Tenuta Fanti (Fanti-San Filippo) is a winery in Località Podere Palazzo near the Abbey of Sant’Antimo in Castelnuovo dell’Abate in the southern part of the Montalcino region, Tuscany. Wines are made under the Sant’Antimo DOC, Rosso di Montalcino DOC, and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG. With around 300ha of land in total, this is one of Montalcino’s bigger estates.

Visits: It is well set up for visitors.

Owner: Filippo Baldassare Fanti (described as ‘il vulcanico’ or the volcano by Gambero Rosso 2015, p.585). His daughter Elisa Fanti joined the family company in 2007 and initiated stylistic change, with wines with less obvious oak and clearer fruit. The 300 hectare estate has been in the family since thre1800s. It produces wine, extra-virgin olive oil and cereal crops. In the early 1070s Filippo Fanti, the current owner, took over the family company, replanting the vineyards and the olive trees. The estate was originally bought by Filippo Fanti’s grandfather [who named it Tenuta San Filippo it seems] when it consisted of 300 hectares of olives and grain, and with 30 hectares of vines. Filippo Fanti bottled his first wine in 1983.

Contact: Elisa Fanti (agronomist) and her sister Elena (PR). Their father is Filippo Baldassarre Fanti (former President of the Brunello Consorzio).

Consultant enologist: Stefano Chioccioli since the 1990s.

Estate Vineyards: Near the Abbey of Sant’Antimo in the valley of Castelnuovo dell’Abate in south-east of Montalcino. The estate has 50 hectares of vineyard (high vine density). From 150–430 metres). (Ribusuoli is a neighbouring estate). Galestro soils.

Other crops: 100 hectares of olive grove, 100 hectares of crops and 50 hectares of woodland. The soil, relatively sandy and poor in organic substances, is suitable for growing vines and olive trees.

Winery, winemaking: The original cellars were underneath the house in the middle of the village. The new winery is partly buried into the hill to reduce the visual impact, being near Sant’Antimo Abbey. 100% hand picked.

Red wines

Sant’Antimo Rosso DOC Sassomagno: 2011 60% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 8 months in 30hl botti and 225-litre French barrels. Modern style colour, sweet blackcurrants, some wood too, just about balanced, pretty simple (Anteprima 2014). | 2012 50,000 bottles. | 2018 30,000 bottles.

Rosso di Montalcino DOC: 2011 At the consorzio with Ian d’Agata Tuesday 28th May 2013: Deepish crimson-cedar core with a purply rim. Frank youthful red raspberry fruit, ripe red flavours, worth re-visiting in 3-5 years’ time to see how cedary/savoury the fruit turns. | 2012 60,000 bottles. 12 months in barrel and botti. Appley nose, odd, mint (Anteprima 2014). | 2013 60,000 bottles. Nice sweet fruit, well balanced, clean, modern, not soulless (Anteprima 2015). | 2014 Fruit a bit dusty with and some tankiness, juicy, appetising, but simple (Anteprima 2016). | 2018 30,000 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Fanti: 1999 92 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, although Parker (quoted by Kerin O’Keefe: World of Fine Wine 11/2006, p.80) said ‘Good as it is, it is rather perplexing…not a wine that seems to have much to do with Sangiovese and Montalcino.’ | 2000 Rich modern chocolate style, flatters to deceive somewhat as essentially light (Anteprima 2005). | 2009 60,000 bottles. Bit odd, evolved, animal and leather, my guess is this had to be re-thought post-scandal, sweet, some alcohol burn, OK weight, sweet end (Anteprima 2014). | 2009 14%. L15912. Ruby garnet. New oak nose. Sweet entry: very immediate, shortish, new oak very apparent over the fruit. Some toffee/vanilla too at the Consorzio Tues 27th May 2014 with Ian d’Agata and others. | 2010 45,000 bottles. Botti and barrel. Nice sweet fruit, plump and modernist, mint and vanilla, well made (Anteprima 2015). | 2011 24 months in French toneaux, and botti. Again, a bit modern and extracted, simple (Anteprima 2016). | 2015 50,000 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Fanti–Tenuta San Filippo: There is another ‘Tenuta San Filippo’ in Montalcino which has its own entry. It appears that Fanti no longer use the ‘San Filippo’ name. | 2000 Soft modern style, new oak, not bad at (Anteprima 2005).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Selezione Vallochio: Vallochio is a Toponimo. 10ha. | 2010 Debut. 10,496 bottles. Nice sweet plump, bit anonymous but very appealing and modern and well crimped (Anteprima 2015). | 2015 15,000 bottles.

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva: 2001 ‘Clichéd, devoid of any feeling. Overpolished, no terroir or varietal typicity,’ wrote Franco Ziliani (World of Fine Wine: 16/2007, p.18).

Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Riserva Vigna Le Macchiarelle: Le Macchiarelle is a ‘toponimo’. | 2009 Debut under this label. 3,500 bottles. 500-litre tonneaux. Very different to the Vallocchio, more old style it seems (Anteprima 2015).

Vin Santo

Sant’Antimo DOC Vin Santo: 2006 Bottled. | 2008 1,800 bottles.

Contact

Tenuta Fanti

Località Podere Palazzo, 14

Castelnuovo dell’Abate

I-53024 Montalcino (SI = Siena), Italy

Tel+39 0577.835795 | www.tenutafanti.it