Castello di Fonterutoli

The History
The history of the Mazzei family is closely linked not just to the history of winemaking in Tuscany, but to the political and cultural history of the entire region. The first documents that name the Mazzei family – originally from the winemaking area of Carmignano – date back to the early eleventh century.

Today, after almost six centuries, the family, under the guidance of Lapo, who oversees the property with the help of his sons, Filippo and Francesco, and Filippo’s son, Giovanni still devotes itself to winemaking, with an ongoing commitment to innovation and improvement while respecting tradition, family values and the natural environment.

The Estate
Located 5 km south of Castellina in Chianti in the heart of the Chianti Classico, Castello di Fonterutoli has been owned by the Mazzei family since 1435. It still retains its original form, that of a tranquil country village: a cluster of houses, the church of San Miniato and the villa, built at the end of the 1500s where the medieval castle once stood.

Today, the estate boasts a total surface area of 650 hectares, of which 117 are devoted to specialized vineyards, divided between five areas: Fonterutoli, Siepi, Badiola, Belvedere and Caggio, located at between 230-500m above sea level with a south – southwest exposure, ideal for the perfect maturation of the grapes. The vineyards are largely planted with Sangiovese (36 carefully selected clones that are best suited to the four areas of production: Fonterutoli and Badiola, the higher areas, with clones giving aromas and elegance and the lower areas, Siepi and Belvedere, with clones that provide structure, intensity and longevity).

The soils are ‘Galestro’, a classic Tuscan shale, which has excellent drainage and encourages the vines to put down deep roots and ‘Alberese’, a compact, fine grained limestone marl. Yields are lower than 40 hectolitres per hectare from vineyards planted with over 7,000 vines per hectare, guaranteeing a high quality and a distinctive character, resulting in complex, elegant and structured wines.

In the vineyards, all processes are carried out by hand including harvest, which takes place at different times according to when the grapes reach optimum ripeness.

The Cellar
The cellar at Fonterutoli designed by family member and architect, Agnesi Mazzei, who also designed the Sassicaia barrel cellar, has been defined by Steven Spurrier as “the most impressive in the Chianti region”. Operational since 2006, the cellar has a minimal impact on the environmental, using gravity from the point of arrival of the grapes, a natural spring to control the temperature and humidity of the barrel cellar, and it produces its own clean energy by using the agricultural waste products as fuel.

The character of the wines of the Castello di Fonterutoli has been perfected over the years thanks to continual innovation, in harmony with the winery’s culture, history and heritage of technical expertise.

All the wines are vegetarian and vegan friendly.

Sustainability

The Mazzei family are commited to enhancing the sustainaility of their production across their winemaking process and they have achieved a postive carbon footprint. Fonterutoli has a positive carbon footprint: the village Fonterutoli (woods, vineyards, plantations, olive groves, and forage crops) has a carbon footprint (emission of greenhouse gases) of 731 t while absorbing CO2eq of 3741 t, resulting in an absorption 5 times greater than the emission and a positive balance of more than 3,000 t of CO2

i) Natural treatments in the vineyards ensuring stability of the ecosystem and its biodiversity
ii) Elimination of weeding and chemical topdressing
iii) Recycling of production waste (shoots, grape stalks, marc, olive pomace, and horse manure) to make compost used as a 100% organic fertilizer
iv) Exclusive use of green manure to naturally increase organic content in the soil. Plant extracts used: field beans, common vetch, sainfoin, clovers, oat, barley, blue tansy, mustard, pasture hawksbeard, lupin beans, pea, horseradish
v) Biological pest control with specific insects fighting the vine moth
vi) Their cellar’s humidity is naturally controlled by their undreground water streams flowing through the naked rock walls

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Poggio Badiola 2020 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Poggio Badiola 2020

IGT Toscana

70% Sangiovese
30% Merlot

Tasting note

Elegant, fresh red berry flavors, velvety, aromatic and supple.

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Chianti Classico 2020 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Chianti Classico 2020

Chianti Classico DOCG

90% Sangiovese
5% Malvasia Nera, 5% Colorino

Tasting note

A well proportioned wine with an elegant body.  Notes of dark berry, fresh spice flavours, with an intense and smooth finish.

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'Ser Lapo' Chianti Classico Riserva 2018 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Ser Lapo' Chianti Classico Riserva 2018

Chianti Classico

90% Sangiovese
10% Merlot

Tasting note

Fresh, tannic, with aroma of berries, strong structure, earthy and intense taste

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Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

100% Sangiovese

Tasting note

A remarkable combination of concentration and elegance, this wine displays ripe red berry fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant, mocha, morello cherry and a touch of liquorice alongside a muscular structure, fine tannins, balanced with pleasant acidity and a very long finish.

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Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

100% Sangiovese (3 clones)


Tasting note

Great elegance and freshness, wild berries and red fruit notes

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Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Badiola Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

100% Sangiovese (3 clones)


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Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

100% Sangiovese from 36 biotypes


Tasting note

Intensity, colour deepness, strong and bright bouquet.

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Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG

100% Sangiovese from 36 biotypes


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Concerto 2018 — Castello di Fonterutoli

Concerto 2018

Toscana IGT

80% Sangiovese
20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting note

Rich and juicy, notes of underbrush and black berries, powerful with a long finish.

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'Siepi' 2019 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Siepi' 2019

IGT Toscana

50% Sangiovese
50% Merlot

Tasting note

Monumentally built, crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish.

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'Siepi' 2021 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Siepi' 2021

IGT Toscana

50% Sangiovese
50% Merlot

Tasting note

Crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish.

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'Siepi' 2020 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Siepi' 2020

IGT Toscana

50% Sangiovese
50% Merlot

Tasting note

Crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish.

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'Siepi' 2018 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Siepi' 2018

IGT Toscana

50% Sangiovese
50% Merlot

Tasting note

Monumentally built, crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish

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'Philip' 2019 — Castello di Fonterutoli

'Philip' 2019

IGT Toscana

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting note

Dedicated to Philip Mazzei (1730-1816), an illustrious ancestor of the family, a passionate grape grower, political thinker, and “worldly citizen”. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from each of the Mazzei’s estates, Philip is the quintessence of Tuscany. It embodies the “New World” spirit of Tuscan winemaking, the “revolutionary” character of Philip Mazzei, and expresses the family’s desire to pursue happiness. A wine of great structure and elegance, with a great concentration of fruit and freshness at the same time.

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Siepi 2020 Release on 14th September

Siepi 2020 Release on 14th September

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The 2020 LRIWWA winners are announced

The 2020 LRIWWA winners are announced

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Join us at the Sangiovese Reset Tasting!

Join us at the Sangiovese Reset Tasting!

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Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

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Giovanni Mazzei introduces Siepi’s 25th Anniversary

Giovanni Mazzei introduces Siepi’s 25th Anniversary

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The Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards 2019 Winners Announced!

The Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Awards 2019 Winners Announced!

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