Felsina Fontalloro Toscana 2022

Felsina Fontalloro Toscana 2022 is Fèlsina's 100% Sangiovese cru, grown on both sides of the border between Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi. Kerin O'Keefe rated it 95 POINTS and called it "a stunning, world-class red". Expect cedar, pipe tobacco and blood orange.

In the glass it shows polished, juicy fruit with a streak of graphite, and firm tannins give it a slightly wild edge in its youth.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous says it is the first of the top 2022 Sangioveses he would open. It's a special weekend wine for anyone who loves Tuscan reds, and a great match for a rare-cooked steak off the grill.

Fontalloro was first made in 1983, the same year as Fèlsina's famous Rancia.

What it tastes like

This wine has blackberry and blackcurrant first, with hints of precious wood, ink and warm earth underneath. Give it air by swirling it in the glass and licorice comes through.

The palate is pliant and forward, with gorgeous fruit and fine balance. The tannins have real grip now and will soften with a few years in the bottle. The finish is long and spicy.

It's a generous, beautifully balanced Sangiovese.

Style at a glance

• Body: Medium to full
• Sweetness: Dry
• Acidity: Fresh
• Tannin: Firm, slightly grippy in youth
• Oak: 18 months in French oak barriques, adding cedar, tobacco and spice
• Style: Polished, layered, cellar-worthy Sangiovese

Food to enjoy this with

• Bistecca alla fiorentina, cooked over coals
• Slow-braised lamb shanks with rosemary and garlic
• Pici pasta with a rich beef and pork ragù
• Roast pheasant or guinea fowl with pancetta
• Aged pecorino toscano
• Something unexpected: a blood orange and fennel salad with shaved pecorino. The citrus picks up the blood orange on the finish.

Who makes it

Fèlsina sits at Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the far south-east corner of Chianti Classico, where it meets the Crete Senesi clay hills. In the 1970s Domenico Poggiali and his son Giuseppe saw the estate's potential and committed it to Sangiovese. Giuseppe Mazzocolin, husband of Gloria Poggiali, later joined to build the business. Giovanni Poggiali has led Fèlsina since 1990.

The estate covers 500 hectares, with 72 hectares of vines among olive groves and woodland. The vineyards have been farmed organically since the early 2000s. Fèlsina calls its home a "frontier territory": rocky, calcareous soils on one side and sandy, silty soils of marine origin on the other.

Fontalloro takes in both. Its grapes come from three vineyards, Poggio al Sole, Arcidossino and Casalino, on either side of the boundary between Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi. Because it crosses that line, it is labelled Toscana IGT.

The grapes are hand-picked, then fermented in stainless steel for 16 to 20 days with daily pump-overs. For the 2022 vintage, the wine was aged for 18 months in French oak barriques.

About the vintage

The Chianti Classico consortium reports that 2022 began well, with no spring frost or significant hail. Summer was warm and dry, but rain in spring had given the vines good reserves of water. Nights stayed cool even after hot days, which helped the Sangiovese ripen evenly. Rain in mid-August gave the vines a welcome drink.

Across the region, picking began around 10 September, about 2 weeks earlier than usual. Antonio Galloni notes that harvest at Fèlsina stretched into October. The consortium describes the 2022 wines as very well balanced, with ripe, sweet tannins.

Critic scores and ratings

• 95 POINTS – Kerin O'Keefe – kerinokeefe.com
  "The Felsina 2022 is a stunning, world-class red. Made entirely with Sangiovese, it entices with aromas of Mediterranean brush, lavender, spice, wild red berry and a whiff of graphite. Showing elegance and precision, the focused palate delivers layers of pomegranate, cranberry, blood orange, licorice and vanilla. Taut, well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and balance. Drink 2029–2037."
• 94 POINTS – Othmar Kiem and Simon Staffler – Falstaff, July 2026
  "Bright, luminous ruby red. The nose offers strong aromas of precious wood, graphite, ink, as well as warm earth and ripe berry fruit. On the palate, it features polished fruit and subtle juiciness, with slightly coarse tannins; overall, it comes across as somewhat wild and untamed and still needs time to develop."
• 93 POINTS – Antonio Galloni – Vinous, July 2025

When to drink it

Antonio Galloni finds the 2022 already quite open and expects it to drink well with minimal cellaring. He recommends drinking it from 2027 through to 2037.

Technical details

Where to buy

The Felsina Fontalloro Toscana 2022 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.

Questions we are often asked

Is Felsina Fontalloro a Chianti Classico?

No. Fèlsina's Fontalloro is labelled Toscana IGT because its grapes come from vineyards on both sides of the border between Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi.

What grape is Fontalloro made from?

Fontalloro is made entirely from Sangiovese, grown in three Fèlsina vineyards: Poggio al Sole, Arcidossino and Casalino.

What is the difference between Fontalloro and Rancia?

Both are 100% Sangiovese and were first made by Fèlsina in 1983. Rancia comes from the single Poggio a Rancia vineyard inside Chianti Classico, while Fontalloro blends three vineyards that cross into the Chianti Colli Senesi.

When should I drink Fontalloro 2022?

Antonio Galloni of Vinous suggests drinking Fèlsina Fontalloro 2022 from 2027 to 2037, and finds it more open in its youth than many top Sangioveses.

Where can I buy Felsina Fontalloro Toscana 2022?

The Winery sells Felsina Fontalloro Toscana 2022 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.