2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo shows the pedigree of the vintage, one of the very best of the last 25 years. Blackberry jam, cloves, menthol, licorice and graphite explode from the glass in a wine that comes across as a combination of 2008 and 2010. Sounds pretty good to me. All the elements are beautifully integrated in the glass. A stunning Vigna del Sorbo, the 2006 will drink well to age 25-30, perhaps beyond. Today, though, it is an infant, so further cellaring is advisable.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Oenologist Franco Bernabei. Deep crimson, rim just starting to lighten. Heady, sweet cherry-liqueur nose. Ripe, concentrated, almost intense sweet fruit lifted by juicy acidity. Coating tannins. Well balanced. A bigger, international style of Chianti Classico. (WS)
The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is seriously dark, rich and intense. Dark cherries, tobacco, herbs and minerals come together in this brooding, weighty Vigna del Sorbo. Today the wine comes across as completely closed and folded in on itself, but with time it should emerge as a beauty. The elegance of the superb 2004 seems missing, and this looks to be an especially concentrated vintage for this wine.
The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo is seriously dark, rich and intense. Dark cherries, tobacco, herbs and minerals come together in this brooding, weighty Vigna del Sorbo. Today the wine comes across as completely closed and folded in on itself, but with time it should emerge as a beauty. The elegance of the superb 2004 seems missing, and this looks to be an especially concentrated vintage for this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. My visit to Fontodi last year was fascinating, as I spent several hours with proprietor Giovanni Manetti and oenologist Franco Bernabei tasting through multiple barrels of all of the estate’s wines. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907
About the producer

Based just outside Panzano-in-Chianti, Chianti Classico estate Fontodi was acquired by the Manettis in 1968, a family which has established its modern reputation. Today the leading property is best known for its Flaccianello delle Pieve, the pure Sangiovese Super Tuscan first made in 1981.