“Siepi” Rosso Toscana IGT 2024

Castello di Fonterutoli | Tuscany
Marchesi Mazzei S.p.A. Agr. | V. Ottone III di Sassonia 5 | IT 53011 Castellina

09352324 · 0,75 l · 118,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shippingavailable immediately

A plot of land next to the house, with olive trees, vines and oak trees: this is how a document from the family archive describes the Siepi vineyard, and the estate counts it amongst the oldest documented vineyards in Italy. The land has belonged to the Mazzei family since 1435. Sangiovese from here provided cuttings for other winegrowers, and the mass selection that defines Fonterutoli's heritage began in this vineyard. In the early 1980s, the family then planted Merlot here – according to the estate, one of the first in Chianti Classico to do so – and the soil had the final say. The first vintage followed in 1992.

Siepi is a plateau, bathed in sunlight all day long and surrounded by oak woodland, which results in significant temperature differences between day and night. The vineyard lies at an altitude of 240 to 260 metres; the Sangiovese is planted on a south-facing slope with a 12% gradient, whilst the Merlot faces south-west with a 5% gradient. The soil consists of calcareous marl shale, mixed with heavily weathered clays, along with Alberese. Both varieties are harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel; the Merlot remains on the skins for 14 days, the Sangiovese for 18. They are then aged for 18 months in small French oak barrels, 70% of which are new – the Merlot in barriques and the Sangiovese in tonneaux – before the wine is left to rest in concrete tanks. The final blend consists of equal parts of both varieties.

Elderberry, plum and dark berries, accompanied by sandalwood and tobacco. Powerful in structure, with a very long, bright finish: the Sangiovese maintains the wine's firm character, whilst the Merlot lends body, softness and colour. A plot of land next to the house has become a landmark, and the estate has been cultivating it for more than twenty years. SUPERIORE.DE