Marchesi MazzeiSiepi 2021

An opulent yet tensioned young red with blackberries, violets and black olive skin character. Full-bodied. But has so much energy and focus. Goes on for minutes. A blend of merlot and sangiovese. Best after 2028.

Intense blackcurrant on the nose, baked and ripe, so expressive and inviting with small hints of liquorice and tar. Supple, generous, juicy and bright, this 50/50 Sangiovese-Merlot is so well worked and harmonious - rich, wide and full in the mouth, it courses with life and energy and such underlying power. You can feel the intensity and sculpting on show, this is no wall flower of a wine but it's presented so neatly and beautifully. I love the tannins, massy but controlled and perfectly countering the fresh and ripe red and black fruit with black pepper, tar, tobacco and bitter orange as well as soft floral edges. The brightness superbly matches the depth and complexity delivering a nuanced glass of wine with so much to say. I love the tannins and the sense of direction and confidence. Still in it's brooding, show-off, youthful phase with plenty of heat and spice, but this is a beauty. From the six-hectare estate owned by the Mazzei family since 1435.

This top-shelf wine from Mazzei is a blend of 50-50 Merlot and Sangiovese. The Sangiovese goes into tonneaux and the Merlot ages in 70% new barrique for 18 months. The 2021 Siepi (in a heavy glass bottle) opens to sweet fruit nuances of cooked cherry, blackberry preserves, cinnamon and nutmeg. This full-bodied wine is supple and very soft in terms of mouthfeel, and its flavor profile is expansive and all-encompassing. This wine is balanced and seamless, and the 2021 vintage is certainly one of the best editions of Siepi we've seen so far. This exciting 30,000-bottle production will go to market in September 2023.