La Place de Bordeaux Autumn Offers: 2021 Siepi (98 pts, JS) £440 per six
Released onto the Bordeaux Place this morning, 2021 Siepi comes from one of the most historic family estates in Tuscany. The Mazzei family are closely linked with the history of Chianti itself, as their ancestor, Ser Lapo Mazzei, was the first person to use the term 'Chianti wine' in a legal document in 1398. Despite a mind-boggling six centuries as custodians of the Castello di Fonterutoli and producers of Chianti, the Mazzei's were innovative enough to introduce a 'Super Tuscan' Merlot-Sangiovese blend in the 1980s, labelled as a humble IGT and named after a single 6 hectare vineyard, with a unique terroir: 'Siepi'.
The Siepi vineyard is one of the oldest recorded vineyards in Italy, first mentioned in 1435! This remote site is south-south-west-facing, at 220–310 m. The terroir of 'Alberese' limestone marl and Pliocene-era clay lie over deep bedrock. Crucially, this bedrock stores underground moisture, allowing the deep-rooting vines to access it in hot, dry summers. The wine is aged in French oak for 18 months before further ageing in bottle.
The 2021 receives a glowing review from Jane Anson, who finds it approachable as well as impressive: "Immediately arresting, in that gorgeous Siepi way where the aromatics hug you and draw you straight into the glass." We think this will be at its best in around 5 years from now and it will cellar well for several decades after that.
Offered en primeur, available spring 2024.
| RED | 2021 | 5 cases | Fonterutoli - Siepi | 75cl | £440 per case of 6 | Fonterutoli Siepi 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £440 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Immediately arresting, in that gorgeous Siepi way where the aromatics hug you and draw you straight into the glass. Love the dark pepper spices, well balanced by tobacco, rose petals, raspberry and greengage plum, sweet spices and fresh orange-peel acidities. Beautiful vintage of this wine, totally moreish and great quality. 70% new oak in barrels of various sizes, 225l for the Merlot and larger oak casks for the Sangiovese. Plenty of room for ageing this. Mazzei family, 6ha estate. 96 points." Jane Anson------"The 2021 Siepi is impressive. Blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, menthol and mocha are nicely dialed up. This plush, succulent Sangiovese/Merlot blend is quite the charmer, as it so often is. The 2021 is exceptionally elegant and polished, certainly one of the best editions in recent memory. All that said, my view is that Siepi would benefit from longer aging in wood and or glass, as it is released too early for a wine of its stature and potential. 96+ points." Antonio Galloni------"An opulent yet tensioned young red with blackberries, violets and black olive skin character. Fullbodied. But has so much energy and focus. Goes on for minutes. A blend of merlot and sangiovese. Best after 2028. 98 points." James Suckling |
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