The 2019 Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Gran Selezione is a Sangiovese wine hailing from Tuscany's renowned Chianti region in Italy. This red wine, produced by Mazzei, is presented in a 750ml bottle sealed with a cork closure. It has garnered significant attention from professional reviewers, achieving excellent scores across the board.
Decanter awarded this wine a score of 94, describing it as having a "toasty and smoky character on the nose with nuances of coffee, white pepper, vanilla, and floral notes." The review highlighted its "nervy" quality, emphasizing the balance between oak and fruit purity, which gives the wine "nice definition and personality on the palate."
James Suckling also praised the 2019 Badiola, giving it a score of 93. He noted that it is a "juicy and ripe wine with freshness and brightness," particularly for the Radda zone in Chianti Classico. He described it as medium-bodied and "savory," with hints of orange peel. Suckling concluded that it is ready to drink now but could also be held for future enjoyment.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provided the highest score, a 95, characterizing the wine as "finessed with red cherry candy, medicinal herbs, and fresh forest floor." The review pointed out the purity of its aromas and a medium-bodied palate featuring "pleasurable ripeness and approachable tannins." Additionally, it noted the wine's "light iron-rich and mineral character," combined with dried herbs and raspberry seed, making it a "clean and joyful wine" that is difficult to resist. The recommended drinking window is from 2023 to 2033.
Wine Spectator rated the wine at 92, noting its "firmly built" structure and "enticing aromas and flavors of cherry, plum, eucalyptus, leather, and iron." The review mentioned that while the wine is balanced and pure, it would benefit from a few more years to achieve equilibrium among all its components. They suggested the best drinking window to be from 2025 through 2043, highlighting a "long, spice-tinged finish."
Overall, the 2019 Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli Badiola Gran Selezione is a highly regarded Sangiovese with a promising future, characterized by its balance, purity, and complex flavor profile.