Mazzei Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2021

95 POINTS: Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
95 POINTS: James Suckling
95 POINTS: Vinous Media
94 POINTS: Heiner Lobenberg

The vineyard is planted with 14 different Sangiovese clones in the Vigneto di Sant Antonio in Castellina. The soil here consists mainly of limestone and sandstone. Matured for 18 months in 500-liter French tonneaux, half of which were new, followed by four months in concrete tanks. This wine has been made in the Gran Selezione style since 1995, although the classification only became official in 2014.

"Made with vines closest to the winery headquarters in the village of Castellina (spanning six clones and eight massal selections of Sangiovese), the Mazzei 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castellina Castello Fonterutoli stands somewhere between the broad, warm appeal of Castelnuovo Berardenga and the more acidic wines from Radda. This happy middle ground is characterized by mid-weight texture and very bright cherry aromas that are especially easy to identify. There is a hint of crushed stone that frames the generous fruit in this 47,000-bottle release. The wine undergoes 18 months in oak with an additional four months in cement to integrate."
- Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

"Really beautiful aromas of violets, berries, sandalwood and cherries. It’s medium-bodied with round and polished tannins that run the length of the wine and show lovely finesse and focus. Juicy at the end. Needs two or three years to open and show what it has. Drink after 2026."
- James SucklinG