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.
Siepi is a 6 hectare vineyard located 260 metres above sea level with south, south-west exposure. The soil is mainly Alberese and the average vineyard age is 13 – 26 years. Spur cordon-training and Guyot training systems are used and 4,500-6,500 vines are planted per hectare.
Siepi’s exposure is unique. The vineyard is situated on a plateau that is well lit throughout the day and that is surrounded by an oak forest, creating a perfect micro-climate and a high diurnal range.
Harvest: Hand picked from September 5th (Merlot),
September 17th (Sangiovese)
Fermentation: 26 – 28° C, in stainless steeel tanks
Period of maceration: 14 days (Merlot), 18 days (Sangiovese)
Ageing: 18 months in french oak barrels (70% new):
Barriques (Merlot), Tonneaux (Sangiovese)
Finissage: 3 months in concrete tanks
Bottling: June 2024
The 2022 harvest year was characterised by a mild winter, but with scarce rainfall. Springtime temperatures where initially within the average for the period, and then gradually rose; this increase allowed for the homogenous and constant vegetative growth of the plants. The budding stage on Sangiovese vines began around the 10th April, and was found to shift based on the different pedoclimatic characteristics of our vineyards. The high temperatures and low rainfall accompanied the formation and subsequent flowering of the inflorescences, which took place on the 16th May, up to fruit-setting of the clusters.
The summer was also particularly dry, giving the grapes unique characteristics: the exposure of the clusters to high temperatures from the very first stages of their growth thickened the skins, ensuring the grapes held up well during the ripening stage.
In terms of plant-protection, the paucity of rainfall, combined with the high temperatures and humidity levels within normal values, allowed using a targeted approach against the principal grape plant diseases and pests.
Overall, the harvest was more than satisfactory in terms of health of the grapes, with a reduction of the volume produced, due to the scarce rainfall, that affected the weight of the grape clusters.
Beginning of the harvest: September 1st, 2022
End of the harvest: October 6th, 2022
Rainfalls (sum of rainfall between April 1st and September 30th): 440-621 mm
Temperature Index (sum of average daily temperatures from April 1st to September 30th): 5.455,39 °C
Evaluation: Good
Crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish.
Flavorful, textured dishes, dark sauces, game, blue cheeses
James Suckling 97 Pts
12 Aug, 2024 – The aromas of dark berries, violets and perfume are enchanting. The palate is medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are polished and so elegant and they run the length of the wine. They are rather endless. Very classy and balanced. A merlot and sangiovese blend. Give this a year or two, but it’s already a joy to drink. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate 96 Pts
The Mazzei 2022 Siepi marks this wine’s 30th anniversary. I have a special connection to this wine, as I was present when some of the final blending options (with fruit from various parcels within the greater Siepi vineyard) were being decided. My personal preference was for the interpretation that showed the brightest fruit and the most energy. Those qualities are transferred over to this bottle, and I do agree that this celebratory vintage offers an excellent opportunity to tweak the winemaking of this historic blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. This warm vintage offers plenty of primary fruit with bold cherry as the protagonist. Softer tones of blue flower and grilled rosemary appear at the back. However, the oak spice and cinnamon need time to integrate. The results put the 2022 vintage on par with classic years such as 2021 and 2019.
The Mazzei family has solidified its portfolio of Chianti Classico Gran Selezione wines, now offering a bottle from three villages: Radda, Castelnuovo, Berardenga and Castellina. The classic 2021 vintage is a perfect opportunity to debut this exciting trio. – Reviewed by: Monica Larner
Jane Anson 97 Pts
Decanter 95 Pts
IGT Toscana
50% Sangiovese
50% Merlot
Natural Cork
14.50%
6.00%
Yes
