Mazzei, Siepi Vintage:2019

Mazzei, Siepi Vintage:2019A 50 50 blend of Merlot and Sangiovese, the 2012 Siepi is a beautiful wine that bursts open with enormous fruit intensity and purity. Siepi is a unique wine that is characterized by a deep sense of sharpness and focus that brings a very bright quality to the bouquet. This vintage represents the 20th anniversary of this wine (the first vintage produced was 1992) although this special single vineyard has been in family hands since 1435 (you read that

one at the bottom and two at the top but on opposite sides)

with the result that the wine is not at all overly oaky

11% cabernet franc and 7% petit verdot)

kirsch and thyme-scented perfume

(aged in new oak barriques for 42 months)

Readers can check out notes on those wines in my recent feature on the estate posted on www

Full-bodied

with a touch of extra fruitiness and spiciness

which many consider to be the greatest vineyard on Hermitage Hill

There is more volume if less power to the more generously proportioned medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract that also helps to buffer the moderately firm tannic spine

and exceptionally lengthy

The most tannic of the "big three" bottlings this year