Siepi 2017 Castello di Fonterutoli

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (94)

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in a special commemorative bottle, the 2017 Siepi is a beautifully rich ensemble of Sangiovese and Merlot. The hot and dry vintage has pushed both varieties to extra ripeness and darkness—the hallmarks of the vintage. The bouquet is articulate and intense with black fruit, dried blackberry, cherry, spice, earth and toasted almond. There is abundant richness on the nose, but the palate is actually shorter and more streamlined than expected. Siepi is an exceptional vineyard site perched on its own little plateau that is drenched in golden sunlight.

James Suckling (95)

A dense and rich red with lots of fruit and seamless tannins. Full and structured with loads of flesh. But this is fresh at the same time. A blend of 50% merlot and 50% sangiovese.

BOW (8.50)

Vinous (96)

The 2017 Siepi is a total knock-out and one of the best recent vintages I can remember tasting. All the elements simply fall into place. Succulent dark cherry, spice, chocolate, leather and licorice build as the 2017 gains volume in the glass. Sangiovese and Merlot have rarely been so complementary. The 2017 is a gorgeous wine that offers plenty of the richness readers have become accustomed to over the years, but in a slightly less extracted style.

Jancis Robinson (17.50)

Deep crimson. Really very luscious nose in which it's possible to discern both Merlot and Sangiovese, which have already combined to produce a thoroughly satisfying whole. There's still quite a bit of tang and acidity on the finish but the tannins are more evolved than one might expect at this early stage so this is a really vibrant, appetising wine but probably not one of the longest-lived Siepis.