Manetti calls 2012 'the vintage of two faces': summer was very hot until mid-August, when some rain brought cooler temperatures which slowed down ripening. In chillier zones than Panzano, Sangiovese struggled to ripen, he says. Even more expressive than when it was initially released, the 2012 has a decidedly exotic manner. Saffron, liquorice and cardamom overlay violets and earth. The tannins are polished with an intriguing chalky texture. It's compact and full but balanced, with a core of vibrant acidity and a long explosive finish. This has the bones to age brilliantly.

94+ Whereas the 2011 vintage is overtly ripe, the 2012 Flaccianello della Pieve is slightly more evolved. Instead of sweet ripeness, you get savory ripeness with dried fruit, prune, black licorice, balsam herb, rosemary essence and scorched earth. The 2012 season produced fewer flowers, and yields in this vintage were naturally reduced as a result. Like 2011, however, this vintage saw an early harvest thanks to hot and dry conditions during the summer that increased the speed of ripening. This edition reveals more thickness and dense concentration as well, something you notice in the intensity of the mouthfeel and the firmness of the wine's tannic structure. - Monica Larner