Questo vino
Vineyard and terroir
Palazzi is produced from older Merlot vines selected across approximately 5–7 ha of the estate. The 2023 wine came from a few of the best high-altitude parcels at 450–600 m, rooted in clay-dominant soils. These soils inspired Andrea Franchetti’s original conception of the wine in the 1990s.
Grapes
100% Merlot.
Vinification
The 2023 fruit fermented in stainless-steel tanks. After the initial barrel period, every Merlot lot was tasted and only a small number of high-altitude parcels were selected for the final wine.
Ageing
Palazzi 2023 aged for 6 months in French-oak barriques. After parcel selection and blending, it spent another 12 months in concrete vats. The broader description identifies the initial vessels as new barrels. A total of 2,821 bottles was filled on 17 April 2025 during the waning moon.
Technical data
IGT Toscana. Production of the 2023 vintage was 2,821 bottles.
Tasting profile
Palazzi combines plush, supple Merlot fruit with pronounced minerality. The 2023 shows varietal purity, ripe yet lively fruit and vibrant freshness. Aromatic and palate impressions remain closely aligned, carrying complexity and elegance into a long finish with suggestions of Mediterranean herbs and autumn undergrowth. Its structure allows it to be approachable on release while supporting further ageing.
Vintage notes
January snow gave way to a wet winter that restored water reserves. Early vine growth in March slowed sharply with the return of cold spring weather. Mild temperatures and weekly rain persisted through May and early June, while approximately 500 mm of rain fell in spring and early summer. Downy mildew placed considerable pressure on vineyard work.
Summer began suddenly in late June, bringing temperatures above 30°C through mid-September. A late-July green harvest reduced the fruit load, while the foliage was retained to shade the bunches. Ripening was slow, and the Merlot parcels were harvested slightly later than usual, from 28 September to 3 October, during cool morning hours. The difficult season nevertheless delivered both generous yields and high quality.
Label / history
Andrea Franchetti created Palazzi alongside Tenuta di Trinoro to evoke a Right Bank Bordeaux model, while the estate’s flagship reflected the Left Bank. Predominantly Merlot versions made from 1997 through 1999 received critical attention, but production then ceased for ten years. The quality of Merlot in 2009 prompted the wine’s revival. It is now made in small quantities as a high-altitude expression of estate-grown Merlot.
