Drinking window for Tignanello, Flaccianello, Percarlo?

WINE TALK
1

I was wondering what folks thought the optimal drinking window is for these Tuscan wines? I’ve had 3-4 year old Tig and 22 year old Tig and know they can age, just curious about the community’s perspective.

Thanks in advance.

Kent

2

I used to drink Tignanello on the younger side and never really “got it”. One day I went to a big vertical tasting organized by a NYC restaurant where we drank about 15 older vintages and it was a real eye opener for me. This wine can definitely age and in my opinion needs 10 years to show it’s stuff, (although it’s always hard to make blanket generalizations because you have to account for vintage conditions.)
I have had numerous bottles of the 2001 in the last year and they are starting to show very well.
I don’t have much experience with the other 2 wines

3

Kent, that depends a lot on the vintage. Tignanello is a wine that often shows well in its youth, while as you say also hold a lot of aging potential. I recently tasted a 09 which was spectacular. I also recently tasted the 2001, which coming from a more structured year was only in slight adolescence and needing further time to soften the structure. It will be difficult to say something general without taking the vintage into consideration IMHO.

Only general thing i would say is that i would rather have a young tig than a young percarlo or Flaccianello. From good vintages (like 06) i would not touch percarlo for 10+ years and generally treat them like brunello

4

My impression is the Flaccianello and Percarlo need a decade to hit their drinking window. Tignanello for me is more suited for earlier drinking.

5

I would leave them all for at least 10 years before drinking - I agree that of the bunch Tignanello is drinking best in its youth but it still gets much better with age imo - The wines have great structure and the only show hints of the greatness that comes with age - a Tignanello 1982 tasted last year was simply amazing nothing less:-)

6

I have some 07 shipping soon (might have it shipped today actually), am I correct in assuming this would be a forward drinking vintage (with plenty of age potential I’m sure) with early drinking appeal?

7

Dale, in general terms 2007 is a ripe vintage which means earlier drinking potential. I am breaking into my 2007 tig soon, as i expect it will give pleasure early. It is certainly more forward than 06 and 04 vintage.

8

Yikes, I agree with all comments so far. [shock.gif]
Can only comment about Flaccianello and Tignanello. IMO, as a reference, better brunello seem to have longer aging curves. Unlike with brunello, I’ve liked 10 yr old flaccianello and Tignanello as much as older ones. For example, '97 Flaccianello has been fabulous for at least the last 5 years. And I would hold only the very best vintages to 20+ years.
Peter

9

I have been lucky enough to have been drinking various vintages of these wines since the early 80s. Only the Tig drinks well young…and even then only in riper years. But they all are so wonderful with 8- 10 years…and more with the Percarlo especially. Three of the best Sangiovese wines period!

Cheers, Bob

10

Wow, I am really surprised at some of the responses here.

I can only speak to Tignanello and Percarlo. I have had both a number of times when young (release or shortly after) and with moderate age (10-12 years or so past vintage). I have not had either with serious age (20+ years past vintage). My experience is that both are very tasty young and not at all appealing at the moderate-age phase. Both are made in barrique so this is not surprising. You get some sweet oak polish from the get-go that can really have a drying effect once the primary fruit starts to recede a few years later. With any luck there is a third gear after that, but I haven’t had any vintages of either old enough to know for sure. Based on what I’ve had, ~10 years would seem just about the least optimal time to be cracking them. And I don’t really get the Brunello comparison unless you’re comparing them to barriqued Brunello.

11

Not much experience with Tignanello and Flaccianello but I’ve tasted most vintages of Percarlo more than once IMHO the '88 and '90 is along with '94 and '98 drinking nicely right now Last year I was with friends having seven younger widely praised vintages and all was far to much fruit and oak From good vintages this needs a lot of time I think Having had Poggio Antico BdM 2008, Poggio di Sotto BdM 2006 and Querce Bettina BdM 2006 over the last week I find it hard to find similarities to BdM in Percarlo Percarlo always have this graphite note and when mature also elegance and classic Sangiovese notes but not the same style as most brunellos I drink, young or mature

I have a couple of 88 Flaccianello Mags in my cellar somewhere Last time I opened one four years ago it was still hard as nails Maybe time to test another bottle soon

Best regards

///Martin

12

Top Sangiovese behaves like top Cabernet Sauvignon grown on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. Depending on the vintage the wines peak at age 15-20. That is the stage of evolution I prefer for both types of wine. While it is fun to open a 2009 Flaccianello or a Pichon Lallande these wines are dominated by creamy oak and tons of fruit. One will find way more class, complexity, balance and elegance after 15 years IMO.

Flaccianello and Percarlo are the Sangioves equivalent of a First or Second Growth Bordeaux. They can last and evolve for 30 years in a good cellar. Tignanallo is almost as good. I think recent vintages of the wines are even better than the ones pre 2000.

BTW: I someone comes along a 1997 Percarlo take the chance. This is a really outstanding bottle of wine.

13

Thanks everyone for your input. I may have to change my buying and storage strategy. I do like the Sangio, and must look for some older examples.

Thanks again. Kent