What a fascinating vertical tasting today in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Marchesi Mazzei’s Concerto, a Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon blend which they first made in 1981. It is always a thrill to taste the first vintage of a wine and it was holding its own although now more about tenacious acidity than fruit but what an evolution they have made with the 2021’s they are making some of their best wines ever. Even from 2020 to 2021 there is a very big jump in quality for my taste and this coincided with the purchase and use of a super deluxe optical selection machine which we saw in action today. Other standouts for me were the 2013 and the 2015 – different expressions but both wines with great harmony and balance. In terms of the older wines the 1986 was looking very good indeed. Photo 2 is serveral members of the Mazzei family from left to right – Filippo Mazzei, his son Giovanni Mazzei, Francesco Mazzei, Lapo Mazzei and the technical director Gionata Puglinani – the vineyard photos are of the Concerto vineyard. The vintages tasted were 1981, 1986, 1990, 1994, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021 plus on request we tasted the 1995 and 2021 Fonterutoli. The former wine was tasted because after 1994 Mazzei decided to stop making Concerto for while and to put those grapes into their Chianti Classico as an act of faith in the Chianti Classico DOCG. At that time their father was president of the Consorzio. This involved a certain amount of economic sacrifice as Concerto was selling very well but came of a firm belief and faith in the the @chianticlassico DOCG Thank you to @marchesimazzei @giovannimazzei1 and @thurnerpr @antonella.lotti1 @filippo.mazzei @ursi_thurner #sangiovese #cabernetsauvignon #finewine #finewines #y #italianwine #italy🇮🇹
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