ATTLEBORO • NORWOOD • STURBRIDGE • SWANSEA
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Mazzei Badiola Toscana 2020 | |
We are always looking for good Italian Tuscan reds at a great price. Well, at least I am, especially if it is highly reviewed, and because I am cheap and at $10 a bottle, it makes it a no-brainer. Add to the fact that it is an estate-bottled Sangiovese/Merlot blend from high-altitude vineyards just south of Siena; you will have to pinch me to make sure I’m not just dreaming, again. Let me introduce you to Poggio Badiola from the Fonterutoli Estates. | |
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For 26 generations, the Mazzei family has been producing benchmark Italian wines from their historic Castello di Fonterutoli estate in Tuscany. Since the 1400s, the Mazzei family has been producing wine, making it one of the oldest-running Italian companies - of any kind! Ser Lapo Mazzei is credited for authoring the first official document mentioning “Chianti wine” in 1398, along with the ingredients on how to make it. Winemaker Philip Mazzei was a political thinker whose philosophical writings on the equality of man served as inspiration for his friend Thomas Jefferson for the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
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Today, the Marchesi Mazzei portfolio is controlled by brothers Francesco and Filippo, as well as Filippo’s son Giovanni. The Mazzei portfolio represents 1606 acres of land, 272 acres of vineyards of 114 Tuscany parcels, and an additional 48 acres in Maremma. What is impressive to me is that all these vineyards send their grapes to one central winemaking facility, which is second to none for high-quality gravity-fed wine production. One of my aha moments came to me when a winemaker explained the advantages of a gravity-fed winery. It involves not having to use mechanical pumps to move grapes and juice from one container to another, which by nature violently chops and squeezes the product every time it’s moved. Using gravity instead of pumps reduces oxygen introductions into wines, preserves purity, minimizes astringency, and uses less energy and water.
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Fonterutoli has a modern gravity-fed winery designed by a family member, Agnese Mazzei. This three-level design allows the grapes to be collected and pressed in the plaza and then to “drop” to the next phase of the winemaking process without pumps, using the most natural means: the force of gravity. The unique 74 winemaking steel vats provided with a tapered cylindrical shape and capacity for 2,642 gallons allow processing the grapes from each parcel separately to preserve their biodiversity and produce a series of small-scale wine batches that together with extended maceration, creating wines with exceptional qualities of color and remarkably smooth and elegant tannins. At 50 feet of depth, in the vast cellar, more than 3000 oak barrels dwell. The temperature and the right degree of humidity are naturally kept constant by five native water streams flowing through the naked rock walls.
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Badiola comes from the commune of Raddo, which is known for its higher-elevation vineyards located just northwest of the winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. Badiola’s label is inspired by the ancient Romanic abbey, La Badiola, built in 998 B.C. and overlooks the vineyards of one of the most picturesque hills of Chianti Classico. The Badiola vineyards sit at an elevation of 1550-1870 feet above sea level, right below that Roman church pictured on their label. Giovanni Mazzei says, “It is a very challenging altitude to grow Sangiovese. This elevation creates the most incredible expression of Sangiovese. The site delivers a wine that is elegant and pure with a nice level of fruit.” High-altitude grapes are smaller, with thicker skins yielding intense juice. This wine combines the freshness and elegance of Sangiovese with the soft structure of Merlot.
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Plenty of berry and crushed-stone character with hints of chocolate and nutmeg. James Suckling 92 pts
Bright and fragrant in its sensorial profile, it shows notes of black cherries, red plums, cherries and wild strawberries. Medium body, soft tannins and a lean and elegant finish. Drink now. WineCritics.com 92 pts
A juicy red marked by bright cherry and raspberry fruit. Open and easy, with light tannins lining the moderately long finish, this is otherwise balanced. Sangiovese and Merlot. Drink now. 20,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. Wine Spectator 88 pts
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This Week's Wine Insider Offer | |
Mazzei Badiola Toscana 2020 | Being a big fan of high-altitude wines like Hess, Catena, Volpaia, and the like, I was excited to try Badiola wines with the staff. First off, this is not a lowland Sangiovese. It is not sloppy fruit with no acids. In fact, it is quite the contrary. Those small grapes from 1700 feet up are concentrated with dark, bold fruit. Just pouring the wine, it is dark and inky, with aromas of sandalwood, cooked tomatoes, black cherries, and ripe pomegranate. It is big on the palate with bacon fat, wilted rose petals, plum, and mushroom. It’s an old-world style, not a fruit bomb. One taster described it as “a left tackle that can dance,” Perfect with short ribs or any grilled meats. We found the wine came out of its shell even more after letting it breathe for a while. A great value wine to share with at your next cookout. | |
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*Sale Price is on 12 or more bottle purchase
Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case
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*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.
We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.
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To order, simply send an email to your preferred Yankee Spirits superstore with one of the address buttons to the right, along with:
Your Name
So we know who to hold the order for and your name is not always obvious by your email.
Desired Quantity
So we know how much to hold.
All requests are processed during business hours and in the order they are received. We'll confirm your order via email within 48 hours and when it is ready for pickup. We can hold wines unpaid for two weeks. Unless otherwise specified, promotional pricing ends two weeks from the email send date.
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YANKEE SPIRITS
STORE LOCATIONS
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Pricing is subject to change without notice once this promotion ends in two weeks or when we run out of product. Whichever comes first. | |
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Place your order now with the store contacts above, while you've got all the information at your fingertips.
Cheers!
John Hannum,
Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
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Attleboro
628 Washington St.
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Norwood
942 Providence Hgwy.
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Sturbridge
376 Main Street.
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Swansea
207 Swansea Mall Dr.
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Monday-Saturday
9AM to 9PM
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We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband. | | | | |
