January 11, 2024 - This is an outstanding expression of Sangiovese, and if anything, it (L203) has improved since I last had it 18 months ago. Even at age 15 it needed air to shine. It was served over three nights, on night one with an aeration one hour before dinner, then stored in the original bottle in the refrigerator without gas or vacu-vin. On nights two and three it was poured one hour before dinner without further aeration. It was best on night two.
The wine has complex aromatics, great acidity, integrated tannins, and a long, savory finish. It's succulent, silky, and subtly exotic.
Over at Vinous, Antonio once again got this wine exactly right (93 / 16-30), and this time Ian missed it. And as happens often with Tuscany and Piedmont, there is a big difference between the drinking windows suggested by Antonio (16-30) and Walter Speller at Jancis Robinson (13-18 and 15-20). I cannot understand those short drinking windows at all. For the last bottle I suggested a drinking window to 2035, but I now reign in my exuberance and land at Antonio’s 2030.
This wine shows once again how Fontodi’s CC often outperforms many CC Riservas. They are such a great producer that their wines command a slight premium, so this wine is not among the best QPRs, but for those who are patient it consistently repays the investment.
January 7, 2024 - I really enjoyed this bottle, it was well balanced and had the perfect amount of age for my taste - though could age longer and improve in flavour though not sure the balance will get better. There is still some sour cherry flavour, but also rich tertiary characteristics such as mushrooms, spice, cigar and leather. Good nose, but thought the nose on previous bottles was better
Has a richness of flavour that comes with well aged Sangiovese that for me tugs at the pit of my stomach in a good way - not sure if anyone else gets this feeling?
December 10, 2023 - Decanted1 hour. Dried rose, leather, cranberry. Very nice.
December 4, 2023 - Deep garnet.
Spice, fig, cranberry nose/palate. Flattened out somewhat.
This isn’t as enjoyable as in 2021 and I believe that it needs drinking up over the next couple of years.
October 7, 2023 - The consensus at the table was 93-94 points, a truly epic showing for a 2010 chianti classico
At 13 years old, it is at it's peak. The tart cherry notes are still present but starting to fade. A dominant aroma of dried rose and violets consumes the glass with leathery notes intermixed as well. light mushroom notes are beginning to come alive in the foreground at this point of the evolution as well.
The palate was superb, tannin and acids were both medium plus, the finish was nice and long. I think there are too many people who drink these young and don't get to enjoy the drinking experience our group had last night.
Amazing showing Fontodi.
August 28, 2023 - Every bit as good as my first bottle. This has such presence for a regular CC. Firm on the attack, juicy acid married to dark fruit, black cherry and Italian prunes (not dried, the fresh kind), rustic and fairly grippy tannins, and a beautiful inner mouth perfume. Long, rewarding (and again rustic) and taut finish, fully dry and like sucking on a mouthful of cherry pits.
January 29, 2023 - PnP.
Bricking at the edges. Dark fruit, smoke, old leather, gravel. Medium bodied, elegant and balanced. Drinks well now.
November 26, 2022 - Double decanted and served the following day. My journey with this wine has been quite educating. I can clearly see that prior consumptions were extremely premature; and it is likely this latest experience may be as well. The latent structure present here is formidable and deserves ample consideration before consuming. That said, this latest experience was by far the most rewarding. The dusty earth and bramble/underbrush elements remain but the “dense shroud” noted in prior consumptions is lifted with extended air contact revealing warm aromas of red/black cherry, leather, and tobacco. Structure is unmistakable and envelopes the palate giving way to long, dry, gripping finish. Not sure how long this goes but from my observations this is just entering its drinking window and should drink well throughout the decade.
October 23, 2022 - Drinking beautifully now with years ahead
September 17, 2022 - Very good, although 10 years too young