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Hidden Tuscany Rating
Single-vineyard Merlot cuvée produced irregularly in Greve, from high-altitude vines and aged 18 months in French oak barrels. Its main drawback is its high price for a cuvée with no mentioned distinction.
Tuscan wine from vineyards in Greve (Cipresso and Marrone) at 350-400 m, but no precise appellation is mentioned and it is 100% Merlot, little linked to the area.
No award or guide is mentioned in the file; the producer's reputation is evoked without any attested distinction for this wine.
Price of €89.05 considered high for a cuvée with no attested distinction; no crossed-out price or comparison is given.
Precise pairings (game, roast beef, slow-cooked dishes), a one-hour decanting and aging potential of up to fifteen years are indicated, along with a described aromatic profile.
Querciabella estate named and located, 18 months in French oak barrels, small-lot vinification and organic farming confirmed.
Independent rating, calculated from the property's public information and traveler reviews. Commissions received on bookings are not included in the rating.
How we rateThe wine
I recommend the Palafreno 2020 to those who love dense Tuscan reds but want to discover Merlot in an expression of terroir. This single-vineyard cuvée from Querciabella is only made when growing conditions are deemed ideal: a rarity that comes with a generous body, dark fruit and firm tannins. The average score of 95/100 noted by experts gives you an extra benchmark, without replacing the pleasure of tasting.
The Querciabella estate, whose name means "beautiful oak," is established in Tuscany and owns vineyards in Chianti as well as on the coastal Maremma. It became known for its Chianti Classico and its Super Tuscans. Its owner, Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni, committed the estate early to organic and biodynamic practices, starting in the 1980s and 1990s. Organic farming is confirmed for this wine.
Palafreno is a Super Tuscan made from 100% Merlot, sourced from the Cipresso and Marrone vineyards in Greve, between 350 and 400 meters above sea level. The grapes are vinified in small lots, then the wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels. The name evokes the ceremonial horse of a medieval knight, an image that echoes the assertive presence of this cuvée. The estate only produces it when the Merlot of a vintage reaches the desired quality; the usual announced quantity is about 2,500 bottles, though this does not allow us to specify the number produced in 2020.
On the palate, the Palafreno shows a dark, concentrated profile. The nose suggests ripe plum, blackcurrant and wild berries. On the palate, the generous fruit rests on a powerful structure and firm tannins, which call for a little attention at service. I would let it breathe for an hour in a decanter if you want to open it now. Its substance and structure also give it aging potential: the available information recommends keeping it for up to fifteen years.
I would serve it with game, a roast beef or a slow-cooked dish, whose richness can match its concentration and soften the feel of the tannins. This is a wine to choose for a meal that takes its time, rather than an impromptu opening without accompaniment. If you prefer to keep it, let it rest a few years in the cellar; if you open it today, think about decanting it and serving a generous plate. Palafreno 2020 thus offers a distinctive way to explore Tuscan Merlot, between dark fruits, oak aging and the roots of the Greve vineyards.
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