Winemaker Notes
Monumentally built, crispy notes of elder, plum, berries, sandalwood, tobacco, with a very long, bright finish.
Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 50% Merlot
Pair with flavorful, textured dishes, dark sauces, game and blue cheeses.
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
This is a wonderful follow-up to the superb 2012. Aromas are so intriguing with raspberry, blackberry and light toasted fruits. Some black tea. Full body, and very compacted. Toned and muscular tannins. Racy finish with bright acidity. Fascinating to taste (drink) now but this will be even better in 2019 and onwards.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The strongest suit of this wine is its deep sense of integration and harmony. The Mazzei 2013 Siepi comes from a vintage that was not without its farming challenges, but that ultimately brought quality fruit into the winery. Yields were also up, and this vintage saw 30,000 bottles produced (or more than double the previous year). Another fun fact is that this vintage saw a short harvest window, with Merlot off the vines on September 11th followed by the Sangiovese just 17 days later. There is usually a longer gap between the two varieties. Siepi starts with soft fruit and delicate spice, and it shows an ever-fluid personality in the glass, slowly bringing to the nose a nice succession of background aromas, ranging from cassis to wild rose. Best After 2022
-
Wine Spectator
Despite starting out dark and brooding, this is vibrant and light-footed. Black cherry, plum, oak spice and tar flavors are backed by stiff tannins. Turns toward the leathery side with air. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2018 through 2025. 2,500 cases made.
Established in 1435, the Mazzei family is one of Tuscany’s oldest wine dynasties and they have been cultivating vineyards and crafting fine wine for over 600 years in Fonterutoli in the heart of Chianti Classico. Leading the portfolio today are the Marchesi Mazzei, brothers Francesco and Filippo, as well as Filippo’s son Giovanni, the 25th generation. Notable ancestors include Ser Lapo Mazzei, author of the first known document (1398) using Chianti to reference the wine and region and Philip, an Italian turned American patriot whose friendship and correspondence with Thomas Jefferson inspired the idea that “all men are by nature equally free and independent,” which influenced the Declaration of Independence.
While the family has always honored their legacy, producing acclaimed wines of extraordinary aromatic richness, balance and complexity, they are also leaders in viticulture and vinification. The winery’s vineyards cover 110 hectares across 7 sub-zones of Chianti Classico featuring different soils, altitudes (720-1870 feet) and micro-climates. All their vineyards are farmed with customized organic practices that focus on soil health, preservation of biodiversity, reduction of copper use, and absorbing 5x more CO2 than is expressed out; a true commitment to reducing environmental impact and fostering sustainability. From their state-of-the-art low-impact, gravity fed cellar to their massal selections and clonal research, the current generation pursues innovation that elevates their wines and protects their ecosystem. This balance of preservation and evolution is also found in the family’s estates in Maremma (Belguardo) and Sicily (Zisola).
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.