2016 Il Palazzone Brunello di Montalcino
Region: Tuscany, Italy
Grape: Sangiovese
Culinary Suggestions: Bistecca Fiorentina, lamb chops, rich pasta dishes or charcuterie
Vineyard Practice: Organic
About
Il Palazzone, the illustrious "Big Palace," stands as a testament to the power of passion and commitment. For over ten years, this small estate has been producing wines of exquisite elegance, crafted with the utmost care and attention to detail. Although the estate spans a modest 20 acres, only 10 acres have been authorised for the production of the coveted Brunello di Montalcino, creating a tightly controlled environment for wine-making.
Under the watchful eye of a wine-loving New Yorker, the owner and proud steward of Il Palazzone, every detail of the vineyard is attended to with the utmost precision. Despite the constraints of his day job as a businessman, the owner is personally present at harvest time and every other key moment in the wine's development, ensuring that no care is spared in the vinification process.
Located on the western side of Montalcino, the estate is perched at a lofty altitude of roughly 480 meters above sea level, affording excellent ventilation and reducing mold production to a bare minimum. The constant action of the wind, combined with the unique characteristics of the soil, imbues the wines with a distinctive elegance and depth of character.
At the heart of Il Palazzone's vinification process lie its venerable vines, over twenty years old and boasting deep root systems that enable them to endure even the harshest droughts. The roots draw minerals and components not present in the topsoil, enriching the taste and aromas of the wines.
As a bastion of environmentally responsible wine-making, Il Palazzone adheres to all EEC regulations for organic intervention in the vineyard. Each year, the estate produces roughly 20,000 bottles of wine, each one a testament to the passion and commitment that have made Il Palazzone a cherished cornerstone of the wine-making community.
Tasting Notes
You have to love how fine and yet how assertive and yet how integrated the tannin is here. Forza Azzurri. Flavour-wise we’re looking at an elegant, juicy flow of leather, dry cherry, nuts and faint liquorice, with floral/garden scents adding a prettiness to the nose, if not more. It’s just a delightful wine, dry, serious and delicious at once, the wine equivalent of a serious conversation that comes sprinkled with humour.
94 points - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front July 2021
Drink: 2022 - 2032+
A dusting of exotic spice, incense, sage, dried roses, black cherries and currants can all be found in the bouquet of the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino. It’s silky in feel with a density of primary fruit mixed with stimulating acids and minerality that the young 2016s are becoming known for. Cooling herbal tones and hints of licorice add further depths, as a coating of fine tannin slowly settles in. This is classically structured and full of potential for the cellar, tapering off to purple-tinged inner florals over a hint of sour citrus and savory spice. Very nice.
93 points - Eric Guido, Vinous Media November 2020
Drink: 2024 - 2036
Very pretty aromas and flavors of sweet berries and cherries with hints of mushrooms and bark, following through to a medium to full body with linear, tight tannins that flow through the palate. Try after 2023.
94 points - jamessuckling.com December 2020