Fontodi Chianti Classico Gran Selezione ‘Terrazze San Leolino’ 2021

Note: A new wine from Fontodi born during the pandemic, the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino is made with organic fruit from a parcel near the little chapel of the same name in the Conca d'Oro of Panzano. The winey team had noticed a difference in quality from this 4.5-hectare site with limestone alberese soils at a cool 450 to 500 meters in elevation. The best fruit from 15-year-old vines was put aside to make this 5,000-bottle inaugural release. The celebrated Vigna del Sorbo is not too far away, but compared to the wine made from that site, Terrazze San Leonlino is sharper, more focused and offers streamlined fruit weight. Importer’s notes. 

‘The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino is another highlight in this range from Fontodi. It's a huge step up from the 2020. Red cherry, iron, spice, leather, licorice, crushed rocks and herbs make a strong first impression. Bright acids, the result of elevation and a year with wide diurnal swings, yielded a Gran Selezione of stunning elegance, complexity and finesse. The 2021 spent 14-15 months in barrique (25% new) followed by 7-8 months in cask. The San Leolino is one of the newer wines in the Fontodi range. The 2021 suggests it could be one of the new flagships here.  

Drink 2024-2036’ 98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, June 2024 

‘Now showing the Panzano UGA on the front label, the Fontodi 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Panzano Terrazze San Leonlino (made with certified organic fruit) is a delightful wine and a relatively new addition to a portfolio that excels in a classic vintage such as 2021. Taking full advantage of new regulations that give identity to appellation subzones (or UGAs), the wine exudes the depth, richness and sunshine that Panzano fruit is known for. The bouquet is stitched together with generous black fruit, pencil shaving and light spice, but the wine ultimately stands apart for its threefold balance of fruit versus acidity versus oak spice. Drink 2025-2046’ 96+ Points – Monica Larner eRobertParker.com, July 2024 

‘Panzano. Certified organic (QC). 
Deep youthful ruby. Deep, yet brooding on the nose with dark-spice and pure cherry and raspberry notes. Still embryonic with chewy tannins framing the compact sour-cherry fruit. Lush, wired acidity and long-lasting tannins perfectly in tune with the fruit on the finish. 

 (WS) Drink 2026-2036, 17.5 Points – JancisRobinson.com, Feb 2024