Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vicoregio 36 2020

Castello di Fonterutoli

Castelnuovo Berardenga benefits from a good sun exposure. This is a true experimental vineyard where the 36 biotypes of Sangiovese are planted located at 350m high on a plateau that benefit from a wide diurnal temperature range combined with a mix of chalk, clay and limestone soils.

Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new). Extremely elegant, fresh with red berry aromas, extraordinarily complex and persistent with good tannic structure. A pure-bred Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. Food pairing: Spiced roast meats, stewed game, aged cheeses, mushrooms and truffles. Read more with our blog.

We expect the wines to land in October 2023.

Delivery
Items are expected to be delivered within 4 weeks
Producer
Castello di Fonterutoli
Region
Italy, Chianti Classico, Tuscany
Variety
Sangiovese
Reviews

James Suckling 94 Points, Wine Spectator 95 Points, Robert Parker 95 Points, Decanter 90 Points

Bottle Format: 75cl

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Case of 6
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£342
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£268.98
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Ratings

94 Points James Suckling

Very attractive combination of cherries and lightly toasted oak. Hints of cappuccino. Turns to flowers. Full-bodied with creamy tannins and bright fruits. Polished tannins with just a hint of vanilla at the end. Needs time to come together. Try after 2026.

95 Points Wine Spectator

A racy version, this red is defined by its vivid acidity, which focuses the cherry, raspberry and iron flavors. Suggestions of wild herbs, oak spice and tobacco add detail as this builds to the long, complex finish, showing superb balance and energy. Best from 2025 through 2040.

95 Points Robert Parker

Made with fruit from an experimental vineyard planted to 36 biotypes of Sangiovese, the Mazzei 2020 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Fonterutoli Vicoregio 36 stands apart, thanks to its very linear and focused style. This site is especially rocky with clay-limestone alberese soils. There is ripe fruit from a hot vintage and ample oak spice over a full-bodied finish. Ultimately, pretty mineral notes give lift and elegance to the bouquet. Some 13,900 bottles were made.

90 Points Decanter

In the UGA of Vagliagli, Vicoregio 36 began as an experimental site for 36 diverse biotypes of Sangiovese. It's the lowest of Mazzei’s three Gran Selezione, at 350 metres, and is also the densest and most vigorously tannic of the trio. Like the Castello di Fonterutoli bottling, this matures in French oak tonneaux, of which 50% is new, yet it wears its wood more overtly on its sleeve. Macerated cherry and black currants are saturated with vanilla, cinnamon and smoke. Wood gives an angular frame to enthusiastically extracted tannins, though these are filled out with lush, spicy fruit.

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Italy
Chianti Classico

Chianti Classico

This small wine-region produces perhaps some of the best-known and appreciated wines from Tuscany. Wine has been produced in this area for over 2000 years, since Etruscan time. This Tuscan region was named Chianti and recognized as a wine-region since 13th century. In 1716 Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, officially delimited the Chianti production zone: an area lying between the cities of Florence and Siena where the homonymous wine was produced and was already enjoying great success. At that time the wine called “Chianti” was made in the territory called “Chianti”. The trademark always found on bottles of Chianti Classico is the Black rooster, historic symbol of the Chianti Military League and among other things depicted by famous artist Giorgio Vasari on the ceiling of the Salone dei Cinquecento at Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

The Chianti Classico appellation covers an area of approximate 260 km2 (about 100 square miles) between the city of Florence to the north and Siena to the south. The four communes of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti and Radda in Chianti are located entirely within the boundaries of the Classico area with parts of Barberino Val d'Elsa, San Casciano in Val di Pesa and Tavarnelle Val di Pesa in the province of Florence as well as Castelnuovo Berardenga and Poggibonsi in the province of Siena included within the permitted boundaries of Chianti Classico. The soil and geography of this subregion can be quite varied, with altitudes ranging from 250 to 610 m (820 to 2,000 feet), and rolling hills producing differing macroclimates. There are two main soil types in the area: a weathered sandstone known as alberese and a bluish-gray chalky marlstone known as galestro

There are three tiers within the Chianti Classico appellation: Annata, Riserva and Gran Selezione. Chianti Classico Annata requires a minimumum of 10 months of ageing in wood and bottle before release. Riserva wines must be aged for 24 months before commercial release. A Chianti Classico Gran Selezione must be made from a single estate and have been aged for a full 30 months.

Tuscany

Tuscany

One of Italy’s most preferred regions by wine connoisseurs, the region of Tuscany is probably only rivalled for its prestige by Piedmont, in the north. Tuscany contains a number of very fine DOC and DOCG appellations within its geographical borders, and is also home to the Super Tuscans. By far the most relevant Tuscan appellation is Chianti Classico, where some incredible wines that compete at the highest level are produced. Many of these amazing Chiantis will age for over twenty years. Chianti shares Tuscany with Brunello di Montalcino DOCG and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, both of which produce wines of great quality. Brunello is a local variety of the Sangiovese grape. The warm temperatures coming off the coast, combined with the cool breezes from the hills, create a multitude of microclimates.

DOCG and DOC

IGT: Toscana; Colli della Toscana Centrale; Vermentino di Toscana

DOC: Barco Reale di Carmignano; Bolgheri; Chianti; Elba; Maremma Toscana; Rosso di Montalcino; Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC;Vin Santo del Chianti; Vin Santo del Carmignano

DOCG:Brunello di Montalcino; Chianti Classico; Chianti Classico Riserva; Carmignano; Morellino di Scansano; Vernaccia di San Gimignano; Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

Tuscany accounts for over thirty DOC and half a dozen of DOCG wines. In addition to the great, well-known and appreciated reds, the local production includes a few distinguishable whites, the most notable among them being, without doubt, the Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Other delicious whites include the Bianco d'Elba, Bianco di Bolgheri, Vermentino and Bianco di Pitigliano.

Grape varieties

One of the most well known is Sangiovese the mainstay in all but one of Tuscany's seven red-wine DOCGs. In Montalcino it goes by the name Brunello, hence the name Brunello di Montalcino; in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano it is locally known as Prugnolo Gentile. Chianti, famed the world over, also features Sangiovese, as well as permitting the addition of small amounts of Canaiolo and Colorino, and international gems Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. As well as being famed for its reds, Tuscany produces some distinguished whites, one of which has achieved DOCG status: Vernaccia di San Gimignano.