This is a wonderful follow-up to the superb 2012. Aromas are so intriguing with raspberry, blackberry and light toasted fruits. Some black tea. Full body, and very compacted. Toned and muscular tannins. Racy finish with bright acidity. Fascinating to taste (drink) now but this will be even better in 2019 and onwards.

The strongest suit of this wine is its deep sense of integration and harmony. The Mazzei 2013 Siepi comes from a vintage that was not without its farming challenges, but that ultimately brought quality fruit into the winery. Yields were also up, and this vintage saw 30,000 bottles produced (or more than double the previous year). Another fun fact is that this vintage saw a short harvest window, with Merlot off the vines on September 11th followed by the Sangiovese just 17 days later. There is usually a longer gap between the two varieties. Siepi starts with soft fruit and delicate spice, and it shows an ever-fluid personality in the glass, slowly bringing to the nose a nice succession of background aromas, ranging from cassis to wild rose. - Monica Larner