Malcolm Jolley talks to Giovanni Mazzei about an ancient ancestor…
The Mazzei Ser Lapo Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2017 (23.95 | LCBO# 288530) is a perfect example of the wines of that designation can offer superlative value. It’s a luxury wine at a price that means one can buy two bottles for less than what one bottle of comparable quality from one of the Italian regions that begin with the letter ‘B’. The house of Marchesi Mazzei was founded in 1435, but it’s very much part of the new generation of revitalized Chianti Classico. I fear deals like the Ser Lapo won’t last, so after securing a few bottles for myself, I decided to look up Giovanni Mazzei, who serves as his family’s export manager, and ask him about the wine and how things are going at their winery at Castelo di Fonterutoli. I’m glad I did since, as our conversation in video below shows, the story behind this wine is a good one.
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It’s my educated guess that the black cherry and lavender notes will go well with our Easter leg of lamb. Click here to find the Mazzei Ser Lapo at the LCBO.
