1994 Concerto

By this vintage, production had grown to about 40,000 bottles, and it has remained steady more or less to the current date. The Mazzei 1994 Concerto di Fonterutoli represents the end of a chapter for this wine. At this date, Carlo Ferrini, the celebrated Tuscan enologist, was hired. He continues to consult at the estate today. The wine also represents the first vintage to be fermented in stainless steel. You get pretty fruit highlights with dried mint, lavender flower and candied cherry over medium-plus fruit concentration. This wine is very pretty with integrated oak that translates to a velvety quality of tannins. The 1994 vintage is one of the highlights of this retrospective. Following the 1994 vintage, Concerto was discontinued because the estate wanted to focus on Chianti Classico instead. Family patriarch Lapo Mazzei was president of the consorzio (or local growers' association) and he urged investment in the Chianti Classico appellation at a time when super Tuscan blends were all the rage. Back then, the Mazzei Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Fonterutoli had 10% Cabernet Sauvignon to supplement Sangiovese. However, the success of Concerto could not be overlooked, and the estate decided to restart production of this historic blend in 2011.