Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva

Description

Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva is named in homage to the Mazzei famiy’s notable ancestor, Ser Lapo, who was the author of the first official document to mention “Chianti Wine” dated December 16th 1398. The grapes for this wine are sourced from the Chianti Classico region, considered by many to be the heart and birthplace of Tuscan winemaking

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 estate comprises some 650 hectares, 117 hectares under vine and is located in five principal production areas: Fonterutoli, Siepi, Badiola, Belvedere and Caggio. The vineyards are planted with mainly Sangiovese grapes with some Merlot, Colorino, Malvasia Nera and Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils are comprised of ‘Galestro’, a classic Tuscan shale, which has excellent drainage and encourages the vines to put down deep roots and ‘Alberese’, a compact, fine grained limestone marl. Yields are kept low at less than 40 hectolitres per hectare to produce high quality, complex, elegant and structured wines.

Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva is made from grapes sourced from vineyards with an age between 10 and 30 years old located at between 250 350 metres above sea level. The grapes are hand harvested and undergo a period of maceration of 15 to 18 days. Post vinification the wine is then matured for 12 months in small, 225L French oak barrels, 50% of which are new.

The wine is blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot.