✒ Siepi 30th Anniversary
A rare vertical tasting to celebrate Siepi’s 30th anniversary
The Siepi vineyard has been owned by the Mazzei family since 1435. It was listed among the properties of Madonna Smeralda Mazzei in an accounting document which is kept in the family archives at Castello di Fonterutoli. It is described as “a piece of land adjoining the house, with olive trees, vines and oaks.” Whilst it is part of the Fonterutoli estate, Siepi has always been managed as a single farm.
In 1985, Lapo Mazzei realised that the land would be perfect for Sangiovese and Merlot, and the first vintage of Siepi was born in 1992. To celebrate Siepi’s 30th anniversary of the first vintage, Giovanni Mazzei, the 25th generation and Lapo’s grandson, came to London to host a vertical tasting of ten vintages, a rare opportunity to see the evolution of the estate.
The vineyard is surrounded by dense woods, and faces south-southwest at 240-330 metres. The Sangiovese and Merlot vines are planted on Alberese limestone and Pliocene clay. The wines, Giovanni explained, are considered to lean more toward blue fruit than black or red, combining softness with power. Each plot is harvested individually, and there are between 14 to 20 vinifications during the vintage. In 2015, they introduced concrete vats, in a move to extract less. Regarding climate change, he notes happily that “the vineyard is evolving and adapting.”
Sarah Kemp.
Wine Notes:-
Siepi 2007
Highly perfumed nose, with hints of leather, rich powerful expression with bright blueberry fruit, very harmonious. Lovely savoury flavours with concentration, but arrow of delicious acidity driving through at a pace. Nice Sangiovese kick at finish. Very moreish. Long, with warmth and personality. 23,000 bottles produced with Merlot picked from August 30th and Sangiovese from September 22nd. 13.9%
Siepi 2010
Still tight, still feels very young, lots of wonderful plums and bramble fruit, tannins firm, coiled, dark chocolate, not very aromatic on nose. Structured and vibrant, but needs to be let out of its cage. Lots of energy brooding. Merlot was hand-picked from September 16th and Sangiovese from October 8th. A great vintage, but this wine still needs time to be at its peak. 14.4%
Siepi 2013
Hay on nose, Sangiovese dominating for now, powerful expression of mature ripe plums and blueberries, high acidity jumping through giving a great impression of vitality and freshness, a food wine, hazelnuts, almonds, fine tannins well integrated. Lovely expression of terroir. Long and elegant. Merlot picked from September 11th and Sangiovese from September 28th. Drinking beautifully now. 14.29%
Siepi 2015
Peony floral nose, hedonistic aromatics rising from the glass. Beautiful entrance of refined but powerful red and black fruit dancing on the palate, depth, waves upon waves of sheer pleasure, silky tannins holding everything in place. Generous and gracious, totally complete, everything in perfect balance. Never-ending length. The harmony reminds me of an Italian Lafite. Outstanding, and my wine of the tasting. Merlot picked from September 8th, Sangiovese from September 23rd. 14.37%
Siepi 2016
Quite aromatic floral nose, with hints of mint, powerful drive of complex black cherry fruit, still packed tightly, very spicy, lots of black pepper, steak juice, firm refined tannins, very serious Tuscan wine, which needs time. Elegance and power, like a Ferrari on the starting line, all there but still very contained. Merlot picked from September 10th and Sangiovese from 27th. 14.56%
Siepi 2018
Enticing mineral driven nose, Bright burst of explosive red fruit and blue plums, great energy, spice, cocoa, intense powerful drive, very structured but needs time to uncoil. Merlot picked from September 12th and Sangiovese from September 22nd. 14.53%
Siepi 2019
Lovely fresh nose, inviting, lots of intensity, dense layers of bramble fruit, plums and dried blackcurrants. Very young and needs time for the oak and the sheer mass of fruit to truly knit together. Merlot picked September 7th, Sangoivese from September 21st. 14.7%
Siepi 2020
Fresh uplifted aromatic nose, inviting, stunning entrance of beautiful fresh blue and red fruit, terroir dominating, sensational flow of kaleidoscope of flavours, mint, sage, depth, lyrical waves, still young but very vibrant and muscular, stunning length, very juicy, silky tannins, savoury, creamy texture. Terroir wine personified. Merlot picked from September 7th, Sangiovese from September 21st. 14.5%
Siepi 2021
Fresh blackberry nose, powerful and concentrated on the palate with black fruit intermingled with plums, dark chocolate, pepper, oak still present, needs time for the complex components to knit together. Merlot picked eptember 10th, Sangiovese from September 24th. 14.66%
Siepi 2022
Inviting aromatic nose, complex powerful attack of ripe red and black, depth and concentration, cloves, spice, full-throttled, powerful and extraordinary length. Finely grained tannins gripping the dense fruit. Definitely one to cellar, with much pleasure to come. Merlot picked from September 5th and Sangiovese from September 17th. 14.5%
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