In the glass
Aroma: black plum, elderberry, sandalwood, tobacco
Palate: dark cherry, blackberry, cedar, sweet spice
A 50/50 Sangiovese-Merlot Super Tuscan from the historic Siepi vineyard at 850 feet. Black plum, sandalwood and tobacco over a firm cedar-and-cherry core.
What it pairs with
-
Braised beef cheeks with red wine
Long-cooked beef cheek finds a peer in the wine's volume and sweet cedar. -
Wild venison with juniper
Game fat meets the Bordeaux side; juniper mirrors the Mediterranean lift. -
Hard aged cheese plate with mostarda
Mixed pecorino and Parmigiano salinity sharpens the wine's dark-fruit core.
History
Siepi was first bottled in 1992 from the historic single vineyard at Fonterutoli that the Mazzei family has owned since 1435. Gambero Rosso later listed it as one of the 50 wines that changed Italian wine style.
- 1992 — First Siepi vintage
- 2015 — Gambero Rosso lists Siepi as one of the 50 wines that changed Italian wine
Facts
- Producer
- Marchesi Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli
- Grapes
- Sangiovese (50%), Merlot (50%)
- Classification
- Toscana IGT
- Oak
- 18 months in small French oak with 70 percent new (Sangiovese in tonneaux, Merlot in barriques); three months in concrete tank before bottling
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 100 to 150 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 25 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1992
Scores
- Wine Advocate 97 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- James Suckling 98 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)