mushroom, and a foresty floor thing.

4/27/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Winner

4/15/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Nicely balanced. A good example of a top wine in middle age.

3/15/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable for a restaurant pop / pour @ Porta Via in the Desert

2/18/2023 - weinmatt wrote:

Totally disjointed on opening. Acidic + possibly some secondary fermentation. Left half the bottle for 2 nights. On night 3 the funk had gassed off and this became much more balanced.

2/12/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Absolutely outstanding. Complex, Burgundy-like nose. I might try to find more!

2/12/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

This is drinking really well. Some of that heavy intensity has mellowed in favor of a really nicely integrated package.

2/10/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Overly primary on night 1. Score is reflective of night 2, where it was much better integrated.

2/9/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Last one of these. Still very good in middle age.

2/3/2023 - weinmatt wrote:

Really should have bought more of this

1/20/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Going strong!

1/2/2023 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

I have a number of vintages of Flaccianello in my cellar but have only ever tasted it once, at the winery (stopped there one day by reputation when we had some extra time while vacationing in Tuscany). This is beautiful wine.... for the $66 I paid for it. Prices have shot up to stratospheric levels (3x) the past few years, and I'm not sure I'll add more of it at that price, but it sure is very enjoyable.

12/23/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Consistent with the last bottle. Familiar Rancia notes.

10/28/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Stellar. Reached great heights after 6-7 hours open. Delicate and not overpowering, with rose & tea nose, strawberry, hardwood and a little cigar on the back palate. Tannins balanced but with grip.

9/23/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Dark and ripe, ripping tannins, definitely a hot vintage wine.

8/19/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

2 of 6.

I did not regret making this my birthday wine this year. Very well integrated.

8/16/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Always solid, but noted this was a bit muted fruit wise.

7/14/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Really well integrated, classic Chianti. Some really nice subtle secondary flavors (herby anise)

7/3/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Day 1: 2-3 hours since open, I agree with others that this is somewhat lacking mid-palate. The nose (tobacco, plum, spice) is great though.

Day 3: holding strong. The nose really drives the enjoyment here (eucalyptus, florals). Still lacking mid-palate, though.

6/3/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Needs a couple hours of air at this stage but a top notch bottle once it gets there. 1 of 6, really feeling that freshness, eucalyptus, and sweetness on the nose and intense sour cherry, rose petal, anise-y palate.

3/5/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

I need to stop buying these in 2s and 3s. This is sublime stuff!

2/24/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

A lot of value here for a restaurant purchase!

2/11/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Dancing into middle age, this one.

2/4/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Drinking bottles of wine like this makes me both happy and sad.

Happy, because this is an elegant, tasty well balanced wine

Sad because I should have bought a lot more of it

1/18/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Bostondoug has it nailed. Heck of an evolution here!

1/15/2022 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Should have bought more. Solid value for the $35 paid. Particularly on night 2. Floral and mint to go with blue fruit.

12/28/2021 - weinmatt wrote:

Impeccable structure. Honestly why don’t we drink more of this?

12/10/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

I’d buy a lot of this if I could! Like the Penfolds Bin 389, but better.

11/20/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Super floral, prancing, but all the Pauillac signatures and plenty of leather and tobacco. Wonderful for something I kept for 15+ years. Enjoyed with a 1 hr decant, under patio heaters at Lutece at Georgetown.

10/24/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Beautiful thing - better on day 2, still rather tight - but full of bright fruit and a big nose.

10/20/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Nice acidity and black fruit, though maybe a bit lacking on fullness

10/9/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Definitely a more modern interpretation here & I day say "lush". Very palate focused - nose a bit muted. Big on black fruit, baking spice, vanillin. Excellent with a ribeye. 2h open on the counter then decanted.

10/2/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

A very good food wine.

9/3/2021 - weinmatt Likes this wine:

Kris G's note is pretty accurate re: what this needs. We drank this with approx a 2 hour slow ox and then decanted half the bottle & left the rest overnight. Both times the wine was very but on the second night it had really elevated.

9/5/2021 - weinmatt wrote:

As good as last time. Probably better.