Six bottles of Siepi, 1994 vintage; Vino da Tavola, Tuscany/Italy; Robert Parker (1997): 89/100
Six bottles of Siepi, 1995 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Robert Parker (1998): 93/100; Wine Spectator (1997): 88/100
Six bottles of Siepi, 1997 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Wine Spectator (2007): 93/100
Twelve bottles of Siepi, 1998 vintage; Toscana IGT, Tuscany/Italy; Wine Spectator (2001): 93/100
Produced by Castello di Fonterutoli
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l
Fill level: into neck

This lot comprises 30 bottles of Siepi from Castello di Fonterutoli in Tuscany, six bottles each of the 1994, 1995 and 1997 vintages as well as twelve bottles from the 1998 vintage. The first of these vintages was the last Siepi to be termed Vino da Tavola.

Vino da Tavola, table wine, originally means that the grapes used to make the wine were grown in an Italian wine-growing region and the exact origin does not have to be declared. It is actually a lower quality category. However some of the finest Italian growths often reveal themselves from behind the Vino da Tavola label. Many top growers, including those of Super Tuscans, use the Vino da Tavola label of the DOCG and DOC system production regulations for wine to implement innovative ideas for preparing wine.

Toscana IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is a wine quality closely tied to its origin. It is simply describes a wine whose grapes were grown in a Tuscan wine region. Since 2009, this is also labeled IGP. The term can also signify top, highly-prized Tuscan wines, similar to Vini da Tavola, if a producer wants to interpret the wine authorities’ guidelines more freely.

In 1994 the weather in Tuscany was cool and dry during the harvest and the wines produced in that year are among the best of the decade with good structure. 1995 was a fine vintage in Tuscany and Piedmont, leading to the creation of some great wines, the best of which are now at their peak, albeit in small numbers. In 1997 the summer in Tuscany was extremely hot, the quality of the wines is rather inconsistent but some are quite extraordinary. 1998 was a variable vintage due to a hot summer and much rain during the harvest.

The 1994 Siepi was rated 89 points by Robert Parker in 1997. The 1995 vintage was rated 93 points by Parker in 1998. This wine was also rated 88 points in Wine Spectator magazine in 1997. James Suckling rated the 1997 vintage 93 points on Wine Spectator’s website in 2007. The 1998 vintage was given the same score in Wine Spectator magazine in 2001.

The fill levels are excellent (into neck). Some labels are very slightly damaged or soiled. The capsules are in perfect condition.