The Kings of Chianti: Tasting the Mazzei Wine Dynasty
Wine Club Miami welcomed the summer season with an ultimate dive into one of Tuscany's most iconic family estates
If America’s founding father Thomas Jefferson goes to you for wine advice, chances are you’re already a legend. That was Philip Mazzei (1730-1816), a Florentine merchant and horticulturist, who became a close associate of Jefferson after moving to Virginia in 1773. Mazzei settled near Jefferson's Monticello estate, where he helped the nation’s biggest advocate for wine plant his very own vineyard, and (less importantly), inspire parts of the Declaration of Independence. Mazzei ended up back in Europe, and his family continues to run one of Italy’s most important wineries.
But the Mazzei’s preceded the days of Philip by a long shot. The family estate dates back to 1435 when the family started making wine at Castello di Fonterutoli right outside Siena, and in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Their lineage even includes Ser Lapo Mazzei, who in 1398 penned the very first mention of “Chianti” as a wine region. Over 25 generations have helped create a singular thread of high quality Chianti Classico made from the Sangiovese grape. No other winery has such a strong understanding of the grape than this family. The torch is currently carried by brothers Francesco and Filippo Mazzei, along with Filippo’s son Giovanni.
On Wednesday, May 7th, the Club convened at Macchialina on south beach (peep their new restaurant called Bar Bucce in Little River!) We tasted young, but brilliant vintages of the wide-ranging Tuscan portfolio:
Mazzei ‘Siepi’ 2020
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2020
Concerto di Fonterutoli 2021
Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 2021
Castello di Fonterutoli ‘Mix 36’ Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015
Mazzei ‘Philip’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
We popped off with Champagne Gaston Chiquet Special Club 2015, then dove into an incredible 4-course dinner that had a good mix of creamy, meaty, and veggie-heavy dishes. What makes Mazzei stand out is that the wines are just so pure, making them quite versatile. The Fonterutoli Chianti’s are beaming with bright red fruits, loaded with fresh strawberry and delicate cherry flavors, but light on its feet making for an amazing tap dance on the palate. The Chiantis show serious mastery over Sangiovese. With 600 years of experience, what do you expect?
We tasted the Siepi in 2024 for our Super Tuscan tasting (the 2017 vintage), and it competed very well against big names. For us, it won on quality to price ratio. This time, we took on the 2020. This 50/50 Merlot/Sangiovese is jaw-dropping. Although too young for our taste, it shows silky smooth texture and such good structure. At around $110, this is the perfect wine to give as a serious gift to someone. It is lights out every time and one of Mazzei’s best wines out there.
This was one of the few times where favorites were scattered across the board. Matt loved the Philip Cabernet for its approachability and soft yet powerful red and dark fruit flavors. David was a big fan of the Castello Gran Selezione, a newer wine with extra months of aging required to produce an ageworthy red. The bottle was light like a Gamay or Pinot but fully integrated with mouth coating acidity and strawberry paradise that begged for more sips. Jeff loved the Concerto 2021, an 80/20 Sangiovese/Cabernet blend with bold concentration and powerful tannin structure. This was the 40th anniversary bottling of Concerto, which is Italian for ‘concert’. The family gave the name for the beautiful symphony that Sangiovese and Cabernet play together when combined.
‘Mix 36’ was a top wine as well. It is a Chianti Classico with 36 distinct Sangiovese biotypes—including 18 heritage selections from their oldest vines. The result? A pure Chianti Classico Gran Selezione that’s rich, complex, and a true portrait of the Sangiovese character.
Most of the wines are below $50, making them a no brainer for any wine lover that loves Italian reds. The Fonterutoli Chianti Classico is a mandatory daily wine glass (WCM orders). For those looking to lighter, fresher style reds for the summer, Mazzei has your back. And if you’re looking to cellar anything, grab a case of Siepi ASAP.
Our annual Champagne tasting is next! Stay tuned…
Coincidentally, I drank a bottle of the 2020 Mazzei Chianti Classico Gran Selezione last night and it was just as good as I remembered. Great quality price ratio (QPR) and a bargain for under $40!!!