Fonterutoli is located 5 km south of Castellina in Chianti (Siena), on the hills facing the Val d’Elsa, in the heart of the Chianti Classico. 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 comprises 117 hectares of vineyard, largely planted with Sangiovese with some Merlot, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Cabernet Sauvignon vines also planted. The cellar at Fonterutoli, designed by architect, Agnesi Mazzei, is one of the most impressive in the region, and has a minimal impact on the environment.
The quintessence of our research on Sangiovese at Castello di Fonterutoli resides in an experimental vineyard, planted in ideal pedoclimatic conditions for Sangiovese: 36 different biotypes of Sangiovese, including 18 massal selections coming from our old vineyards. A cutting edge agronomical project creates a pure-bred Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.
Vineyards location: Castelnuovo Berardenga, “Vicoregio” 330-350 m (1,080-1,150 ft) a.s.l.; S/E, S, S/W exp.
Soil: “Alberese” Limestone and clay, very rich in texture
Vineyards age: 15 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training and Guyot
Nr. of vines per hectare: 5,800 – 6,660 plants
Harvest: Hand picked starting from September 28th
Harvest: Hand picked October the 10th
Vinification: In french oak barrels (500 lt)
Fermentation temperature: 26 – 28° C
Period of maceration: 24 days
Malolactic and refining: 18 months in french oak barrels
(500 lt, 50% new)
Finissage: 4 months in concrete tanks
Bottling: December 2023
The year 2021 was distinguished by a cold winter with little precipitation. An (initially) cool spring with adequate rainfall was followed by a long, hot summer but with good diurnal temperature variations that allowed excellent completion of the grape ripening process.
Worthy of note, an initial delayed development of the vines that resolved itself as the season progressed.
The harvest was extremely rewarding, in terms of performance and excellent quality and health of the grapes going to cellar; these grapes will yield rich, well-structured wines thanks to their thick, but well-balanced, fresh skins.
There was a slight decrease in quantity, due to the insufficient rain during the winter which hindered budding in the early-maturing areas.
Beginning of the harvest: September 9th, 2021
End of the harvest: October 13th, 2021
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 503,1 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 4.511,3 °C
Evaluation: Very good
Quite restrained and intriguing, with very sweet cherries and strawberries notes, white pepper and dried flowers. Bright and tangy on the palate, pretty juicy, showing elegance and a firm yet velvety tannic structure.
Spiced roast meats, stewed game, aged cheeses, mushrooms and truffles.
Ageing potential: Over 20 years
James Suckling 97 Pts
Vinous 94 Pts
Wine Advocate 94 Pts
Sarah Heller MW 94 Pts
Falstaff 95 Pts
Wine Spectator 94 Pts
Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG
100% Sangiovese from 36 biotypes
Natural Cork
14.50%
6.20%
Yes
