2019 Fontodi Filetta di Lamole Chianti Classico, Lamole in Chianti, Toscana – buy online

WHO?

The Manetti family has owned the Fontodi winery since 1969, but they have been present in the Chianti region for centuries. Giovanni Manetti long harbored a dream of creating wine from the Lamole subzone, believing it to be one of the most distinctive areas in Chianti Classico. He eventually convinced a relative to join him in his project, and together they began restoring a 7-hectare vineyard on an estate called Filetta. Their inaugural harvest took place in 2014.

WHERE?

Lamole is a forgotten corner of the Chianti Classico zone, located high above Panzano. The sandy soil and high altitude (620 meters above sea level) lead to cooler nights and an extended ripening season, enhancing the wine’s aromatics. A few parcels of old Sangiovese vines, trained in the alberello (bush training) method typical of Lamole, survived the widespread replanting of the early 1970s. Giovanni took cuttings from these old vines, some planted as early as the 1920s, to propagate his own clones and plant them in his vineyards in Panzano.

WHY?

Filetta is a 100% Sangiovese wine from the small village of Lamole in the eastern part of the Chianti Classico zone. The 7-hectare Filetta vineyard is predominantly planted with old vines trained in the traditional Alberello di Lamole method. After fermentation in concrete tanks, Filetta ages in large French oak barrels, giving it a texture and purity reminiscent of Pinot Noir. The aromatic profile is dominated by bright red fruits (cherries, cranberries, blueberries, chokeberries), floral notes (violets, roses), and herbal hints (fennel, mint), all wrapped in an earthy, dusty frame. On the palate, it exhibits seamless precision with smooth, finely grained tannins and striking minerality.

James Suckling – 95 pts
Vinous – 91 pts