Fonterutoli Siepi 2018

The owners of Fonterutoli are the Mazzei marquises, who also own the Zisola estate in Sicily and the Tenuta Belguardo in Tuscany. They have played an important role in the Tuscan wine history: thanks to the Mazzei family, the name Chianti appeared in 1398. Today, the Mazzei family owns 470 hectares of vineyards, 69 hectares of which are occupied by the Fonterutoli estate vineyards, located in four separate areas: Belvedere, Fonterutoli, Badia, and Siepi. One of the factors determining the high concentration and complex aroma of Fonterutoli wines is the support of low yield vines: no more than 40 hectoliters of grapes are obtained from 1 hectare. The characteristic features of the berries grown in different territories also influence the formation of the wine's taste. Berries harvested from low-lying areas in Siepi and Belvedere form a powerful structure, while clones from the higher areas of Fonterutoli and Badia impart richness and elegance to the wine. Harvesting is given special attention: grapes from different plots are harvested only by hand at different times when the berries reach optimal ripeness. The winemaking process is conducted under the supervision of the legendary agronomist-oenologist Carlo Ferrini, awarded the title of Winemaker of the Year by Gambero Rosso in 2000.