An exceptional vintage, and here you get an explosion of aromatics, showing the potential of the wine. Uplift, precision, juice, delivering the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon, with its dark fruit character, alongside the feshly cut and dried herbs of Tuscany with mouthwatering finish, coupled with an edge of bitterness. 30% new oak, mix of American and French. Marchesi Mazzei. An upscore from last time I tasted this, showing the benefit of verticals for making sense of a wine's character.

This wine is a symbolic bridge from the Old World to the New. The Mazzei 2019 Philip is an all-Tuscan expression of Cabernet Sauvignon (with a tiny part Cabernet Franc) that delivers rich texture, ripeness and ripe fruit. The wine is named after Philip Mazzei (1730–1816), who was a contemporary of Thomas Jefferson. The two men reportedly exchanged winemaking tips and vineyard techniques. The 2019 vintage nails that proverbial sweet spot between softness, structure, fruit and spice. This is a plush, fruit-forward and balanced Tuscan red. - ML