Mazzei Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione

Description

Mazzei Vicoregio 36 is a red wine bottled as a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. It is produced from 36 different clones of Sangiovese by Mazzei at their Castello di Fonterutoli estate. This wine began its life as an experimental wine called Mazzei Mix 36 which was 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 just 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 own weight and a large emphasis is placed on sustainability and minimal environmental impact. Today the estate comprises some 650 hectares with 117 hectares under vine and Mazzei also have projecst in Sicily (Zisola), Veneto and Maremma. 

The grapes for the Mazzei Vicoregio 36 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione all come from a single experimental vineyard which was planted in the late 1990s. It is located at Castelnuovo Berardenga, “Vicoregio”, 320 metres above sea level with a south-west exposure on Alberese and Limestone soils. This vineyard is located on a plateau with good sun exposure by day but with a wide diurnal temperature range.  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 20 day period of maceration. After vinification the wine is aged for 18 months in 500 litre French oak barrels, 50% new. Finshed for 4 months in concrete vats.

What is Chianti Classico Gran Selezione?

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a classification that was first introduced in 2014 and is a category which sits above Chianti Classico Riserva. It represents the very pinnacle of an estate’s Chiantio Classico production. The wines must be at least 90% Sangiovese (the rest can be indigenous grapes). The grapes must be sourced from estate-owned vineyards only, must be estate-bottled and should be from a single vineyard or from a very careful selection. Finally, the wine must be aged for a minimum of 30 months (with a minimum of 3 months in bottle prior to release).

Gran Selezione represents the very best expression of Chianti Classico and terroir.