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 – 15 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training
No. of vines per hectare: 6,600
Harvest: Hand picked from September 15th (Belguardo), September 23rd (Fonterutoli)
Fermentation temperature: 25 – 27 °C
Period of maceration: 13 Fonterutoli / 15 Belguardo days
Ageing: 18 months in french and american oak barrels (225 lt / 30% new)
Bottling: April 2018
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. It is intense and rich, distinctly Mazzei and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Game stews, aged and blue cheese, rich dishes with some spice.
James Suckling: 94 POINTS
September 11, 2018
“A dark-fruited red that shows mulberries, blackberries, creme de cassis, vanilla and dark chocolate with a touch of fresh herbs and cedar. Full body, round yet structured tannins and a chewy finish. Drink in 2020.”
Vinous Media: 92 POINTS
February 1, 2019
“The 2015 Philip , 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, is powerful and rich in the glass, with copious blackberry jam, chocolate, spice and chocolate notes. Deep, fleshy and bold, the Philip has a lot to offer. Today, though, it comes across as a bit heavy and marked by the heat of the year. It will be interesting to see of time helps the wine come together a bit more fully.”
The Wine Advocate: 91 POINTS
31 October 2018
“This wine sports one of my all-time favorite front labels. The 2015 Philip reflects the bold, contemporary and colorful themes that are reflected in the painted portrait of Philip Mazzei (1730-1816) depicted on the label. The wine shows a beautiful appearance with brilliant ruby and dark garnet tones. The bouquet is packed tight with black fruit, blackberry, spice, tobacco and leather. This warm vintage delivers broader and slightly flatter fruit compared to the cooler vintages. The fruit here is loosely knit, dark and ripe, and I would suggest a shorter drinking window as a result. This vintage lacks the depth and dimension of the previous 2013 edition.”
IGT Toscana
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Natural Cork
14.17%
5.94 g/l
Yes
Yes