Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Mix 36

Description

Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Mix 36 is a red wine made from 36 different clones of Sangiovese by Mazzei at their Castello di Fonterutoli estate. It is an experimental wine produced as a result of the family’s research into the different clones of Sangiovese and the local terroir. Mazzei call this their “Sangiovese Avantgarde”.

The Mazzei family has owned the Castello di Fonterutoli estate since 1435 and it is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico wine-growing region some a couple of miles to the south of the commune of Castellina in Chianti in Tuscany. The history of the Mazzei family is intrinsically linked to the history of winemaking in Tuscany and there are mentions of the family as far back as the 11th Century. A new state of the art winery, designed by family member and architect, Agnesi Mazzei, was completed in 2006. The winery is gravity fed, the grapes, juice and wine move throughout the winery under their weight and a big emphasis is placed on sustainability and minimal environmental impact.

Today the Today the estate comprises some 650 hectares, 117 hectares under vine. The grapes for Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Mix 36 come from a single experimental vineyard which was planted in the late 1990s. It is located at Vico Regio, 320 metres above sea level with a south west exposure with Alberese and Limestone soils. The vineyard is planted with 36 different clones of Sangiovese, including 18 massal selections from the estate’s old vineyards which are exclusive to Fonterutoli itself. The grapes are handpicked and undergo a 14 day period of maceration. After vinification the wine is aged for 22 months in 500 litre French oak barrels.