Sorelle Palazzi in Morrona di Terricciola - CERTIFIED ORGANIC!
The winery, Sorelle Palazzi, or, The Palazzi Sister's, started in 1973 in a little known small town of Chianti called Morrona di Terricciola, in the heart of the Pisan Hills (Colline Pisane), between Pisa and Volterra.
The 24 hectares are now under the control of their nephew, Guido, who recently received his degree in enology and agronomy. It's classic Chianti in that there are olive groves and undulating hills; it's a-typical in that there is less mono-culutre and a a good does of forests and shrubs around that provide all kinds of good ground life to provide an excellent eco-system for the vines. The wines, too, should be differentiated from the Chianti Classico wines (such as Buodonno in our portfolio). The soil is mostly clay and the temperature is tempered by the proximity to the sea. The tannins are much softer and less incisive too; menaing, that the wine work really well for all those dishes that' aren't heavy but not light either, such as Cornish hens.
The vines are all native Tuscan ones: Sangiovese, Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo, Colorino. And, most have some years on them (see pic).
These are great wines at great prices that really reflect a non-touristy side of life still found in Toscana. After years of bringing in the olive oil for our families here, we are also starting to offer the delicious Olio Extravergine d'oliva. It's an excellent example of Tuscan olive oil, spicy with artichoke notes, balanced by good acidity. Open some bottles of the Chianti, pour some olive oil on some artisan bread rubbed with garlic and dashed with sea salt, and off you go. For fans of Vin Santo, there's not a lot to sell, but they the winery is most famous for it and offer an amazing balmy complexity that lives up to the vino da meditazione name: orange rind, roasted nuts, carmel and a length that won't quite.
