Felsina Fontalloro

The Fontalloro is Fèlsina's answer to the question of what Sangiovese can achieve when it is left entirely to its own devices: single-varietal, without Cabernet support, with all the depth and structure that the south of the Chianti Classico region provides.

The Fèlsina winery is located near Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southernmost tip of the Chianti Classico zone. Since the 1980s, the Fontalloro has been the house's flagship wine – classified as Toscana IGT because it broke the strict Classico rules at the time. The grapes come from the Rancia site, whose galestro- and alberese-rich soil gives the Sangiovese powerful acidity and firm tannin structure. It is aged in barriques – a style that gives the wine melt without masking its tart Tuscan nature.

In the glass, it shows dark cherry, pomegranate, and violets, plus tobacco, cedarwood, and a fine iron minerality. The tannins are present but well-integrated – not a powerhouse, but a wine with a real backbone. The finish is long, slightly salty, with lingering spice.

Pairs with Bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar sauce on pappardelle, or an aged Pecorino. Best served at 17–18 °C, preferably decanted an hour beforehand.