Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Poggio alla Badiola Toscana IGT 2022

The 2022 Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Poggio alla Badiola Toscana IGT ticks all the Super Tuscan boxes. This outstanding-value release from the “monumental” Mazzei estate carries the same winemaking pedigree and attention to detail found in their collector-coveted bottles.

Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli is one of Tuscany’s most revered estates. Established in the 14th century, the family has helped shape the modern Super Tuscan movement and remains a benchmark name in Chianti Classico and beyond.

At the very top sits Siepi - a global Sangiovese phenomenon, with multiple vintages awarded perfect scores. But wines like Poggio alla Badiola show why Mazzei’s reputation runs so deep.

Made with the same winemaking philosophy, the same vineyards, and the same generational know-how, Poggio alla Badiola captures the estate’s signature style in a more approachable expression.

It follows a simple rule many seasoned collectors live by - seek out the wines just below the flagship. They are often made with the same care and expertise, yet offer remarkable value.

Critic Antonio Galloni put it best:

“Buy the least expensive wines from the best producers, because you know that every wine they make is going to be somewhere between outstanding and tremendous.”

And Master Sommelier turned cult winemaker Rajat Parr offers a similar view:

“A village wine from a great producer is often a better buy than a grand cru from a lesser one.”

Poggio alla Badiola draws fruit from select parcels of young vines alongside early-harvest fruit from older vineyards in Castellina, a high-altitude site in Chianti. After fermentation in stainless steel, the wine follows two paths - a portion remains in steel while the rest matures for ten months in French barriques. The result is a harmonious balance of freshness, structure and complexity.

If Sangiovese is the heart of Tuscany, Mazzei has long been one of its greatest champions. Even Thomas Jefferson admired the estate, helping forge early connections between Mazzei and the United States.

Poggio alla Badiola offers a classic expression of modern Tuscany from one of the region’s great families - refined, expressive and unmistakably Mazzei.