Mazzei Badiola Toscana 2020

For 26 generations, the Mazzei family has been producing wine off their historic Castello di Fonterutoli estate. They are very intimately tied up in the entire foundation of Tuscan winemaking. After all, it was their name that was found on the first-ever official document mentioning Chianti–all the way back in 1398!

The last time I got this special wine was back in the 2017 vintage. The offer went nuts, yet my attempts to secure another in the last few years have come up short. But in a hot 2020 vintage, this wine is totally singing in its youth, and I took every bottle offered to me.

This comes from a high-elevation vineyard within the heart of Chianti Classico. It’s a Sangiovese-dominant blend that earned 92 points from James Suckling, who called it “medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit.” It’s a deep, dark, luscious blend with intense aromas and a smooth chocolate finish that seals the deal.