2012 Fontodi Vin Santo DOC Half Bottle 375ml, Tuscany

The 2012 Fontodi Vin Santo DOC is one of Tuscany’s great slow wines, made with patience, faith and a refusal to rush anything that matters. Vin Santo has always been a wine of tradition rather than trends, and at Fontodi it is treated with the same seriousness as their top Chianti Classico and single vineyard wines.

Fontodi sits in the Conca d’Oro, the golden bowl of Panzano in Chianti Classico, where galestro soils, altitude and cooling breezes shape wines of clarity and energy. The Manetti family has owned the estate for generations, famous not only for wine but also for the historic terracotta kilns that still operate today. That deep connection to land and tradition is felt strongly in their Vin Santo, which follows a method that has changed little over time.

The 2012 vintage was marked by healthy fruit and balanced conditions, ideal for Vin Santo production. Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes are carefully selected and laid out to dry slowly, concentrating sugars and flavours over many months. Fermentation is unhurried and ageing takes place in small caratelli barrels for years, allowing oxidation, evaporation and time to weave their quiet magic. Nothing here is forced and the wine is released only when it feels ready.

In the glass, the wine glows deep amber with golden highlights. Aromas are layered and evocative, dried apricot, fig, orange peel, honey, toasted almond and caramel, with hints of spice and antique wood. The palate is rich yet beautifully balanced, where sweetness is carried by lively acidity rather than weight. Flavours of dried fruit, nuts and burnt sugar linger endlessly, finishing with warmth, savoury complexity and remarkable freshness.

This is a wine that critics consistently revere for its authenticity, balance and sense of place. Rather than sheer sweetness, it is praised for harmony, length and the way it captures old Tuscany in a glass. It is equally at home as a meditation wine or alongside food.

Traditionally, it shines with cantucci dipped straight into the glass, but it is also superb with blue cheese, aged pecorino or nut based desserts. Thanks to its structure and concentration, it will continue to evolve for decades, gaining further depth and complexity long after most wines have faded.