Mazzei Siepi 2022

The aromas of dark berries, violets and perfume are enchanting. The palate is medium-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are polished and so elegant and they run the length of the wine. They are rather endless. Very classy and balanced. A merlot and sangiovese blend. Give this a year or two, but it’s already a joy to drink. Drink or hold.

Deep purplish crimson. Luscious wine than tastes like a cross between a ripe-vintage Chianti Classico with quite a bite on the end and luscious Napa red. Very serious wine that should appeal to those who appreciate Sangiovese's special qualities. We're about to enjoy it with spiced duck breast and I will probably decant it as there is still quite a heavy tannic charge. Added later The leftovers in an opened bottle tasted even better three days later, which bodes extremely well for the evolution of this wine.

The Mazzei 2022 Siepi marks this wine's 30th anniversary. I have a special connection to this wine, as I was present when some of the final blending options (with fruit from various parcels within the greater Siepi vineyard) were being decided. My personal preference was for the interpretation that showed the brightest fruit and the most energy. Those qualities are transferred over to this bottle, and I do agree that this celebratory vintage offers an excellent opportunity to tweak the winemaking of this historic blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. This warm vintage offers plenty of primary fruit with bold cherry as the protagonist. Softer tones of blue flower and grilled rosemary appear at the back. However, the oak spice and cinnamon need time to integrate. The results put the 2022 vintage on par with classic years such as 2021 and 2019.

Deep ruby in colour, this is concentrated compared to many in Tuscany, love the super savoury feel, tongue-scraping architecture, with so much freshly cut herb edging and heavy liqourice root and gunsmoke alongside raspberry and cassis fruit. Brilliant, up there with the very best of the Bordeaux-Tuscan wines, where the grapes and the region truly each play their part in creating the personality of the wine. The vineyards for Siepi are in Castellina in Chianti, harvest September 5 to 17, 70% new oak for ageing, large oak casks for the Sangiovese, then three months in concrete tanks before release. Tasted with the September Releases and again at the estate.

Macerated cherry, blackberry and black currant fruit is shaded by mint, iron and spicy oak in this dense, linear red. Quickly takes on the character of its chewy tannins, yet the ripe fruit lingers. Though balanced and long, this needs time for its elements to come together. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2028 through 2042. 2,830 cases made, 280 cases imported.