2016 Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Riserva

2016 Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Riserva

2016 Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Riserva This is a stunning wine with a complex cherry, prune, herbal, leather and balsamic bouquet. Excels on the concentrated and succulent palate, with lovely mouthfeel and lots of spicy, smooth, fleshy tannins, superfine acidity and great length. A classic gourmand style per eccellenza perhaps but remarkable from any angle. 97pts Decanter 

A vibrant yet brooding red, with bracing acidity driving the cherry, currant, iron, tobacco and almond flavors. Complex and intense, this needs a few years to absorb the tannins. Delivers fine presence and length. Sangiovese and Merlot. 94pts Wine Spectator

The Marquis Mazzei celebrate their notable ancestor Ser Lapo, author of the first official document mentioning “Chianti wine”. Ruby red color with violet nuances. On the nose, bright aromas of fresh cherries mingle with notes of thyme and a subtle smoky character. Bright acid structure providing a lively quality. Cranberry, raspberry, and red cherry dominate with hints of leather, cedar, and cocoa powder. Some earthiness in the finish and ripe soft tannins. Winemaker

I have a limited one shot opportunity on this wine. The wine sold out two years ago and was one of the wines everybody wanted from the all time great 2016 vintage that received 97pts by Parker and this is the highest rated ever for this part of Tuscany. It is extremely well price at $29.99 with Free Case Shipping. From benchmark Tuscan producer Mazzei, The 2016 Mazzei “Ser Lapo” Riserva is a work of beauty.  It received 97 from Decanter; 95 from James Suckling and 94pts from Wine Spectator, absolutely massive scores for a wine priced under $30 per.  The wine spends an extra year in barrel, an extra year in bottle, and can rival some of the greats from the neighboring village of Montalcino at a fraction of the price.  This wine is named after the Mazzei family’s ancestor Ser Lapo, author of the first official document mentioning “Chianti wine” (December 16^th, 1398).  Lovers of Italy, of history, and of world class red wine, this is a tremendous deal at the price that I will personally be procuring for my own collection.

The winery is owned by the prestigious Mazzei family (right).  Founder Philip Mazzei, who enjoyed calling himself a “Citizen of the World”, befriended Franklin, Adams, Washington, and  Jefferson; the latter invited him to introduce vine growing  in Monticello, Virginia. In a letter to George Washington, Mazzei writes that the soil and climate of that region are wonderfully suitable for wine production. Filippo inspired Jefferson with the idea that “All men are by nature equally free and independent. Such equality is necessary in order to create a free government”. In his book A Nation of Immigrants, John F. Kennedy himself acknowledges that “The great doctrine ‘All men are created equal’, incorporated in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, was paraphrased from the writings of Filippo Mazzei, an Italian patriot and dear friend of Jefferson”. In 1980 for the 250th anniversary of his birth, Philip Mazzei is commemorated as an “American Patriot” with a stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service.  Philip Mazzei helped bridge the gap between Italy’s fabled wine history and America’s newly found democracy. 

The wine is made by Carlo Ferrini possibly the greatest winemaker in Tuscany today and whose clients include Tuscany’s finest wines: Casanova di Neri Brunello, Fonterutoli, La Massa, Brancaia, Brolio, Petrolo, Sapio, Terriccio and San Fabiano Calcinaia. This wine is a can’t miss for the fall!