The 2020 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Sorbo Gran Selezione, a red wine made from Sangiovese grapes, hails from the renowned Chianti region in Tuscany, Italy. Produced by Fontodi, this wine has garnered significant praise from professional reviewers for its complexity and aging potential.
According to Decanter, this wine was first produced in 1985 and has since established itself as a top-tier offering from Fontodi, alongside the Flaccianello. Elevated from Riserva to Gran Selezione in 2014, the vineyard spans eight hectares with vines over 50 years old. The 2020 vintage is described as "slow to reveal itself," with initial subtle hints of sundried tomato and grilled herbs evolving into darker tones of violet and liquorice. The wine is noted for its firm structure and concentrated core, finishing with "savoury black plum and toast" (Decanter, 2/13/2023).
James Suckling awarded the wine a score of 94, highlighting its aromas of stems, dried meat, berries, and cherries, with additional notes of dusty earth. He describes the palate as "firm and fresh with a brightness and chewiness," and mentions a cement and stone texture. Suckling advises to drink this wine after 2025 for optimal enjoyment (jamessuckling.com, 8/7/2023).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave an excellent review, scoring it 96 points. The review praises its "enormous precision and direction," noting the wine's singular intensity and organic production. Aromas of black fruit, grilled rosemary, pressed rose, and crushed limestone are prominent, with the wine embodying the ample fruit generosity of its sun-filled vintage (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 9/21/2023).
Vinous awarded the wine 95+ points, describing it as one of the most backward editions of Vigna del Sorbo. The review highlights the wine's dark, somber nature and its intense mid-weight frame. Hints of lavender, dried herbs, plum, and graphite emerge over time, with the wine showing a "youthful austerity" that is deemed quite alluring. Vinous suggests that this wine will require many years to reach its best (Vinous, 8/1/2023).
Wine Spectator also rated the wine highly, giving it 96 points. The review describes the wine as "tightly wound, linear in profile," with flavors of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, fresh loam, and mineral. Supported by lively acidity and dense, suave tannins, the wine integrates nicely with tension and silky texture, showing terrific length. The best time to enjoy this wine is suggested to be from 2026 through 2045 (Wine Spectator).
In summary, the 2020 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Sorbo Gran Selezione is a well-structured, complex wine with significant aging potential, highly praised across multiple reviews for its depth and intensity.