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. Over 6 centuries ago Ser Lapo Mazzei was the first, in 1398, to compile a legal record , where “Chianti wine” was formally mentioned as a denomination. 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.
Vineyards location: Cornia: 250 – 330 m (820 – 1,080 ft) a.s.l. | Caggiolo: 290 – 350 m (950 – 1,150 ft) a.s.l.
Soil: Cornia: Clay and limestone | Caggiolo: Calcareous Alberese with clay texture
Vineyards age: 15 – 30 years
Training system: Spur cordon-training
Nr. of vines per hectare: 4.500 – 7.500 plants
Harvest: Hand picked from September 12th
Harvest: Hand picked from September 22nd
Fermentation temperature: 26 – 28° C
Period of maceration: 15 – 18 days
Ageing: 12 months in small french oak barrels
(225/500 lt – 50% new)
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
Fresh, tannic, with aroma of berries, strong structure, earthy and intense taste
Pasta with game sauce, stews, grilled red meats, mid-aged cheeses
Serve at 16°C.
Vinous 93 Points
Wine Advocate 93 Points
Sarah Heller MW 92 Points
Chianti Classico
90% Sangiovese
10% Merlot
Natural Cork
13.81%
5,27
Yes
