Deep and full-bodied, but still full of fresh, lifted tones, this is one of the great Super-Tuscans. It comes from a bit of land named Siepi, surrounded by forests below the hilltop town of Castellina. The Mazzei family has owned their extensive estate that includes this since 1435, so winemaking is thoroughly in their blood. France's Merlot works so well here in the hills of Chianti, they created a new style of wine combining it with native star Sangiovese.
Since the 1992 vintage, Siepi has impressed with its marriage of Sangiovese's savoriness and vibrant aromas with Merlot's dark-toned flavors and soft, full mouthfeel. Stony, floral-tinged fruit is infused with woodsy, roasted and baking spice accents from aging in smaller French oak barrels, making Siepi a complex and delicious luxury wine. What really puts this at the top is the brilliant interplay of depth and energy that the exceptional 2016 vintage imbued this with. We've stored this in our climate-controlled cellar for several years so that you can enjoy this in a deliciously evolved state, but you can hold it longer! Practices organic farming.
JAMES SUCKLING 98 POINTS - "What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece."
WINE ADVOCATE 96 POINTS - "This was an iconic vintage, and the superiority of the 2016 growing season, with lots of sunshine and cool summer nights, shows. A blend of equal parts Merlot and Sangiovese, the Mazzei 2016 Siepi is profound, vibrant, nuanced and lifted. The Merlot plays an important role in grounding the wine, adding both texture and volume. However, the Sangiovese is almost more important in my opinion, especially in this sample. The bouquet is fresh and lively with plenty of wild cherry, rose, crushed stone, lilac and lavender. One of the big changes made in 2016 is the introduction of a four-month finishing period in concrete tanks. This wine is showing beautifully now, but it has many more years to give. Production was 35,000 bottles." - Monica Larner
Since the 1992 vintage, Siepi has impressed with its marriage of Sangiovese's savoriness and vibrant aromas with Merlot's dark-toned flavors and soft, full mouthfeel. Stony, floral-tinged fruit is infused with woodsy, roasted and baking spice accents from aging in smaller French oak barrels, making Siepi a complex and delicious luxury wine. What really puts this at the top is the brilliant interplay of depth and energy that the exceptional 2016 vintage imbued this with. We've stored this in our climate-controlled cellar for several years so that you can enjoy this in a deliciously evolved state, but you can hold it longer! Practices organic farming.
JAMES SUCKLING 98 POINTS - "What a beautiful nose of elderberries, freshly picked blackcurrants, citrus, herbs, licorice and crushed stones, amidst a backdrop of coffee beans, cedar and vanilla. Full-bodied and very subtle and refined with tightly wound tannins and an impressive balance of fruit and acidity. Long, grainy and elegant on the finish. A masterpiece."
WINE ADVOCATE 96 POINTS - "This was an iconic vintage, and the superiority of the 2016 growing season, with lots of sunshine and cool summer nights, shows. A blend of equal parts Merlot and Sangiovese, the Mazzei 2016 Siepi is profound, vibrant, nuanced and lifted. The Merlot plays an important role in grounding the wine, adding both texture and volume. However, the Sangiovese is almost more important in my opinion, especially in this sample. The bouquet is fresh and lively with plenty of wild cherry, rose, crushed stone, lilac and lavender. One of the big changes made in 2016 is the introduction of a four-month finishing period in concrete tanks. This wine is showing beautifully now, but it has many more years to give. Production was 35,000 bottles." - Monica Larner
