2015 Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi Toscana 750 ml

Mazzei’s 2015 Castello di Fonterutoli Siepi Toscana is an unforgettable wine. A stunner hailing from one of Tuscany’s greatest vintages and sporting 98 points from James Suckling, it’s at the very top of our list of must-try Italian wines. 

Consider this: Suckling’s 98-point score for the 2015 Siepi—which he calls "a triumph”—puts this gorgeous Merlot-Sangiovese blend within a point of Ornellaia’s Masseto, whose price surges north of $1000. Gushed over by The Wine Advocate for its "all-Tuscan soul,” we think this stands as one of the greatest high-end buys coming out of Italy today.

The 2015 Siepi leverages six centuries of innovation and wisdom to fashion a modern masterpiece of Italian craft. If there ever was a family synonymous with Italy's most important wine region, the Mazzeis are it. They’re credited with the first historic reference to Chianti wine and have been farming and vinifying grapes at the Castello di Fonterutoli estate since 1435. 

This Merlot-Sangiovese blend is sourced from a single hilltop vineyard in the southernmost reaches of the Chianti Classico region. While the vines of the Siepi farm cover a large area, two small parcels lend this wine its energy and weight. The lush-fruit profile of the Merlot marries perfectly with the brighter, livelier Sangiovese, which provides acidity and backbone. The wine is aged in 70% new French oak barrels, which firms up its tannic structure and deepens its spicy, sensual appeal. 

This wine is a monument to the modern Super Tuscan style. It's ready to grace your table right now, but if temptation doesn't overwhelm you, this wine will deepen, with even more savory aromas and flavors emerging over the next decade-plus.