Flaccianello della Pieve 1997

A hot year - the first of a long series - and also an early vintage, but one that at Panzano yielded wines that were less flabby than in other hotter zones in Tuscany. The colour is an intense garnet, with good concentration. Its nose is very appealing, with hints of ripe fruits, sour cherries, tamarind and almost spicy as well as faintly mineral notes. There are initial hints of reduction which disappear after a minute or so in the glass. It is well-balanced, though a bit mellower than some other vintages because of the richness of its glycerine content. The finish is long and warming.