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.
Vineyard altitude: 50 – 310 metres above sea level. South south-west exposure
Vineyard age: 10 – 20 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training
No. of vines per hectare: 6,600 – 7,200
Harvest: Hand picked from September 28th (Fonterutoli),
September 13th (Belguardo)
Fermentation temperature: 25 – 27° C
Period of maceration: 13 days (Fonterutoli), 15 days (Belguardo)
Ageing: 18 months in french and american
oak barrels (225 lt / 30% new)
Bottling: June 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
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.
Game stews, aged and blue cheese, spicy food.
Serve at 16°C.
Vinous 92 Pts
Wine Advocate 94 Pts
James Suckling 96 Pts
IGT Toscana
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Natural Cork
13.90%
5.70%
Yes
