2006 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo

• By Antonio Galloni
  Fontodi: Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo 1985-2010 (Feb 2014), (See more on Vinous...)

  (Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna Del Sorbo) Login and sign up and see review text.

• By Ian D'Agata
  July/August 2010, IWC Issue #151, (See more on Vinous...)

  (Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo) Login and sign up and see review text.

JancisRobinson.com

• By Walter Speller
  2/24/2010, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Fontodi, Vigna del Sorbo Riserva Chianti Classico Red) Subscribe to see review text.

• By Antonio Galloni
  Tuscany 2006 and 2007: A New Golden Age (Aug 2009), (See more on Vinous...)

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Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  9/22/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (Vigna del Sorbo) Sorbo Vertical Dear Friends, With all the banter over Fontodi lately, I've gone to the well for something special. There has been so much interest in the 2006s from this winery that demand for older vintages has been thoroughly renewed as well. There's a palpable buzz surrounding Fontodi right now and all the hubbub gave me an idea - how about a six vintage vertical directly from the winery? If you have a new cellar or are into instant collections, I've talked them into parting with six top years, all with critical praise and all in library condition. I'm sure you could find each vintage cheaper elsewhere (one by one) but not from the winery - they don't even offer these to the public. While we always try to offer the lowest price, I have no problem paying a premium for provenance when it is this sound and unusual. These are some of the last prized bottles of library stock that remain so here goes... Fontodi "Vigna del Sorbo" Chianti Classico Riserva - 6 Vintage Vertical 1 x 1995 1 x 1997 1 x 1999 1 x 2001 1 x 2004 1 x 2006 A few reviews... 2006 (The 2006 is a "wow" example that has designs on usurping every other wine and vintage Fontodi has produced. We'll see if it happens but, for now, the stars have aligned for a special experience down the road - JR) 2004 (What can I say about the 2004? A stunning example that should be put very far away so you don't have to go through the agony of eyeing it every time you look for something in the cellar. This is tough to resist right now but don't do it - give this another 6-8 years and you will be rewarded - JR) 2001 (The 2001 is a great, serious wine that has finally opened, only in the last few months - hold for another 1-2 years and you should catch this at absolute peak - JR) 1999 (The 1999 is singing right now - probably the best vintage of Vigna del Sorbo for current wine-geek consumption. This wine is like catching a ray of light in your hands - it provides the type of experience all of us look for but rarely find - JR) 1997 (From arguably the most famous Tuscan vintage of the 1990's (save for 1990), this wine is fully mature and it shows the 1997 vintage in spades - one that had more glycerol power in youth than 1995 or 1999 but also more polished sheen - in a very similar vein to Piedmont. A wonderful and elegant drink to enjoy now and over the next 2-3 years - JR) 1995 (Who would have guessed this wine would be this beautiful in 2009? I, for one. I remember having a conversation back in 1998 or 1999 with Giovanni Manetti and I told him the 1995 was going to be fabulous in 10-15 years - it had an elegance that set it apart from the new-style IGT wines that were all the rage in Tuscany and he agreed. The 1995 Vigna del Sorbo is at absolute peak and it's a toss up as to which is better right now - the above mentioned 1999 or the 1995. The 1995 is slightly more autumnal but it's a haunting sense of autumn in so many ways. This wine is far better than any of the reviews would indicate and that's why you actually have to age and drink the wines, not just read about them - especially if the reviews were penned 10-15 years ago. Incidentally, Giovanni Manettti likes this wine better than his 1995 Flaccianello - JR) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Italy7427