~ The Felsina Barrel Cellar ~
Few estates are as well respected and consistently outstanding as Felsina. It’s an estate I would recommend without a second’s hesitation when responding to requests for excellent Sangiovese. Simply put, they make some of Tuscany’s best. But perhaps what’s more significant, is that they do at all price points and further still, the wines could easily be considered values for their type.
It was 1966 when the Poggiali family purchased the Felsina estate and they’ve been farming it ever since under the careful eye of Franco Bernabei. With wineries like Sartori, Monte Antico and Fontodi among his resume, his long tenured expertise compliments the family vision perfectly.
Organically farmed, Felsina’s wines are produced from estate grown grapes from some of the zone’s oldest vineyards. Today, we’re discussing a new release of the Super Tuscan, Fontalloro. I’m asked often why this wine isn’t re-labeled now as a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. The answer is simple. Despite its excellence across vintages, the vineyard sources for this wine straddle the border between Chianti Classico and Chianti Colli Senese thereby no permitting the designation. It matters little, since those in the know, know.
~ Large Cypress Trees mark the Entrance to the Felsina Estate ~
The most recent release of the estate’s Flagship is the 2012 Felsina Fontalloro. Comprised of 100% Sangiovese, the wine is vinified in stainless steel tanks and then aged in a combination of new and used French Barrique for 18-22 months depending upon the vintage. After bottling, the wine is held up to an additional year prior to release.
In the glass, the wine is a full, deep ruby that is almost garnet in color. The aromas are spectacular and feature wild crushed cherry, wet stones, fresh cigar tobacco and hints of flowers and spice. The 2012 vintage produced some inconsistent results but this wine is remarkably impressive.
On the palate, the flavors of wild berry are concentrated and long and well polished. This is not a rustic red. Added flavors of stones, tobacco, fennel and cured meat follow the nose and are easily discernible. I love this and it’s a tremendous value for the money. 94 points, about $45.
~ 100% Sangiovese that is very well done in the slightly mercurial 2012 vintage ~
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Salute!
Hi John,
Any readers that have an opportunity to visit Fellini should definitely go. The grounds are very nice; the staff very accommodating and you receive a very nice overview and tasting of their wines. When we went the tasting was very informative and covered each of their offerings. And YES, the Fontalloro is a very special wine.
Joe D
Thanks for the information Joe. Do you know if they have General hours or by appointment only?
They do both. An appointment would get you a more detailed tour but they accommodate walk-ins.